Propósito de este
Resumen
El propósito de este resumen es establecer
directrices para la venta de bienes o servicios de
ubicaciones que no son un negocio permanente
localización. Todos los vendedores, vendedores
ambulantes y abogados ubicarse en un lugar fijo debe
cumplir con todos los disposiciones del Código
Municipal. Violación de cualquier sección del código
municipal es la justificación para revocar la licencia
comercial.
DEFINICIONES
Vendedor de alimentos móvil: cualquier venta
ambulante instalaciones que incluyen camiones de
comida, portátiles contenedores, carritos, vagones,
bicicletas, automóviles, camiones, furgonetas y otros
vehículos definido en la Sección 670 del Código de
Vehículos de California, según enmendada, que se
utilizan para exhibir, vender u ofrecer a la venta
alimentos, bienes o servicios en propiedad pública o
privada.
Buhonero: cualquier persona que no tenga un
establecimiento establecido en la ciudad, que
viaja de un lugar a otro, o tiene un puesto
en cualquier calle, callejón u otro público
lugar, entrada de cualquier edificio, no cerrado o
lote baldío, o parcela de tierra, que vende o vende
ofrece a la venta cualquier bien, mercancía o
mercancía en su poder.
Abogado - Cualquier persona que va de un lugar a
otro. lugar en la Ciudad, no habiendo sido invitado por el ocupante o dueño de la propiedad de la misma,
llevando o transporte de bienes, mercancías,
mercancías o propiedad personal de cualquier
naturaleza, y que ofrece
vender cualquier bien, mercancía o mercadería, y / o
Brindar servicios que se realizarán en el futuro. Esto
también incluye a cualquier persona que, si invitación, va de un lugar a otro solicitando contribución de fondos o cualquier cosa de valor, o vender bienes o servicios
con fines políticos, benéficos, religiosos o con otros
fines no comerciales.
Permitiendo Y Licencia
Requisitos
Todos los vendedores / vendedores ambulantes /
abogados deben tener la siguiente:
Licencia comercial de la ciudad
Todos los vendedores / vendedores ambulantes /
abogados deben obtener una ciudad
licencia comercial y cumplir con todas las licencias
requisitos.
o Como parte de la solicitud de licencia comercial,
lista de todos los empleados que estarán haciendo
El contacto con los miembros de la comunidad debe
ser proporcionado.
Licencias aplicables
Todos los vendedores / vendedores ambulantes /
abogados deben mantener todos licencias y
permisos aplicables del gobierno federal, estatal o
agencias locales, y proporcionar prueba de posesión
a petición.
Permiso de vendedor de California
Todos los vendedores / vendedores ambulantes /
abogados deben poseer un Departamento de
California de Permiso de vendedor de la
Administración de impuestos y tarifas que designa a
la "Ciudad de Morgan Hill" como ubicación o
sublocalización.
Seguro
Todos los vendedores / vendedores ambulantes /
abogados deben adquirir y mantener cualquier
seguro requerido por el administrador de riesgos de
la ciudad, como comercial seguro de responsabilidad
civil general, seguro de automóvil o seguro de
compensación de trabajadores. Enviar copias de
todas las pólizas de seguro existentes con su
solicitud de licencia comercial.
Permiso de salud del condado de Santa Clara
Todos los vendedores de productos
alimenticios que venden cualquier tipo de
alimento. se requieren elementos para adquirir
y mostrar un condado permiso de salud pública
en todo momento. Adicional las regulaciones se
aplican a las instalaciones móviles de alimentos
Directrices de operación
Si un proveedor de dispositivos móviles no está
ayudando a los clientes, proveedor está limitado a
treinta (30) minutos en su ubicación actual.
Después de treinta (30) minutos, el
el proveedor debe mover su vending móvil
equipo por lo menos trescientos (300) pies
antes de volver a parar. La violación de esta regla
es justificación para revocar la licencia comercial.
Regulaciones generalmente aplicables
• Permitido entre las 7:00 a.m. y 10:00 pm.
• No puede obstruir las aceras ni el tráfico.
• No se puede vender en parques o áreas de
juego.
• Mantendrá un área de venta limpia y
deshacerse de la basura correctamente.
• Los vendedores ambulantes de alimentos
almacenarán adecuadamente
• residuos y proporcionar contenedores de
residuos para clientes.
Regulaciones de propiedad
privada
• El dueño de la propiedad debe proporcionar por
escrito consentimiento.
• No operará en lotes baldíos.
• No operará en estacionamientos propiedad de la
ciudad.
o estructuras sin el consentimiento por escrito de
la ciudad.
• No debe operar sobre o inmediatamente
adyacentes a viviendas unifamiliares o dúplex.
• No se deben colocar carteles o pancartas
independientes desplegado.
• No se permitirán mesas, sillas u otros muebles
del sitio ser permitido.
