Morgan Hill’s Poppy Jasper Film Festival
Date: Tuesday November 11, 2008Posted in: real estate, Morgan Hill, City of Morgan Hill, Poppy Jasper film festival
Morgan Hill is hosting it’s 5th annual Poppy Jasper Film Festival this weekend, November 14 - 16, 2008. The Poppy Jasper Film Festival got it’s start with a collaboration of several like-minded Morgan Hill film-lovers, including my friend, Kim Bush, who is the festival chair for the fifth year in a row.
Filmmakers from around the world will discuss their short films of 30 minutes or less that will be shown at various locations throughout Morgan Hill including the Cinelux cinema and the Community Playhouse. The keynote speaker will be Terry Windell, a 1974 Live Oak High School graduate who went on to work on movies including “E.T.,” “Poltergeist,” and “Ghostbusters.” Student films will also showcase local high school talent.
For tickets and more information, click on the link: www.poppyjasperfilmfest.org
Morgan Hill’s City Manager Speaks at SCRA
Date: Thursday October 16, 2008Posted in: City of Morgan Hill, housing, ballot measures
Yesterday, Morgan Hill’s City Manager, Ed Tewes, spoke at our weekly South County Realtors Association. I reported on Mr. Tewes’ previous update to our Association from this past July in this post: http://southcountyrealestatetoday.com/2008/07/26/update-from-morgan-hills-city-manager/. With the upcoming election, Mr. Tewes touched on the two local measures that will be on the ballot, but first he spoke about upcoming development in the city.
The projects slated for development in Morgan Hill which he mentioned have already opened or are very close to opening. These include two new restaurants opening downtown. (The rumor I’ve heard is that Maurizio is developing both of these restaurants….) He also mentioned that the shoe store, DSW has opened in the new Cochrane/101 shopping center. (Can my closet fit any more shoes??)
The first ballot issue Ed Tewes discussed was Measure H, which would provide an exemption for 500 downtown housing units. Everyone has something nice to say about Morgan Hill’s charming and attractive downtown, but most people also have reservations about the health of the commercial enterprises there. Measure H would expand the number of residential units downtown and bring a new vitality to the 20-block area. In order to do this, Morgan Hill’s Residential Development Control System (RDCS) has to be modified but will still meet strict requirements while also meeting Morgan Hill’s population ceiling. I am voting “YES” on Measure H.
The other ballot measure is Measure G, which would establish a 2% utility tax. The monies would be used to hire additional police force. I have not made up my mind how I’m going to vote on Measure G and I’m going to do a little more research.
Roadways slated for development in the next few years: 1. Tennant Avenue will be widened at the 101 overpass from 2 lanes to 4 lanes and the interchange will be a cloverleaf. 2. Butterfield Boulevard will extend south from Tennant Avenue, curving so that it will meet Watsonville Road at Monterey Avenue. 3. Santa Teresa Boulevard will be built from the south end of Hale Avenue/Main Avenue, curving through residential areas, and dead-ending into DeWitt Avenue near Spring Avenue.
Ed Tewes also reminded us of the Morgan Hill’s housing element update which will be discussed at a public meeting tonight at the CCC at 6:45 p.m. Every five years, the city is required by the state to update the housing element. Some of the issues to be discussed will be Below Market Rate units and the unbuilt housing units that have already been approved in previous RDCS competitions.
Update from Morgan Hill’s City Manager
Date: Saturday July 26, 2008Posted in: housing inventory, City of Morgan Hill, affordable housing
Morgan Hill’s City Manager, Ed Tewes, spoke at our South County Realtor Association meeting last week regarding current issues being considered in the city. He first spoke about the Affordable Housing Initiative Measure that is slated to be on the November 4, 2008 ballot. Morgan Hill has had voter-approved growth control since 1977. Developers must compete for building permits. The competition provides incentives to developers via a point system to provide certain items to their proposed development in order to get enough points to be awarded building permits. One of the incentives is to include Below Market Rate residences.
The initiative would do away with this incentive and leave affordable housing development to non-profit companies. At this time, it is up in the air as to whether the initiative will appear on November’s ballot because Morgan Hill’s city government has asked the Santa Clara County Superior Court to review the initiative which, the city says, will make it impossible for the city to abide by state housing laws.
Another topic that the City Manager discussed at our meeting is the downtown plan. It is the city’s goal to create a more active environment downtown with people living, working and recreating in the downtown core. The City Council is considering placing a measure on this Fall’s ballot amending its growth control law to bring 500 residential units to the downtown.
The downtown geographical area is from Main Avenue to Dunne Avenue, north to south, and from Butterfield Boulevard to Del Monte Avenue, east to west. In addition to this core area, the amendment would also include the shopping center where the old Albertsons grocery store was and the neighborhood adjacent to the Britton School area.
The last topic that the City Manager briefly touched on was the 2% Utility Users’ Tax that will also be placed on the November ballot. The money collected from this tax will go into the General Fund but will be used to expand the police department by 9 1/2 positions. It is estimated that this will cost each home $10 per month.
Mr. Tewes does an excellent job of keeping the South County Realtors Association informed and we very much appreciate the time he gives us.
