The Resident
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VTA gives Green Valley thumbs up for outreach
By Mary Gottschalk
Green Valley Republic, the developer hoping to purchase 5.6 acres from the Valley Transportation Authority, earned high praise for its community outreach efforts at the VTA board of directors meeting on April 3.
The meeting was Green Valley's last chance to show the VTA that it had made a good faith effort to reach out to the community before VTA officials decide whether to move forward on a land deal with the company.
VTA deputy director John Ristow praised Green Valley and specifically Michael Van Every, senior vice president of Republic Urban, which owns half of Green Valley in partnership with Barry Swenson Builder, for holding six neighborhood outreach meetings instead of the required three.
VTA entered into an exclusive negotiating contract with developer Green Valley Republic for property at the corner of W. San Carlos and Sunol streets in April 2007, after considering four proposals from three different developers.
Green Valley's proposal is to build as many as 800 housing units on an 8.25-acre site that will include three 12-story, 120-foot high buildings, as well as four other buildings of four to five stories.
Swenson has an option to buy the additional land, now owned by Union Pacific.
In February of this year, the VTA board extended the agreement because it believed Green Valley had not done the necessary community outreach.
It also required the developer to report back on progress at the April 3 meeting, in preparation for deciding whether to approve the land sale at the May 1 meeting.
Van Every gave board members a three-page letter outlining questions and comments raised at the three meetings. He also announced that Green Valley is organizing a steering committee of "eight to 11 neighborhood stakeholders" to work with as the project goes forward.
"We want the opportunity to say why height means more open space," Van Every said.
Height and density issues have been the main focus at the community meetings, with more than 90 percent of the more than 150 people attending one meeting raising their hands to signify opposition to 120-foot-tall buildings.
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, one of five city representatives on the VTA board, was clearly annoyed at the discussion of what the development would be.
"This is really strange, talking about a project that isn't a project. It's a land use issue," Reed said. "What is it we're trying to do?
"I thought we were trying to sell property. I don't see how issues of height affect us."
Supervisor Ken Yeager, who is an ex-officio member of the VTA board and former councilman in the district where the land is located, asked if the sale of the property is contingent on Green Valley getting entitlements from the city of San Jose, which will have final jurisdiction over the building plans.
Ristow said, "Payment is contingent of the project going forward."
Yeager pointed out that Green Valley's design height proposal is not allowed under current San Jose criteria and that the "neighborhood is overwhelmingly opposed to this."
Ristow acknowledged that the issue of height was not considered among the criteria when Green Valley was chosen as the developer with whom to negotiate.
San Jose City Councilman Forrest Williams, who also serves on the board, asked if, after the property is sold, the final design is up to the developer and San Jose.
When Ristow told him yes, Williams asked, "Are we compatible with the city of San Jose and transit development policies?"
Ristow didn't answer the questions, but said VTA's goals are "one, to increase ridership; two, to build long-term revenue sources; and three, to do good projects."
Four residents from the Willow Glen and Rose Garden areas spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Helen Chapman, vice president of the Shasta Hanchett Park Neighborhood Association, said she was there to "voice concern about the VTA project as it is proposed" and asked the board, "Is this project fiscally responsible?"
Jack Nadeau of Willow Glen told the board he doubts residents of the proposed development would be taking public transit to their jobs, shopping or to children's soccer practices.
"From a planning standpoint this is glaringly inappropriate, and the VTA should not be a party to it," he said.
Richard Zapelli of Willow Glen asked that an environmental impact report and a "two- to three-year" traffic study be done before any plans are approved.
"The developers are assuming these residents will take light rail, but no studies have been done to show if they will," Zapelli said.
Dominic Caserta, a Santa Clara city councilman and board member, told the speakers, "I can tell you care about your neighborhoods, but for me this is about price and terms."
The May 1 VTA Board meeting will take place at 6 p.m. in the board of supervisors chamber in the County Government Center, 70 W. Hedding St.