• Las estructuras de sombra temporales deben
eliminado siempre que el proveedor de
dispositivos móviles el vehículo no está
funcionando.
• El vehículo solo se detendrá, parado,
o estacionado en superficies pavimentadas con
hormigón asfalto u otra superficie impermeable
Street & Mobile
Vendors
City Council
December 3, 2025
Requested Agenda Item
2 On September 3, 2025, Mayor Turner requested a future agenda item to discuss and consider:
Pop-up Vendors / Street Vendors
All throughout the city pop-up vendors consisting of push carts, BBQ pits, grills, food trailers, food carts, or other items used to sell food, flowers, and other retail items and services are beginning to appear. While these types of businesses may be legal according to California State law, there are certain permissible regulations that should be considered and enforced.
State Laws
3 SB 946 – Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (2018)
• Decriminalizes sidewalk vending; allows only administrative fines (no arrests) • Cities may regulate time, place, and manner for health/safety, but not competition • Vendors may need local permits, but the process can’t be prohibitive • Fines capped at $1,000; enforcement must remain administrative • Cities may require basic vendor info (name, merchandise, seller’s permit, business address) SB 972 – Compact Mobile Food Operations (2022)
• Creates Compact Mobile Food Operation (CMFO) category for small mobile food vendors • Simplifies health rules for CMFOs – Permits issued by County Environmental Health Dept • Allows cottage or home kitchens to serve as commissaries for up to 2 CMFOs • SCC CMFO permits issued: San Jose 105 | Gilroy 9 | Morgan Hill 6 SB 635 – Food Vendors & Facilities Enforcement (2025)
• Protects vendor privacy; bans collection of immigration or personal data • Requires destruction of prior data by March 1, 2026
• Prohibits contracting with or sharing info to immigration-enforcing entities • Allows alternative IDs (ITINs, municipal IDs) for permitting • Reinforces SB 946 & SB 972 with focus on privacy, fairness, and non-discrimination
Street Vending—Simplified
4 What is allowed?
Under current state law, sidewalk and mobile vendors are allowed to operate in most public outdoor areas and private property (with owner permission) unless a city can demonstrate an objective health, safety, or welfare reason to restrict them.
What is required?
Street vendors require a City business license, a State of California Sellers Permit and, in the case of food vending, a County of Santa Clara Health Permit.
What enforcement do we do?
Cities may enforce only administrative, health, and safety-based regulations on sidewalk and mobile vendors—nothing punitive or discriminatory.
• Business Licenses
• County Health Permits (if selling food)
• Issue administrative citations and fines with escalating fines within state-allowed limits
• Require Vending Permits (process must be accessible and not prohibitive)
Current Situation
5 Current Activity – Approximately 6-12 vendors selling food, goods, and services without required licenses or health permits; Food Trucks in Downtown usually have permits
No Municipal Ordinance – City has Guidelines and marketing materials to support compliance with business license and health permit requirements City Response – City has emphasized education over citations, distributing bilingual materials to support vendor compliance
Expanded Enforcement – Increased evening/weekend coverage; fines start at $100 per missing permit after voluntary compliance efforts, fines double with each occurrence thereafter
Challenges – Language barriers, vendor mobility, lack of identification, and evening and weekend hours of operation
City Goals
6 • Ensure public safety
• Maintain and promote a fair business environment
• Support entrepreneurial environment and economic mobility • Manage City resources effectively
• Comply with State regulations
Evaluation
7 Best Practices
• Researched other cities
• Gilroy, Los Gatos, Palo Alto,
San Rafael, and Fairfield
• Most cities solving for:
• Spacing from special
events and schools
• Managing trash and grease
• Clearances and structures
Evaluation of Situation
• Extent of problem
• Issues that may be solved
given State’s regulations
• Opportunities to improve
vendor compliance
• City’s capacity to implement
and enforce new regulations
Analysis & Recommendation
8 • The City’s actions are limited by state law, which restricts how much local regulation and enforcement can be applied
• Issue in Morgan Hill is relatively small
• Immediate Opportunities:
• Improve code compliance marketing and education materials • Expand education and outreach efforts
• Future Opportunities:
• Establish Food Truck operating standards for Downtown • Develop an Ordinance that balances Code Compliance and Economic Mobility with available City enforcement resources
QUESTIONS?
