WGNA's October 2018 Meeting with Mayor Liccardo
Meet San José Mayor Sam Liccardo
— on the next WGNA Board & Membership Meeting, October 11th, 2018
You are invited to come and meet Mayor Sam Liccardo, hear his address, and participate in the public discussion.
We are hosting an open house and community address on the next Board & Membership Meeting of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association - WGNA.
Join us at 7:00 to 9:00 PM on October 11th, 2018 at Willow Glen United Methodist Church.
The church is located at 1420 Minnesota and Newport Avenues, across from the Willow Glen Library.
Note that WGNA meetings typically occur on the second Thursday of the month.
See Mayor Liccardo's web page at http://www.sanjoseca.gov/mayor
#SanJoseCA #SiliconValley #WGNAsj #MayorLiccardo #WillowGlen
For a review or download of the meeting agenda, please see the dedicated page at http://www.wgna.net/meeting_agendas
Walk to School Day, October 10th, 2018
NATIONAL SAFE ROUTES “WALK TO SCHOOL DAY”
on OCTOBER 10, 2018 IN WILLOW GLEN
Seasonally, every year, Walk to School Dayreturns in the autumn, and Bike to School Day in the spring.
This national event is organized locally by Stakeholders for a Safe Green Villagein partnership with the National Center for Safe Routes to School. Willow Glen Neighborhood Association - WGNA is a regular co-sponsor
WHO: PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS for the Willow Glen event include:
Willow Glen Elementary; River Glen School K-8; Ernesto Galarza Elementary; Hammer Montessori Elementary; Gardner Academy; and Washington Elementary.
(Note: in the below, also see separate events and venues for nearby Gardner Academy and Washington Elementary School).
WHEN & WHERE:
On Thursday 10 October 2018, students, parents, and teachers will meet together at the Bank of America Parking Lot on Lincoln Avenue. In celebrating "Walk to School Day", we all came together for a morning reception and then go to our respective schools.
Team mascots will appear,including "Q" of San Jose Earthquakes, and others to be confirmed. Area students and families are invited to participate, along with other area dignitaries. We will have snacks and giveaways.
Join children & adults around the world to celebrate the benefits of walking:
- Encouraging a child’s next stage of independence
- Physical activity
- Teaching safe pedestrian & bicycling skills to children
- Awareness of how walkable & bikeable community improvements can be made
- Concern for the environment Reducing traffic congestion, pollution & speed near schools
- Sharing time with community leaders, parents & children
- Creating joy and fun!
- Promoting psychological well-being and alertness
- Fostering maturation and responsibility
- Creating habits of activity, empowerment and thinking differently
#WalkToSchool #SafeRoutes #VisionZero #SchoolZone#BackToSchool #StakeholdersSGV #WGNAsj #WGNA #SanJoseCA#SanJose #WillowGlen #LincolnAvenueSJ
September 2018 Meeting & Presentation
The proposed Google Campus
and Diridon Station Area Plan,
a Guest Speaker Presentation
by the City of San Jose
— on the next WGNA Board & Membership Meeting for September 13th
The guest speaker at our next meeting will be the City of San José presenting on the topic of 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. The company will visit 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.
The City of San José and the greater Bay Area region have the unique opportunity to build an internationally prominent transportation center and to develop a superb destination within the area around the Diridon Station.
Information related to the Station Area Advisory Group ("SAAG"), including meeting agendas, minutes, and videos, are posted to this website. To view these items, please click on the tab to the left, labeled "Station Area Advisory Group".
Lori Severino*, Civic Engagement Program Manager for the Diridon Station Area, will be presenting on behalf of City of San Jose, and will provide:
- Background information on the Diridon Station Area, including the main plans that are guiding its development, the planned transit improvements, and the partnership with Google;
- An overview of the City’s community engagement process this year;
- A brief summary of the main input received to date.
On behalf of Google*, a manager of the company's department of Government Affairs & Public Policy will join the city's presentation. Javier González and shall be available to answer questions.
The Google project proposes to be a multi-million-square-foot urban campus in the heart of San José, one of the biggest development projects in the city's history. The prime area of development is the Autumn-Montgomery neighborhood, although it also relates to outlying vicinities like Downtown San José, Lakehouse, Sunol-Midtown, and Auzerais-Josefa.
We are also interested in how the flow of development will connect to neighborhoods like our own Willow Glen, as well as to nearby Burbank, College Park, and North San José.
Change of Meeting Location:
The Next WGNA Board and Membership Meeting will occur on the second Thursday, September 13, 2018, at the Willow Glen United Methodist Church, located at 1420 Newport Avenue, on the corner of Minnesota Avenue. This is just across the street from our usual location at the Willow Glen Public Library. Join us at 7:00 PM for this open house meeting. For updated information, please return to the website at a closer time to the event.
*Update: Kim Walesh, Deputy City Manager, Director of Economic Development presented on behalf of City of San Jose, not Lori Severino.
On behalf of Google, managers of the company's department of Government Affairs & Public Policy joined the city's presentation. Javier González was not present.
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.
Read more
June 21st Meeting in Gardner re. Wireless Antenna Slimline Monopole
The below canvassing flier 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 open house to everyone.
A position paper will be discussed on 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 moreWillow Glen Schools Gifted Invitation to Earthquakes Soccer Game
Several students at our Willow Glen Neighborhood Schools will receive prize tickets to the soccer game — The San Jose Earthquakes versus Los Angeles FC at the San Jose Avaya Stadium — scheduled for June 9th, 2018 at 7:15 PM.
Participating schools include:
Willow Glen Elementary
River Glen School K-8
Ernesto Galarza & Hammer Montessori
Gardner Academy
The game tickets are courtesy of Stakeholders for Safe Green Village (SGV), purchased by the co-sponsorship of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA); Willow Glen Business Association (WGBA); and the Table Restaurant.
We also thank the Earthquakes for their free giveaways, school assembly demonstrations, mascot appearances, etc. Together, we have promoted Safe Routes to School, and community pride. We invite you to enjoy “Willow Glen Neighborhood Night” with the Earthquakes! And enjoy your end-of-year summer vacation!
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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
Read more
May 2018 Meeting & Presentation
NEXT on WEDNESDAY 16 MAY 2018, 7:00 PM
Note: This is not on our usual day, due to our political forum that was just held May 10th.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING & URBAN LIVING SERIES: This coming meeting at the Willow Glen Public Library includes a presentation by Sandra Heredia of Charities Housing Development Corporation. She will share the insights on the Page Street Development in the W. San Carlos Urban Village Planning Area nearby Willow Glen. (See our prior speakers in this series, noted below or in the News section of our website)
TRAILS UPDATE: Additionally, we will get another Trails Update from Yves Zsutty, Trails Manager of the San Jose Parks, Recreation, & Neighborhood Services (PRNS) department. He will talk about the improvements around the Coe Avenue area, as well as points in the greater trails network.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Finally, we will engage a discussion on the underserved areas, and with particular regards to the long proposed Fire Station #37. Neighborhood Commissioners from District 6 are invited to speak and answer questions.