Last month the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted to develop a “Climate Action Overlay Zone” for Coyote Valley that reserves the area south of San Jose for wildlife habitat, farmland, and “climate resilience.” Details of what this Overlay Zone will include aren’t finalized, but ultimately the intent is to move forward with a development moratorium.
This decision halts any plans for development in Mid and South Coyote Valley which are in the County’s jurisdiction. Previously in 2019 more than half of the land in North Coyote Valley – 1000 acres – was permanently protected, and currently the City of San Jose is moving towards changing their General Plan so that the North portion is designated for agriculture and open space and not industrial development.
This may be a good decision for Coyote Valley, but it is important to acknowledge that a designated “Climate Action Overlay Zone” may also be another nomenclature for stopping development throughout California. The reasoning for the Coyote Valley decision is that “widespread development is incompatible with its natural resources and would result in suburban sprawl,” and “Sprawl development in rural areas like Coyote Valley is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. . .”
Two unintended (or intended) effects of this zoning statewide is to 1) support more high-density multifamily housing and prohibit single family zoning; and 2) use climate change as a new element in order to disallow development.
Be prepared of potential risks, build complimentary coalitions, and implement your communications’ action plan to guide local and county governments, community leaders, and constituencies that could experience negative outcomes.