9 CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: December 3, 2025
PREPARED BY:
Adam Paszkowski, Principal Planner
APPROVED BY: City Manager
ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO ADD A HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS FOR
ALL ELEMENT (GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT GPA2024-0002) TO
THE TEXT OF THE MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN IN
COMPLIANCE WITH CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 1000
RECOMMENDATION(S)
1. Open/Close the Public Hearing; and
2. Adopt a Resolution approving an amendment to the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan to add a Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES
City Council Ongoing Priorities
Enhancing Public Safety
Supporting our Youth, Seniors, and Entire Community
Fostering a Positive Organizational Culture
Preserving and Cultivating Public Trust
Preserving our Community History
Enhancing Diversity and Inclusiveness
Advocating for Local, Regional, and State Legislative Initiatives 2024-2025 Strategic Priorities
Community Engagement
Healthy Community
Guiding Documents
Bikeways, Trails, and Recreation Master Plan
Communications, Outreach, and Engagement Plan
Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan
REPORT NARRATIVE:
The Healthy Neighborhoods for All (HN4A) Element is a new Environmental Justice Element of the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan, prepared in compliance with Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000), Planning for Healthy Communities Act. SB 1000 requires local jurisdictions to identify 'disadvantaged communities' in their jurisdictions and address
9 environmental justice in their general plans. This law has several purposes, including facilitating transparency and public engagement in local governments' planning and decision-making processes, reducing harmful pollutants and the associated health risks in 'disadvantaged communities', and promoting equitable access to health-inducing benefits, such as healthy food options, housing, public facilities, and recreation.
In Morgan Hill, the term “Opportunity Neighborhoods” has been used in place of the State term 'disadvantaged communities' to reflect a strengths-based approach.
Opportunity Neighborhoods are primarily located south of Dunne Avenue between Highway 101 and Monterey Road, as shown on the map below. These neighborhoods, identified through the HN4A Background Review Report and community input, are disproportionately affected by environmental burdens such as air pollution, trafficrelated emissions, limited access to healthy food, and higher housing cost burdens.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Morgan Hill is guided by several key policy and regulatory documents to manage future growth. Adopted by the City Council in July 2016, the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan establishes a vision for a prosperous, vibrant city, supported by a framework of goals, policies, and actions that guide the City’s decisions for the next two decades. State law also continues to influence growth and development in the City. SB 1000 requires local jurisdictions with identified 'disadvantaged communities' to include
9 goals, policies, and actions to reduce unique or compounded health risks throughout the city, with special attention toward disadvantaged communities and address the following eight topics:
• Reduce pollution exposure;
• Promoting public facilities;
• Promoting food access;
• Promoting safe and sanitary homes;
• Promoting physical activity;
• Reducing unique or compounded health risks;
• Promoting civic engagement; and
• Prioritizing the needs of disadvantaged communities.
Low-income communities and communities of color often bear a disproportionate burden of pollution and associated health risks. Environmental justice seeks to correct this inequity by reducing the pollution experienced by these communities and ensuring their input is considered in decisions that affect them. "Environmental justice" is defined in California law as the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. (Cal. Gov. Code, § 65040.12, subd. (e).) HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ALL ELEMENT:
Sections within the draft HN4A Element work to advance environmental justice within Opportunity Neighborhoods and across the City of Morgan Hill. These sections include:
Inclusive Public Engagement in City Decisions — Building awareness around City initiatives and programming is vital to gathering input and supporting community members in becoming familiar with existing policies and programs, which can translate to more meaningful engagement. Policies in this section emphasize sharing information in a user-friendly manner that promotes meaningful, relevant community involvement in City decisions.
Pollution Exposure and Air Quality — Environmental pollution can affect the quality of life and a person's mental and physical well-being by heightened risks of strokes and respiratory ailments like asthma that can ultimately lead to shorter life expectancy. This section emphasizes the urgency of reducing harmful emissions, particularly in communities already bearing the brunt of environmental burdens, to enhance health outcomes. The proposed actions involve implementing measures to reduce exposure to pollution, truck route management, and land use buffers.
Promoting Physical Health — Access to safe and enjoyable public spaces, recreation, and reliable public transit enhances opportunities for individuals to integrate physical activities into their daily routines, promoting both physical health and mental well-being. Policies in this section promote affordable or free recreation, prioritizing parks within Opportunity Neighborhoods, and designing new parks to be inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all ages, abilities, and cultural needs.
9 Affordable Access to Healthy Food Options — Health implications due to food insecurity can have far-reaching consequences on both physical and mental wellbeing. It can lead to nutritional deficiencies that can hinder proper growth and development in children, chronic health conditions such as type-two diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, obesity and weight gain, complications related to maternal and child health, and can also negatively impact cognitive function. For areas that lack safe, convenient, and affordable access to healthy and fresh food options, more grocery stores, along with produce stands, community gardens, and food banks, in areas lacking access, can play a significant role in reducing food insecurity by offering better options for obtaining nutritious and affordable food. Policies in this section work together to facilitate programming in both public and private spaces to advance the availability, access, and affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables to promote a healthy food system.
Safe and Healthy Homes — Location, quality, and affordability of homes play a vital role in fostering comfortable and secure living environments for all ages. The HN4A Element points to the Housing Element for goals, policies, and actions that guide the development of homes. Proposed actions in this section include affordable housing preservation, tenant protections, and healthy home retrofits.
