WGNA Approves Position Paper on Google, October 2018
At the Board and Membership Meeting of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA) on October 11, 2018, the board members issued a position paper to Mayor Sam Liccardo, and the City of San José's Planning Department, supporting the Google Campus proposal & Diridon Station Area Plan.
The paper relates to the project on the Diridon Station Area Plan and Google, the Silicon Valley technology company that intends to develop a major transit-oriented campus in the core of the city, expanding the present-day downtown San José. This potential mixed-use master plan development includes offices, residences, retail shops, restaurants, and open spaces, and it's estimated that Google will employ 15,000 to 20,000 people.
On September 13, 2018, the representatives from Google visited with the City of San José in the Willow Glen neighborhood to tell us more about its plans, and how that fits in with the City of San José's Diridon Station Area projects. See that news story here, as well as in the below page flip in this article.
The WGNA position paper was endorsed by the WGNA Board and reads in part:
The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA) would like to offer our support and endorsement for the Google Village project in the Diridon Station area in San Jose. As you may know, WGNA – the oldest neighborhood association in San Jose celebrated 45th anniversary in 2018 -- was established for the sole purpose of creating a stronger and more tightly-knit neighborhood. Our Board of Directors is comprised of established professionals with expertise in various fields, including, but not limited to, public safety, education, land development, small business and many more, with the ultimate goal to keep residents informed on a range of topics pertinent to the life in Willow Glen and to act as an agent of positive change by getting involved in advocacy activities on behalf of our members.
Planning Director's Decision on the Monopole in Gardner
Decision at the Planning Director's Hearing,
re. Communications Antenna in Gardner
— WGNA issues letter; expected to appeal the decision
On the morning of Wednesday, August 15, 2018, members of WGNA's Gardner Committee appeared at the Planning Director's Hearing regarding item b. SP17-044 on the agenda, pertaining to a new 50-foot tall Wireless Communication Antenna Slimline Monopole in the Gardner neighborhood at the northeast corner of Prevost Street and Jerome Street.
The staff recommendation was to consider the exemption in accordance with CEQA, and to approve a special use permit as described above. An action was approved in an agreement with the recommendation, and with added conditions. The synopsis (action minutes) can be seen here. To listen to the hearing on an audio file, click here, and select the indexed item SP17-044 or fast-forward the recording to 18:08 minutes.
At the hearing, WGNA's Gardner Committee chairperson issued a letter, which was also delivered to the San Jose City Clerk for public record. See here to read WGNA's letter issued August 15, 2018, in PDF format (on three pages).
Members of WGNA's Gardner Committee have since regrouped and are planning to make an appeal of the decision made by the board.
On Monday, August 20th, 2018, Alex Harris made a presentation at the Gardner Community center on behalf of the WGNA's Gardner Committee.
Please see our website again and soon for more updates.
WGNA Approves Two Position Papers, first on the wireless antenna in Gardner
WGNA Approves Two Position Papers
— the first on a wireless antenna slimline monopole in the Gardner Neighborhood;
— the second on the Page Street Development by Charities Housing
Two Position Papers were approved by the WGNA Board of Directors at their June 14th, 2018 meeting. The first position paper, referring to the antenna in the Gardner neighborhood, is finalized and now published here online at our website. The second paper will be drafted soon and relates to a position in support of the Page Street development project by Charities Housing.
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Ref. Mobilitie Wireless Antenna: a San Jose Special Use Permit to allow the installation of a new 60-foot Wireless Communication Antenna Slimline Monopole within a new 6-foot block wall compound along the perimeter landscaping on a 0.45 gross acre site. Location: Northeast Corner of Prevost Street, and Jerome Street, San Jose. City of San Jose Planning Reference Number: SP17-044.
(Action) Recommendation to approve a draft Position Paper that is due for a separate Greater Gardner meeting on June 21 at the Gardner Community Center. -
Ref. The Page Street Development: a project development by Charities Housing;
(Action) Recommendation to approve the draft of a position paper in support of the Page Street Development project (after tonight’s guest speaker’s presentation). This draft item was postponed after the last WGNA Board meeting for May.
Click here for a PDF formatted copy of the position paper endorsed on 2018, June 14, ref. Mobilitie Wireless Antenna — the position paper references a City of San Jose Special Use Permit to allow the installation of a new 60-foot Wireless Communication Antenna Slimline Monopole within a new 6-foot block wall compound along the perimeter landscaping on a 0.45 gross acre site. The project location/address is at the northeast corner of Prevost Street, and Jerome Street, San Jose. The Applicant is Mobilitie, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. The city's project Reference Number is SP17-044; and number 2017 039775 DV. The WGNA position paper was endorsed by the WGNA Board and reads in part:
Mobilitie LLC proposes a cell tower installation for T-Mobile in a site 80 feet from the nearest residential property line. This will affect Gardner neighborhood residents, even if they are not directly benefiting from the wireless service...
June 21st Meeting in Gardner re. Wireless Antenna Slimline Monopole
The canvassing flier in the below will be handed out to residents in the greater Gardner neighborhood.
This is for a special meeting on June 21, 2018, at the Gardner Community Center, which will occur prior to our regular WGNA Board meeting on June 14th at the Willow Glen Library (Minnesota Avenue). Both meetings are an open house for everyone.
