San Martin
– The effort to incorporate San Martin is rolling along with the
support of many residents, but the financial burden remains
heavy.
Sylvia Hamilton, president of the San Martin Neighborhood
Alliance Incorporation Committee, is pushing hard for the town’s
incorporation. She said she and the alliance have faith that
incorporation will
– and should – come through.
San Martin – The effort to incorporate San Martin is rolling along with the support of many residents, but the financial burden remains heavy.
Sylvia Hamilton, president of the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance Incorporation Committee, is pushing hard for the town’s incorporation. She said she and the alliance have faith that incorporation will – and should – come through.
“We already have many positive attributes of a city: a name, a variety of land uses and a positive working relationships with bordering cities,” Hamilton said. “We have a great community spirit, and we have the right to be recognized.”
A driving reason behind many San Martin residents’ desire to incorporate is their lack of real control over issues that directly affect the town, especially land use and local planning.
Currently, San Martin has an advisory planning commission, but it’s just that – advisory. Direct control lies with the Santa Clara County Planning Office and the five-member county board of supervisors.
“Having a council in San Martin would allow government to be more visible to local residents. We’d have a better, stronger voice on issues that matter to us.,” Hamilton said.
History
The roughly 6,000 residents of San Martin make up a mere 1 percent Santa Clara County’s population and only 5 percent of District 1. The small representation is exactly what makes it so difficult for local opinions to influence policy decisions, Hamilton said.
Rachel Gibson, an aide with Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage whose district includes San Martin, said the county “absolutely supports” the town’s incorporation.
“The citizens of San Martin have long expressed their desire to have local land use control, and the way to do that is incorporate,” Gibson said.
The Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, is the state-mandated agency that deals with annexation and incorporation and that the alliance is working with now. San Martin’s first effort to incorporate was in the mid-1960s, but the community’s very small population meant incorporation would have significantly raised taxes.
Current developments
In July 2003, the alliance raised $25,000 for an independent financial feasibility study that determined San Martin could operate on its own tax revenue if it incorporated. The town would start with an annual operating budget of about $2.5 million and bring in the same amount in revenues from existing sources, the study said.
In Oct. 2003, the alliance initiated a series of ongoing neighborhood meetings and outreach efforts to encourage public comment.
According to about 140 surveys collected by the alliance, 84 percent of San Martin residents are either in favor or likely in favor of incorporation. Initially, some were hesitant because they thought incorporation might mean raised taxes or urbanization. But they were much more receptive when they understood taxes definitely would not go up, the level of fire and police services would remain the same and San Martin would maintain its rural environment, Hamilton said.
Several meeting participants said they would want sewer lines to hook up only in industrial and commercial areas and not to extend to residential or agricultural areas, nor did they want other urban characteristics such as sidewalks and street lights.
Many residents also said they supported the development of a core business district for South Valley residents, with small-scale businesses such as restaurants, coffee shops, small retail stores and local service providers.
Challenges
Probably the biggest obstacle facing San Martin’s current undertaking – both now and if the town incorporates – is money. The cost for various studies and applications is burdensome – as much as $200,000. The initial $25,000 financial study was paid for by contributions from the community and alliance members, Hamilton said.
“That’s something I really give my hats off to, that the community has been that involved and committed,” said Gibson, Gage’s aide. “For San Martin and for every jurisdiction, (money) is the deal maker and deal breaker.”
Steve Mancini, a San Martin resident for 20 years, agreed the financial roadblock would be the hardest to get past. But he said he’s been impressed with the community outreach efforts initiated by the alliance.
“They’ve made every opportunity to include us in the discussions,” he said.
Marty Tidwell, owner of A1 Sharpening, a saw and lawnmower shop in San Martin, has lived there for 12 years. Like many other San Martin residents, Tidwell said, he’s in favor of incorporation because he’s tired of the county dictating San Martin’s land use decisions.
But Tidwell also said he’s skeptical of San Martin’s ability to function on its own financially, especially because it doesn’t have very many big businesses to significantly boost sales tax revenue and provide a backbone of support.
Although he predicted San Martin eventually would annex into either San Jose or Morgan Hill, Tidwell said he’d favor incorporation first.
“But without big businesses, I just don’t see how it’s going to happen,” he said. “It’s something we’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.”
Cityhood costs
• Funds raised by the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance through fund raisers and private contributions to the Town of San Martin Incorporation Effort Fund: $38,000
• Initial financial feasibility study (complete): $25,000
• Consulting fees for land use planning and legal consultation: Between $10,000 and $20,000
• Final application for incorporation and comprehensive financial
study: $30,000
• Environmental Impact Report:
up to $150,000