Increase Overall Health — Overall health is shaped by the interplay of physical, mental, and social well-being, and is deeply influenced by the environments in which people live, work, and play. In Morgan Hill, residents of Opportunity Neighborhoods face compounded health risks due to factors such as limited access to medical care, fewer safe and affordable recreation opportunities, higher exposure to extreme heat, and transportation barriers that make it harder to reach essential services. These inequities contribute to disparities in chronic disease rates, mental health outcomes, and life expectancy. Proposed actions in this section focus on health education, mobile health services, increased transit access, and mitigating extreme heat.
Public Facilities and Infrastructure Prioritization — Infrastructure is not just the physical structures that surround us, it is the essential fabric that connects us to opportunity, laying the foundation for safe, healthy, and connected communities.
When infrastructure is high quality, located where it is needed, and well-maintained, community members can access economic opportunities, use essential services, and deepen social connections, resulting in healthy and stable communities.
Proposed actions involve Safe Routes to Schools, lighting, public amenities, and active transportation networks in Opportunity Neighborhoods.
The Planning Commission held a workshop and a public hearing regarding the HN4A Element on October 14, 2025, and November 11, 2025, respectively; following discussion at their November 11, 2025, meeting, the Planning Commission unanimously approved Resolution No. 25-17 recommending the City Council approve the HN4A Element. As part of the Planning Commission's approval, they also proposed the addition of the below Action.
9 Action HN-3.C Neighborhood-Serving Parks. Review and consider revising Article I (Park Land Dedication) within Title 17 (Subdivisions) to encourage privately maintained parks remain open and accessible to the public to promote equitable access.
Complete details of the proposed amendments are provided in the draft Resolution (Attachment 1) and in the Planning Commission's October 14, 2025, staff report and November 11, 2025, staff report.
In addition to the direction and feedback on the text of the HN4A Element from the Planning Commission during the October 14, 2025, workshop, staff also received comments and feedback from the ¡Morgan Hill Prospera! steering committee, and the Climate Action Pathways for Schools interns.
¡Morgan Hill Prospera! Steering Committee
The ¡Morgan Hill Prospera! steering committee was a community-based advisory group formed as part of the City of Morgan Hill’s HN4A initiative. Members shared local concerns, priorities, and lived experiences directly with City staff to be incorporated into the development of the HN4A Element. The committee received regular briefings on the progress of the HN4A Element and related planning efforts, and it fostered a dialogue among diverse stakeholders, including residents, community-based organizations, and city representatives. The steering committee played a key role in shaping equitable planning policies by ensuring that community input is embedded in the development of the HN4A Element.
Climate Action Pathways for Schools
City Staff assisted Climate Action Pathways for Schools (CAPS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, secure a $300,000 grant over the course of three years from the James Cary Smith Community Grant Program to recruit, hire, and train Morgan Hill Unified School District (MHUSD) students to lead sustainability projects within Morgan Hill. One of the projects under the grant consisted of reviewing the draft goals, policies, and actions of the HN4A Element and providing a presentation to staff of their recommendations. Several of the recommendations from the interns were incorporated into the draft HN4A Element.
Findings for Approval
Pursuant to Section 18.115.060 (Findings for Approval), the City Council may approve a general plan amendment only if the following finding is made:
A. The city council must find that the proposed amendment meets the letter and intent of the general plan goals and policies.
The draft HN4A Element meets the letter and intent of the general plan goals and policies as it complements existing policies and is consistent with the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan vision to maintain Morgan Hill’s family-friendly character and strong sense of community while the community grows and prospers.
9 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Inform, Involve, Collaborate, and Empower
A 10-day public hearing notice was published in the Friday, November 21, 2025, edition of the Morgan Hill Times pursuant to Government Code Sections 65090-65096. Notice was also provided on the website and email/social media with the City's 411 distribution.
On October 14, 2025, the Planning Commission held a workshop on the draft text of the HN4A Element providing Staff direction and feedback. On November 11, 2025, the Planning Commission held a public hearing regarding the proposed HN4A Element, in which a 10-day public hearing notice was published in the Friday, October 31, 2025, edition of the Morgan Hill Times.
The City implemented an outreach and engagement program to inform the community and seek input regarding the HN4A Element, as documented in the HN4A Outreach and Engagement Summary, which included 59 events between August 2024 and August 2025, reaching 1,529 participants. Engagement formats included pop-up events, visioning workshops, community meetings, and targeted outreach within Opportunity Neighborhoods. Materials and surveys were provided in English and Spanish and interpretation was available at events. The engagement process built trust, particularly in Spanish-speaking communities, and directly shaped the Element’s goals, policies, and actions.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
Alternatively, the City Council may choose to adopt the HN4A Element with specific modifications, or not adopt a HN4A Element.
