County Supervisors Support Coyote Valley Climate Overlay Zone

Photo by Derek Neuman, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

On February 9, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to move ahead on developing a Climate Action Overlay Zone for Coyote Valley to protect wildlife habitat and movement, creeks and groundwater, farmland, and climate resilience. 

Details of Climate Action Overlay Zone Must Now be Drafted

The vote by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors begins the process of developing a Climate Action Overlay Zone for Mid and South Coyote Valley, which is in the County’s jurisdiction. The details of what this Overlay Zone will include are not yet finalized. We will be working with County staff to ensure that the Overlay Zone does everything possible to protect the ecology and farmland of Coyote Valley. 

The City of San Jose is moving towards changing their General Plan so that North Coyote Valley is designated for agriculture and open space, not industrial development. A strong Overlay Zone, together with the anticipated changes to San Jose’s General Plan and  nearly 1,000 acres of open space permanently protected in 2019, will go a long way towards protecting Coyote Valley’s open space. 

Moratorium Not Approved But Supervisors Request Notification of Future Development

Although the Supervisors voted unanimously to move forward with a Climate Action Overlay Zone, they declined to move forward with a development moratorium. However, the Supervisors did request staff to notify them of any future development applications in Coyote Valley. We hope that in the event that new applications are submitted, the Supervisors will act swiftly to impose a moratorium in order to prevent Coyote Valley’s unique wildlife habitat and farmland from being lost.


Thanks to all of you who sent emails asking the Supervisors to support the Coyote Valley Climate Change Overlay Zone and Development Moratorium. We will let you know when there is further opportunity to speak up on the Overlay Zone or the Development Moratorium.

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