Decision on use of greenbelt will test power of lobbyists

Mercury News Editorial
December, 2006

A test of lobbyist power looms at San Jose City Hall tonight, when the city council votes on an outrageous proposal to begin urban development on rural Almaden Valley land.

Fortunately, Almaden Councilwoman Nancy Pyle is taking a strong stand against this plan and in support of the city's current growth policies. Her colleagues should agree. If they don't, the greenbelt that voters approved to contain sprawl in San Jose will become meaningless.

The Rancho San Vicente partnership wants to subdivide 684 acres in the greenbelt into 16 40-acre estates and build water and sewer lines through the area. Current city rules would allow just two homes on the hilly land that stretches west of Almaden Road to Calero Reservoir. And they prohibit urban services in the area, including water and sewer systems that encourage more subdivision in the future.

Earlier this fall, Planning Director Joe Horwedel made an administrative ruling that in essence said: This idea is so far out of touch with city policies that it's not worth more planning work, let alone a costly Environmental Impact Report.

The partners' appeal of that ruling is what's on tonight's council agenda. When developers take this step, it often means they have the political clout to overrule the staff. This group has had a whole raft of politically-connected lobbyists hard at work in council offices for more than a year.

Pyle is unswayed.

In fact, as San Jose re-examines its citywide general plan for land use beginning next year, she'd like to further shore up its ability to preserve open space and recreation opportunities in the South Almaden Valley. More urban development is not what her constituents want, she says, and we believe neighborhoods citywide would echo that sentiment.

If other members of the council disagree with her, it won't be because they're listening to their communities. They'll be listening to the lobbyists.