If the City Council does not take action to adopt the HN4A Element, the General Plan will remain as-is, and therefore the City will not be in compliance with SB 1000. Failing to comply with SB 1000 could mean the General Plan may be statutorily incomplete and vulnerable to legal challenge under the Government Code, alleging the General Plan is inadequate or inconsistent because it lacks required Environmental Justice content. The Attorney General's Office Department of Justice works to ensure local governments comply with SB 1000 and other mandatory duties to further equitable land use policies. The Attorney General's Office has submitted comments and enforcement actions in other jurisdictions in an effort to promote effective environmental justice planning at the local level.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMISSION ACTIONS:
On October 14, 2025, the Planning Commission held a workshop on the draft text of the HN4A Element providing Staff direction and feedback on the proposed text, goals, policies, and actions of the HN4A Element.
On November 11, 2025, the Planning Commission considered and recommended, unanimously, the City Council approve to add the HN4A Element to the Morgan Hill
9 2035 General Plan.
FISCAL AND RESOURCE IMPACT:
This item is included in the current adopted budget (FY24-25 and FY25-26) and is part of the Long Range Planning workplan and is funded through the Long Range Planning Fund (207).
CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):
Exempt
The HN4A Element has been reviewed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The proposed draft goals, policies, and actions are primarily programmatic and policy-level, and will not result in any direct impact upon the physical environment.
Any development that occurs in the future subject to such standards will undergo an independent analysis per the requirements of CEQA. The HN4A Element is covered under the certified Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and no further environmental review is required pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15183.
The EIR for the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan was prepared in accordance with CEQA and certified by the Morgan Hill City Council on July 27, 2016 (SCH#2015022074).
RESOLUTION NO. 25-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MORGAN HILL ADOPTING A GENERAL PLAN
AMENDMENT (GPA2024-0002) TO AMEND THE TEXT OF
THE MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN TO ADD A
HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ALL ELEMENT IN
COMPLIANCE WITH SENATE BILL (SB) 1000
WHEREAS, the State of California requires cities and counties to adopt a comprehensive, long-term General Plan for the physical development of the City, pursuant to Government Code Section 65302;
WHEREAS, Senate Bill (SB) 1000 requires local agencies to address environmental justice in their General Plan;
WHEREAS, environmental justice includes, but is not limited to, reducing pollution exposure and improving air quality, promoting healthy food access, safe and healthy homes, physical activity, inclusive public engagement, as well as public facilities and infrastructure prioritization;
WHEREAS, SB 1000 amended Government Code Section 65302 to address “disadvantaged communities,” which the statute defines to include low-income areas that are disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation; WHEREAS, SB 1000 requires local agencies to amend their General Plan to include environmental justice goals, policies, and actions to reduce unique and compounded health risks, promote civil engagement in the public decision-making process, and prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of disadvantaged communities, collectively known as Opportunity Neighborhoods within the Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element;
WHEREAS, adoption of the Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element into the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan will meet the requirements of SB 1000 by highlighting and expanding upon existing policies throughout the General Plan related to topic areas in one central location. The Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element strives to uphold existing high-quality public spaces and amenities while creating the space for more inclusive practices that foster a Morgan Hill where all community members have equal access and opportunities, regardless of where they live in the City; WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines, a Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (SCH No. 2015022074)
City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 25-xx
for the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan Update was prepared and certified by the City of Morgan Hill in July 2016;
WHEREAS, the City of Morgan Hill acting as a lead agency has completed an environmental analysis and determined that the goals, policies, and actions of the Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element are primarily programmatic and policy-level, and will not result in any direct impact upon the physical environment, and any development that occurs in the future subject to such standards will undergo an independent analysis per the requirements of CEQA. Therefore, the City has determined that the Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element is covered under the certified Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan EIR, and no further environmental review is required pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15183.
WHEREAS, on November 21, 2025, a public notice was published in the Morgan Hill Times, specifying the date, time, and location of the public hearing to consider the recommendation that the City Council adopt the General Plan Amendment to add a Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element to the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan; WHEREAS, such request was considered by the Planning Commission at its regular meeting of November 11, 2025, and by the City Council at its meeting of December 3, 2025; and
WHEREAS, testimony received at a duly noticed public hearing, along with exhibits and other materials have been considered in the review process.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE MORGAN HILL CITY COUNCIL DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Morgan Hill City Council finds that the General Plan amendment meets the letter and intent of the General Plan goals and policies.
SECTION 2. That the City Council adopt the Resolution adding the Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element to the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan as set forth in Exhibit “A” and by this reference incorporated herein.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
SECTION 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 3rd DAY OF DECEMBER 2025, AT A MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 25-xx
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
______________________________ _______________________________ MICHELE BIGELOW, City Clerk MARK TURNER, Mayor
City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 25-xx
CERTIFICATE OF THE CITY CLERK
I, MICHELLE BIGELOW, CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL, CALIFORNIA, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. , adopted by the City Council of the City of Morgan Hill, California at their regular meeting held on the ____ day of ________, 2025.
