As growth and change impact San Martin, board focuses on keeping open dialog with the county
Published in the January 20 – February 2, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Trina Hineser
Trina Hineser
The San Martin Neighborhood Alliance’s mission is to protect San Martin’s rural atmosphere and support positive controlled growth. SMNA’s objective is to monitor commercial and industrial growth and encourage new development to be local serving. We research ways to provide residents with an influential voice so they can take an active, informed role in finding viable solutions to our neighborhood concerns.
As the president of SMNA, it is my goal for 2016 to work toward bridging the gap between the San Martin community and the various departments within the county of Santa Clara. This includes: Planning, Code Enforcement, Animal Control, Environmental Health, Roads and Airports, Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
As a resident of San Martin for 16 years, I along with other SMNA members have seen the difficulties residents have obtaining action or attention to the concerns of our community. Having a deep affection as many of us do for San Martin, it has been my experience over the past several years that SMNA continues to be diligent in their efforts to work with the county and to keep the community informed.
Earlier in 2015, the county presented proposed changes to the San Martin “local serving policy.” SMNA was able to be a part of the process with the planning staff. SMNA was able to present valuable information to obtain the best possible outcome. As growth and change continue to impact San Martin, the SMNA Board is focused on continuing open dialog with the county.
Quarterly community meetings are one venue SMNA provides to give the opportunity for positive engagement with county departments. Please join us for our next meeting at Andrade Country Meadows in San Martin 6 p.m. Jan. 19, 2016 where three key departments/projects will be presented.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors will make a presentation regarding owner wells and septic systems. Representatives from County Code Enforcement will present current information and provide a forum to address community concerns. A presentation on the annexation of the Southeast Quadrant by Morgan Hill Planning is also expected. We encourage all to attend.
Throughout 2016, SMNA will be closely following the Morgan Hill and Gilroy annexation proposals. Both are set to go before the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Clara. Both projects will reach the San Martin borders. Potentially, the county buffer between San Martin and each respective city could be lost. An important issue like the annexations is an example of what SMNA works on to provide notice to the community.
SMNA was only made aware of the SEQ project a few months ago. It has been quite informative for us in contacting the various county departments so that SMNA could be brought up to speed. The information SMNA has gathered includes, the county Planning Department’s concerns regarding the SEQ project and that these concerns were presented to Morgan Hill Planning.
The SEQ supporters’ mantra to SMNA is that this project is “smart growth” and it “preserves agriculture.”
At present, Morgan Hill’s SEQ project specifically requests changes to the general land uses which currently are zoned for agriculture. The proposal requests land use for public facilities, which would be for a Catholic high school. It also requests land use for sports recreation/leisure — which would be for a soccer facility, restaurants and hotels. Additionally, clustered housing is proposed for one designated area.
Representatives from the Open Space Authority are expected to present their position at their board meeting this month. The Committee for Green Foothills has been vocal about their objections, and the Food Systems Alliance gave a detailed presentation to LAFCO in December which included a true farmland resolution to protect agriculture.
SMNA has met with Morgan Hill Planning regarding SEQ to better understand their proposal. From our understanding, there are about six families that own the majority of the SEQ. Proposals these families brought to the county in the past were rejected, so they approached Morgan Hill about 12 years ago and have been working with them to accomplish this potential annexation.
SMNA contacted a number of family homeowners in the Morgan Hill SEQ area and were surprised to hear that notifications regarding the SEQ failed to have ever reached them. We also confirmed that San Martin residents bordering SEQ were not informed and were told it is specific to Morgan Hill.
Questions raised by a longterm supporter of SMNA was: “Has San Martin been deliberately side-stepped in the discussions of the SEQ?” and “Will the annexations help or harm San Martin?”
Please join SMNA and stay informed. You can find out more by looking us up at www.sanmartinneighbor.org/about/join-us/ or liking us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SanMartinNeighborhoodAlliance.
Trina Hineser is the president of the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance. She wrote this guest column for Morgan Hill Life.
