#Write4Farmland

*Advocate Julie Hutcheson on #Write4Farmland*

On March 11, 2016, the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) will determine whether or not to allow the City of Morgan Hill an annexation request to develop the Southeast Quadrant (SEQ). Ultimately, the City plans is to annex and develop 400 acres of farmland. LAFCo’s job is to protect farmland, and prevent sprawl. Let’s make sure they do it.

LAFCo could deny the City’s request. But only if they hear from you.

*Update: At Friday’s meeting LAFCo voted to deny Morgan Hill’s annexation request. Thanks to everyone who joined us in speaking up!

Comments (8)

Stu Nuttall

March 1, 2016

I hope the commission realizes that people live in Morgan Hill for it’s small town atmosphere and vote to keep it that way.

Carol Frazer

March 7, 2016

We choose to live here and not in the sprawl of San Jose. Let’s keep it this way!

Vickie Baroff

March 7, 2016

I’m a long time (64 years old) Morgan Hill resident. I have seen many, many changes in the town, some good and some bad. Saving farmland in Morgan Hill sounds like a good idea. I get it. I would love to see lots of land instead of houses in Morgan Hill. Here’s the problem, the old-time farmers in Morgan Hill have mostly passed away. Their children cannot make a living farming like their fathers did. Most of them sell to developers and we get more houses. The way I understand it, the plans for SEQ include recreational areas for our youth. That sounds much better to me than more houses! While “saving the farmland” sounds like a great idea…it’s really not practical and unfair to the landowners.

Reply

Christine Nagel
March 9, 2016

Hi Vickie,
Sadly, the Coyote Valley is undervalued as an environmental asset. The Valley provides habitat for many species who have been pushed out of their historical range because of human development. This is the last remaining corridor in Santa Clara County to connect the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range, a critical part of migration/movement benefitting the genetic diversity of many animals. It is also an important watershed and the open land helps recharge the water table. Many of us are working to help shine a light on this issue. Hopefully, we can draw the attention of the citizens of Santa Clara county and the many open space organizations to provide alternatives to the property owners other than selling to real estate developers. Once this undeveloped land disappears, it will be gone forever.
Reply

Rosemary
March 9, 2016

It’s not just recreational areas for youth. It will also be retail spaces, gas stations and eventually more houses. Read the fine print. This is unfair to the surrounding homes in the area. It affects our quality of life by adding more traffic making it harder for me to get home, increasing noise levels and making many workers who work the farms loose their jobs and homes.

Ron Erskine

March 8, 2016

Vickie,

With respect, I have lived in Morgan Hill for 33 years. I have built over 50 homes in Morgan Hill, all on infill land. I am not against growth. But I cannot accept your argument that the fact that farmer’s “children cannot make a living farming like their fathers did” as a basis for unwise expansion of the city limits and poor planning practices. This is a community with 40,000 residents, all of whom will be affected by this annexation. In addition, a recent study emphasizes that the “county agricultural sector is gaining in both production value and employment.” The Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner states flatly, “This report says very clearly that ag is viable.” Perhaps the problem phrase in your remark that they cannot make a living farming are the words “like their fathers did.” According to the same study, with “new technologies, and more efficient farming practices, the per-acre value of irrigated farmland has never been higher.” Let’s bring together people who understand these issues before we decide that farming is passe and sprawl is inevitable.

James Xavier

March 10, 2016

I am a third generation resident of Morgan Hill. I have lived her for 67 years. I have watched Morgan Hill grow from 1,000 (not a misprint) to over 40,000. The City of Morgan Hill cannot sustain what they have already annexed. Police and fire are understaffed, roads are falling apart, parks are in disarray, traffic is horrible, water supply is short, I’m not sure if there is sewer capacity available, and the City Council doesn’t listen to the citizens. If you look at the current City limits, you see past evidence of poor planning and even strip zoning. I urge you to deny the City’s request for further annexation.

Thank You

S. Morgan

March 13, 2016

I’ve lived in this county since 1977, and sadly watched the orchards, open space and farmland disappear. One of the benefits of living where I do in south San Jose is being near what little green hills, open space, and farm remain, just down the street, in Morgan Hill and the border area between cities. I hope to see it remain as it is.

Christine Nagel

Rosemary

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