WITNESS MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL.
DATE: _____________________ _____________________________ MICHELE BIGELOW, City Clerk
City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 25-xx
EXHIBIT ‘A”
Healthy
Neighborhoods
For AllElement
Adopted XXXXX 2025
Page HN-1
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................... HN-2 Inclusive Public Engagement in City Decisions ................................................................. HN-5 Pollution Exposure and Air Quality ................................................................................... HN-7 Promoting Physical Health ............................................................................................ HN-10 Affordable Access to Healthy Food Options ................................................................... HN-13 Safe and Healthy Homes ............................................................................................... HN-16 Increase Overall Health................................................................................................. HN-18 Public Facilities and Infrastructure ................................................................................ HN-23
Page HN-2
Introduction
This Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element
focuses on reducing pollution exposure,
improving air quality, and promoting public
facilities, affordable healthy food access, safe
and healthy homes, physical activity, and
overall health. To better address community
needs, this Element also encourages and
supports inclusive public engagement in City
decisions. Together, these efforts work to
advance Healthy Neighborhoods across the
City and improve the quality of life for all
Morgan Hill community members.
Varied development patterns within a city can
lead to unequal impacts in communities.
Development that generates jobs and
enriches a community may also increase air
pollution in the surrounding communities. An
absence of development can also negatively
affect a community. A lack of grocery stores in
a community can limit access to healthy food,
which has been linked to increased obesity
rates and poorer health outcomes.
Communities have suffered – and continue to
suffer – more from the adverse effects of
varied development patterns by carrying a
more significant and disproportionate burden
of the associated health risks. The Healthy
Neighborhoods for All Element is intended to
address the imbalances in our communities.
Senate Bill 1000
This Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element
satisfies the statutory requirements for the
Environmental Justice Element of the General
Plan. Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000), Planning for
Healthy Communities Act, was adopted in
2016 which requires local governments to
address pollution and other hazards that
disproportionately impact low-income
communities and communities of color in
their jurisdiction by identifying any
“disadvantaged communities” within its
planning area. In place of using the State term
“disadvantaged communities”, the ¡Morgan
Hill Prospera! steering committee has coined
the term “Opportunity Neighborhoods”.
Opportunity Neighborhoods
Opportunity Neighborhoods (formerly
referred to as Communities of Concern)
describes areas of the City most impacted
and negatively affected by environmental
burdens and associated health risks, as
shown in Figure HN-1.
Healthy Neighborhoods for All ensures that
people of all races, cultures, and incomes are
equally and equitably valued, protected, and
served. This includes policies and regulations
that affect the quality of the environment,
such as mobility, parks, open space, public
space, public services, and use of land. This
Element strives to uphold existing high-quality
public spaces and amenities while creating
the space for more inclusive practices that
foster a Morgan Hill where all community
members have equal access and
opportunities, regardless of where they live in
the City.
The identification of Opportunity
Neighborhoods was informed by the Healthy
Neighborhoods for All Background Review
PURPOSE
To identify and reduce unique and compounded health risks, increase community assets, and improve overall health.
Page HN-3
Report and from input by the ¡Morgan Hill
Prospera! steering committee.
Healthy Neighborhoods for All
The City has made efforts to advance Healthy
Neighborhoods for All and many related
policies have already been adopted by the City
Council, including recent amendments to the
General Plans Housing Element, as well as
policies and actions within the City and
Neighborhood Form, Economic Development,
Healthy Community, Transportation, Natural
Resources and Environment, and Safety,
Services, and Infrastructure Elements.
This Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element is
specifically added into the General Plan to call
out its importance but is not intended to
replace other environmental justice policies
throughout the General Plan and other City
plans and policies. This element is rather
intended to supplement already existing plans
and policies.
However, despite prior efforts, more must be
done. Opportunity Neighborhoods experience
unique challenges, such as proximity to
Highway 101, industrial uses, and heavy
commercial uses; as well as unique
challenges pertaining to transportation,
extreme heat, and concerns of pollution.
The Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element
becomes even more critical in addressing and
rectifying these imbalances. Major emergency
events serve as a stark reminder of the urgent
need to prioritize equitable development and
ensure that all communities, regardless of
their development patterns, are resilient in the
face of environmental challenges. To advance
environmental justice issues across the City,
this Element sets goals, policies, and actions
categorized by the following topics:
A. Inclusive Public Engagement in City
Decisions;
B. Pollution Exposure and Air Quality;
C. Promoting Physical Activity;
D. Affordable Healthy Food Access;
E. Safe and Healthy Homes;
F. Increase Overall Health; and
G. Public Facilities and Infrastructure.
While this Element applies Citywide, special
attention is needed in Opportunity
Neighborhoods to advance climate, equity,
and sustainability goals.