A position paper will be discussed at the June 14th meeting, as well as presentations.
For questions, please contact WGNA Board Members Jeremy Taylor and Rowan Pike, who live in Gardner, or contact WGNA's Greater Gardner Committee by email at [email protected]
Also see a PDF formatted document of the above flier here.
Read more
June 2018 Meeting
NEXT WGNA Meeting & Presentation
on Thursday 14 June 2018, 7:00 PM
Location: Willow Glen Library, Community Room; 1157 Minnesota Avenue
SUMMARY:
Board Meeting (re. official WGNA board affairs): 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Action Items (three): approve last month’s minutes; two position papers
Recomendation of Two Position Papers:
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Ref. The Page Street Development: a project development by Charities Housing;
(Action) Recommendation to approve the draft of a position paper in support of the Page Street Development project (after tonight’s guest speaker’s presentation). This draft item was postponed after the last WGNA Board meeting for May. -
Ref. Mobilitie Wireless Antenna: a San Jose Special Use Permit to allow the installation of a new 60 foot Wireless Communication Antenna Slimline Monopole within a new 6 foot block wall compound along the perimeter landscaping on a 0.45 gross acre site. Location: Northeast Corner of Prevost Street, and Jerome Street, San Jose. City of San Jose Planning Reference Number: SP17-044.
(Action) Recommendation to approve a draft Position Paper that is due for a separate Greater Gardner meeting on June 21 at the Gardner Community Center.
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Ref. The Page Street Development: a project development by Charities Housing;
Guest Speakers (two): Presentation, & Community Discussion: 7:20 - 8:15 p.m.
- Destination:Homes, re. Housing for the homeless; and
- Charities Housing Development Corp., re. Affordable Housing
WGNA Greater Gardner Committee: re. discussion and position: 8:15 - 8:45 p.m.
Final discussions, closing remarks, & adjournment: 8:45 - 9:00 p.m.
For a review or download of the meeting agenda, please see the dedicated page at http://www.wgna.net/meeting_agendas, or go directly to the PDF document here.
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"No On Measure B", WGNA Position Paper
Willow Glen Neighboroood Association supports a “NO on B” position, referencing San Jose Ballot Measure B, a.k.a. Evergreen Senior Homes.
The measure is on the ballot for the June 5, 2018, Statewide Direct Primary Election. As listed by Santa Clara County, referencing the local measures, and per the official ballot entry, the City of San Jose Measure B (Ordinance and General Plan Amendment Majority Vote) reads as follows:
Shall an initiative measure be adopted: (1) changing San José’s General Plan to create a Senior Housing Overlay to allow conversion of land designated for employment use to senior housing citywide; and (2) changing the Evergreen-East Hills Development Policy and Municipal Code, and adding a Specific Plan to allow development of up to 910 residential units on an approximately 200-acre Industrial Site in Evergreen for individuals 55 and over and other qualifying individuals? [vote] Yes/No
See this position paper in PDF format; as well as go to the list of our other position papers at the page, http://www.wgna.net/position_papers
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Safe Crossings on Bird Avenue
Letter to the City & Decision at City Hall —
WGNA Request to SJ City Council Districts 3 & 6
re. Safe Crossings on Bird Avenue
TO: Councilmember Raul Peralez (D3) & Dev Heinert Davis (D6)
SUBJECT: Improve Public Safety for primary school children attending Gardner Academy School on Illinois Avenue at Auzerais Avenue. Two major intersections along a California State Roadway — Bird Avenue — are unsafe crossings. First, there is Auzerais at Bird Avenue; and secondly, Virginia Street at Bird Avenue.
ACTION REQUESTED:
California State Senator Jim Beall, Jr. is requesting that the City of San Jose, Department of Transportation (DOT), conduct a traffic study of these two intersections. Once the studies are completed, the state of California will take on the necessary improvements to make these intersections safe for primary school children to cross. The timing of these two studies is very important.
Please get back to me within the next twelve working days with a resolution. That is, confirm a date and time when these two studies will be scheduled and expected to be completed. We would appreciate a copy of any correspondence sent to the San Jose DOT team, and their responses.
The Bird Avenue roadway has become increasingly busy, and with all the recent developments beginning at the north of the intersections, West San Carlos Street at Bird Avenue/ Montgomery Streets traffic will increase dramatically. The intersection of Auzerais Street, Bird Avenue and Interstate 280 (i.e., the on and off ramps) is already very dangerous.
See a JPEG version of WGNA's letter to the city here.
NOTICE: This item will be decided at the Rules and Open Government Committee in San Jose City Hall, on the Agenda for 2/14/2018. See the particulars in the below table:
| File #: | ROGC 18-094 Version: 1 |
| Type: | Rules Committee Reviews, Recommendations, and Approvals |
| Status: | Agenda Ready |
| File created: | 2/8/2018 |
| On agenda: | 2/14/2018 |
| In control: | Joint Meeting for the Rules and Open Government Committee and Committee of the Whole |
| Title: | Autumn, Montgomery and Bird Corridor Study. (Peralez/Davis) |
| Attachments: | 1. Memorandum, 2. Letter from the Public |