Op-ed: San Jose shouldn’t give special exemption to enable development on open space

We oppose a last-minute exception for private recreation and open space areas citywide that has now been bundled with a proposal to eliminate an obstacle to the development of housing in areas zoned for it.

The last-minute exception, added to a proposed Council Policy 5-1 update, would allow private recreation and open space to be developed without requiring a community master planning visioning process and goes against the city’s environmental standards, Climate Smart goals and general plan. It would allow for CEQA overrides for market rate housing projects that are not designated for housing in the general plan.

The approach used by the developer to target private recreation and open space citywide should be rejected. Bundling this amendment at the last minute with changes related to residential zoned areas has the impact, if not the intent, of limiting community feedback on this citywide issue.

We oppose the lack of collaboration and inclusiveness in the rush to overturn the community and San Jose City Council consensus on Policy 5.1 as it relates to the city’s environmental standards, Climate Smart goals and land use policy changes. We have concerns that the rush to approve the change to the 2020 General Plan opens the door to special interests that would allow developers undue influence in private recreation and open space land conversions and creates a double standard.

This is also an issue of equity. The current target is a 114-acre private recreation parcel, the former Pleasant Hills Golf Course in East San Jose. Community members desire the kind of thoughtful community engagement and creation of community task forces that have been utilized—in advance—with other developments like the many Westside urban villages, the 86-acre Google site, the Monterey Highway Corridor south of downtown and the 15-plus acre site at the Capitol Caltrain station. All areas of the city should benefit from proper planning.

We are joined by leaders from Pala Rancho Cabana Club HOA, Cassell Neighborhood Association and advocates, Capitol Park Goss Dobern Neighborhood Association, Mayfair Neighborhood Association, Plata Arroyo Neighborhood Association and Tropicana Lanai Neighborhood Association in making this request. Community members ask that the San Jose Planning Commission and City Council not allow developers to drive changes to our city’s general land use policy.

At the city committee meeting where the private recreation and open space amendment was first considered, the only person who spoke in favor of the exception was the Pleasant Hills Golf Course site developer, while about 250 community members provided public comment against it. This developer’s approach should not be allowed. We ask two things:

• For the city council and planning commission to reject the private recreation and open space amendment when approving the update to facilitate new housing in areas zoned “residential.”
• Any proposed development plan for a large private recreation and open space area should be preceded by a community master planning visioning process that includes local community benefit, including significant public open space.

Juan Estrada is advocacy associate and organizer with Green Foothills. Robert Reese and Janet Holt are Evergreen residents.