The identification of Opportunity
Neighborhoods is important in terms of
implementing the City’s vision of prioritizing
investments in the areas of greatest need.
From an environmental justice perspective,
Opportunity Neighborhoods are the areas of
the City with the greatest need for investments
to reverse environmental injustices.
Opportunity Neighborhoods are also areas
that can be prioritized for federal or state
funding.
Ongoing implementation and ongoing
monitoring will be critical to achieving the
goals of this Element. Through regular General
Plan monitoring, the City will be able to report
on, and make adjustments to, policies,
objectives, and proposed actions based on
ongoing community feedback, availability of
new information, or changes in
circumstances.
Page HN-4
Figure HN-1 Opportunity Neighborhoods
Page HN-5
Inclusive Public Engagement in City Decisions
GOAL HN-1 Equitable access to decision-making, safe and welcoming civic spaces, and the resources necessary to live in healthy, connected, and empowered communities regardless of race, national origin, income, or neighborhood.
Advancing inclusive public engagement is
fundamental to addressing environmental
injustices within Opportunity Neighborhoods.
Public input is an integral part of the decisionmaking process and can help highlight topics and concerns that need to be addressed, as
well as offer an opportunity to expand upon
issues most pressing to community members.
Building awareness around City initiatives and
programming is the first step to gathering
input and supporting community members in
becoming familiarized with existing policies
and actions, which can translate to more
meaningful engagement.
Ensuring access to information and
opportunities to provide feedback that will be
considered as part of the planning process
can establish trust between the City and
community members. This is critically
important in Opportunity Neighborhoods
where community members are most
vulnerable due to compounded health risks
and where the needs are greatest. Public
engagement events are opportunities to
collect meaningful ideas and input and hear
from a diversity of community members and
affected stakeholders.
Intentional and inclusive engagement is
especially critical in Opportunity
Neighborhoods, where over 50-percent of the
population is Hispanic or Latino, versus 34-
percent Citywide, and where the population of
children in Opportunity Neighborhoods is 32-
percent versus 25-percent Citywide.
The General Plan contains a couple policies,
as shown in Table HN-1, that promote
community involvement in City decisions. The
policies below build upon these policies to
create additional opportunities for meaningful
public input.
Policies
Policy HN-1.1 Trust and Transparency.
Foster trust between City
staff and community
members through
transparency and
implementing best practices
to make information easily
accessible.
Policy HN-1.2 Meaningful, Relevant
Engagement. Pursue
opportunities to promote
engagement at evening
meetings, weekend
workshops, and community
meetings.
Policy HN-1.3 Community Partners.
Partner with communitybased organizations on an
ongoing basis to develop and
implement effective
outreach programs, increase
opportunities for community
involvement in civic
processes, and build a
deeper understanding of city
governance within the
community.
Page HN-6
Actions
Action HN-1.A Interpretation at Public
Meetings. Provide access to
Spanish interpretation at
public meetings, as
requested.
Action HN-1.B Translation for Public
Notices. Publish public
meeting notices in English
and Spanish.
Action HN-1.C Distribution of Information.
Distribute City information to
all community members
such as numbers to call for
city and community partner
programs, housing needs,
and general City information.
Action HN-1.D Engagement. Encourage
successful engagement
participation by utilizing
differing social media
platforms and community
boards, using clear concise
language on agenda items,
providing alternative meeting
locations, food,
interpretation services,
childcare, giveaways, or
other methods, when
warranted, that reduce or
remove barriers to
participation.
Action HN-1.E Healthy Neighborhoods
Promotoras. Evaluate the
need to recruit, train, and
compensate resident and/or
youth ambassadors from
Opportunity Neighborhoods
to conduct outreach, provide
multilingual interpretation,
and bridge gaps in obtaining
community feedback.
Table HN-1 Additional Policies and Actions in the General Plan Addressing Inclusive Public Engagement in City Decisions
Element Section Policy/Action
City and
Neighborhood Form
Land Use Decisions Policy CNF-1.1 Coordinated Planning Decisions Healthy Community Parks, Recreation,
and Trails
Policy HC-3.19 Community Involvement
Page HN-7
Pollution Exposure and Air Quality
GOAL HN-2 Pollution reduction in Opportunity Neighborhoods with no segment of the community disproportionately burdened by environmental conditions.
Exposure to pollution and poor air quality
directly impacts physical and mental health.
Scientific studies link exposure to polluting
substances in air, water, and soil to a variety
of health problems with short and long-term
effects, such as headaches, inflammation of
the nose, throat and painful breathing to
asthma, heart disease, and cancer. Protecting
against environmental degradation of natural
resources is critical to protecting human
health and wellbeing.
