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Government wheels in motion
A report on the August 2005 Santa Clara County
Land Use Workshop
by Brian Schmidt

The August 31st special land use workshop for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors lacked drama and new decisions, but it did take some useful steps forward in reforming and updating County policies. The Committee for Green Foothills submitted suggestions for the agenda, and members attended the all-day meeting, encouraging decision-makers to take the strongest possible steps to protect open space in the County.

Two of the land use agenda items sprang from CGF's successful effort in blocking a 25,000 square-foot, ridge-top "monster mansion" proposal, dominating San Jose neighborhoods just below. The County is now considering restrictions on ridgeline development and on "monster mansion" sizes.

A third subject concerning groundwater overuse and rural sprawl stemmed from another controversial project east of Milpitas called Vintage Estates, where CGF expressed concern over a number of environmental impacts. Many of the visual impacts were eliminated, but water use remained a problem. CGF clarified how a vicious cycle of groundwater over-depletion from sprawl could result in extending urban services and creating still more sprawl. The County was less clear on how it would protect water and avoid incentives for spreading urban services and sprawl, but at least it is thinking about these issues.

Committee for Green Foothills raised other concerns, such as requiring mitigations for greenhouse gas emissions, regulating vineyards, protecting wetlands, and improving environmental planning. Unfortunately, the County did not discuss these issues in the limited time available. Government wheels turned a notch or two forward at the August meeting — the critical issue is when we will see follow-up that creates actual changes.