Willow Glen Resident

News

Neighbors have their say in how San Jose updates its General Plan

By Stephen Baxter

Mayor Chuck Reed has nominated 37 people to a committee that will shape San Jose's goals for the next three decades.

The Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan Update Task Force plans to study city development, transportation and other city issues for a report due in about 18 months. City council members recommended several neighborhood leaders from Willow Glen, Almaden Valley and the Cambrian neighborhood to the group, and the council is expected to vote on the nominations at its Aug. 7 meeting. Meetings will start in the fall.

Former council member and Willow Glen resident, Nancy Ianni is one of those who has been nominated to serve on the committee.

Ianni has lived in Willow Glen for more than 30 years and served three terms on the city council from 1981 to 1993. In the 1970s, she battled General Plan guidelines that called for four-lane roads in Willow Glen, plans that she said would have wrecked the neighborhood.

For San Jose's future, she said, "We need to make it better before we make it bigger. Development can't take place in one part of the city without it affecting other parts."

Ianni also said the city should be realistic, that city leaders should follow through on promises to build transit lines and roads connected to new housing developments. Building and maintaining parks and libraries should also be a priority, Ianni said.

Ianni said when she first became involved in the General Plan in the '70s, she realized that residents of the south and east sides had similar concerns to Willow Glen neighbors.

"We all lived in San Jose and wanted it to get better, and it has improved," Ianni said.

For the Almaden and Branham areas, Dave Fadness is expected to sit on the task force. Councilwoman Nancy Pyle's office nominated Fadness, a 65-year-old retired mechanical engineer and transportation advocate who lives near the interchange of Highways 87 and 85.

Gary Chronert, a 14-year Cambrian school board trustee. Chronert said he hoped the task force would consider development issues in Cambrian Park and ways to cure declining school enrollment in his area. He also said the experience of former city council members nominated to the task force would make it more effective.

Fadness said his efforts to improve transportation have been "honed by my experience trying to get around the county in my car."