Local Dems vote to preserve single family zoning in wealthy white suburbs, endorse upzoning in SJ

In their June 3, 2021 meeting, the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee (SCCDCC) voted to single out San Jose as the only municipality in Santa Clara County which should implement a vast, citywide upzoning policy. If enacted, the resolution would likely permanently end single-family-zoned neighborhoods in all of SJ while preserving the restrictive zoning in Palo Alto, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Los Altos (Hills) etc. Guess which city the SCCDCC chair lives in?

"Do as I say, not as I do."

This old saw came to mind for many local political watchers on June 3 as the local, county Democratic leadership group (SCCDCC) voted to endorse upzoning all of San Jose, but none of the surrounding, wealthy white suburbs. The committee is a countywide organization, so its brief covers every municipality in the county, as well as unincorporated land. Many of the committee's leaders live in the cities they voted to save from upzoning. Most notably, the chair of the committee, according to online white pages, appears to live in Los Altos, which was protected from the call to upzone.

Urban planners note that city-by-city upzoning policies will likely force higher density rental units into the cities that upzone first, effectively creating a regional two-tier residential model of "renters' ghettos" and "wealthy white single family suburbs."

Read more here.

June 3 SCCDCC Resolution:

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF OPPORTUNITY HOUSING IN SANTA CLARA COUNTYWHEREAS. The affordable housing crisis in our region continues to impact residents with various

consequences including displacement and homelessness.

WHEREAS. According to the San Jose Housing Department, to purchase a median-priced single-family home in San Jose, buyers need to earn more than $200,000 per year or $120 per hour, but single family- neighborhoods make up 94% of the city and San Jose has strict zoning laws that prevent more units from being built in those neighborhoods.

WHEREAS. Opportunity Housing allows for the modifying of existing zoning ordinances to allow for duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes and would give developers and property owners the opportunity to create more middle-income housing. Although Opportunity Housing would allow for a gentle density, there is no requirement for homeowners to add units to their own property.

WHEREAS. The buildings would blend in with the single-family home landscape and the duplexes or triplexes built under the plan will not alter a neighborhood’s character. The buildings would have similar height and size requirements, so a towering high-rise wouldn’t suddenly rise in a single-family neighborhood.

WHEREAS. There’s no evidence that values will be impacted by the introduction of duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes, values would fluctuate no matter what. Rather, the modest density increase would likely lead to an increase in property value.

WHEREAS. The original San Jose City staff recommendation for the implementation of opportunity housing was tied to a radius of 1⁄2 a mile from high-frequency modes of transit. Instead, the General Plan Task Force voted to implement opportunity housing city-wide. City-wide implementation would create more opportunities to increase much-needed housing supply as well as an equitable distribution of housing throughout San Jose.

WHEREAS. San Jose, like many cities throughout the country, has a dark past of racially charged exclusionary zoning policies, restricting opportunities for people of color to live in certain areas of the city. Opening up restrictive land-use policies would move San Jose in the right direction in terms of equity and the creation of inclusive communities for all.

WHEREAS. The General Plan Task Force recommended exploring Opportunity Housing citywide while prioritizing urban villages to increase San Jose’s housing stock by allowing multi-units and more density in single-family neighborhoods — which comprise some 94% of the city’s residential land — to chip away at Silicon Valley’s crippling housing crisis.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED. That the Santa Clara County Democratic Party supports and endorses the San Jose General Plan Task Force recommendation to implement opportunity housing city- wide; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED. That a copy of this resolution will be shared with members of the party that currently sit on the San Jose City Council.

Follow Opportunity Now on Twitter @svopportunity.

Photo taken by David Sawyer.