SAVE OPEN SPACES COALITION IN NORTH SAN JOSE
Founded March 12, 1999

The Save Open Spaces Coalition In North San Jose ("SOS") is made up of 36 families and four small, local groups who have an interest in (a) the environment, (b) open spaces inside city boundaries, (c) appropriate parklands, (d) healthy creeks and creek habitats, and (e) a decent quality of life for residents. We oppose eminent domain for open space purposes. We support the principles of Wise Growth, and we oppose many Smart Growth elements.

North San Jose lacks adequate parklands and open spaces of all kinds. Even with massive incoming housing projects, we see that parklands do not increase to accommodate new residents. Unchecked greed, inappropriate haste, and no attention to the future will cover North San Jose with high priced housing plus inadequate and congested roads to serve the new residents. Proponents of rapid and high density growth ignore education, air pollution, traffic congestion, public safety, recreation, and library services in their rush to cash in on the housing bubble before it goes the way of the dot-com bubble.

PROGRAMS

SOS (a) studies land planning issues and does research into the havoc being wreaked on our communities and neighborhoods, and (b) provides e-mail newsletter updates to concerned residents who want to see the entire picture instead of the disconnected bits handed out by City Council Member Chuck Reed, the planning department, and the San Jose Mercury News. To join the free e-mail newsletter list, send your e-mail address to one of the officers listed below. Your e-mail address will be removed immediately when and if you ask.

PRINCIPLES

SOS works toward "community fit" with all new housing projects to avoid undermining the value of existing homes, to render our neighborhoods pleasing places, and to maintain the suburban nature of North San Jose.

SOS seeks parklands on-site of all housing projects, especially those designated "high density" by the City of San Jose. High density commences at 12 units per acre. We strongly support on-site parklands for all such housing projects and oppose developer-paid in lieu fees which never make it back into the neighborhoods of new housing projects.

CONTACTS