There are many factors that contribute to
pollution exposure and poor air quality,
including illegal dumping, industries, and
exhaust from vehicles.
Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) are tiny
particles or droplets in the air that can come
from sources such as cars and trucks,
industrial emissions, construction activities,
wood burning, and even natural sources like
dust and pollen. PM2.5 particles are small
enough to travel deep into the lungs and can
cause health problems when present in high
concentrations, including heart and lung
disease.
Exhaust from trucks, buses, trains, and other
equipment with diesel engines contain a
mixture of gases and solid particles. These
solid particles are known as diesel particulate
matter (DPM) and are a major contributor to
PM2.5 pollution. Higher concentrations of
DPM can often be found in urban areas with
heavy traffic congestion and industrial activity
where diesel-powered vehicles and
equipment are prevalent.
Both PM2.5 and DPM are significant air
pollutants that can have detrimental effects
on human health, including respiratory and
cardiovascular problems. Reducing PM2.5
and DPM is especially important for reducing
pollution exposure and improving air quality
for the health and well-being of community
members across Morgan Hill.
As part of a comprehensive strategy, it is
important to identify lands suitable for
residential and prime industrial purposes.
This approach is needed to achieve a
sustainable and balanced future for the City,
striving to enhance the overall well-being of its
community members, protect the
environment, and promote good jobs.
Policies to limit pollution exposure are
included within the Transportation and
Natural Resources and Environment
Elements of the General Plan and are
identified in Table HN-2. The policies in this
Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element build
on those policies and provide additional
guidance. Together, these policies support
and promote improved air quality and health
outcomes.
Policies
Policy HN-2.1 Reduce Pollution. Strive to
reduce pollution exposure
and air quality issues
experienced in Opportunity
Neighborhoods identified in
the Healthy Neighborhoods
for All Background Review
Report.
Page HN-8
Policy HN-2.2 Air Quality Monitoring.
Collaborate with the Bay
Area Air Quality Management
District (BAAQMD) to
support the expansion of air
quality monitoring efforts in
Morgan Hill, prioritizing
Opportunity Neighborhoods,
to inform area-specific
improvement actions and
other Community Emissions
Reduction Programs
(CERPs).
Policy HN-2.3 Land Use Compatibility.
Buffer incompatible uses
within Opportunity
Neighborhoods to reduce
exposure to pollution and
other health impacts.
Actions
Action HN-2.A Sensitive Site Protection.
Require new residential
development in Opportunity
Neighborhoods located
within 500 feet from Highway
101 or adjacent to Butterfield
Boulevard to implement
appropriate measures to
reduce exposure to
traffic-related air pollution,
including but not limited to,
increased landscape buffers
and setbacks, restrict
outdoor common and private
open space adjacent to
roadways, and
high-efficiency indoor air
filtration.
Action HN-2.B Heavy Duty Truck Routes.
Limit truck routes adjacent to
sensitive receptors where
feasible, post anti-idling
signage where necessary,
and coordinate targeted
enforcement in Opportunity
Neighborhoods through the
evaluation of Chapter 10.60
(Truck Route and Parking
Ordinance) of the Municipal
Code in conformance with
Assembly Bill 98.
Action HN-2.C Reduce Potential Pollution
Exposure. Require new
development adjacent to
incompatible uses to
incorporate mechanisms to
reduce potential exposure to
pollution, including but not
limited to, buffers, setbacks,
building orientation, and
high-efficiency filtration.
Action HN-2.D Zero-Emission Standards.
Evaluate and consider zeroemission standards for
businesses.
Page HN-9
Table HN-2 Additional Policies and Actions in the General Plan Addressing Pollution Exposure and Air Quality
Element Section Policy/Action
Transportation Transportation
Demand
Management
Policy TR-10.5 Air Quality and Transportation
Demand Management
Natural Resources
and Environment
Air Quality Policy NRE-10.1 Regional and Subregional
Cooperation
Policy NRE-10.2 State and Federal Regulation
Policy NRE-10.4 Reduced Automobile Use
Policy NRE-11.1 TACs and Proposed Sensitive
Uses
Policy NRE-11.2 TACs and Existing Sensitive Uses
Policy NRE-11.3 Health Risk Assessments
Policy NRE-12.2 Conditions of Approvals
Policy NRE-11.6 Vegetation Buffers
Action NRE-12.A Standard Measures for
Demolition and Grading
Policy NRE-13.1 Building Materials
Policy NRE-13.2 Construction and PreOccupancy Practices Action NRE-13.A Building Materials Ordinance
Action NRE-13.B Construction and PreOccupancy Practices Ordinance Energy Efficiency Policy NRE-16.5 Energy Efficiency
Page HN-10
Promoting Physical Health
GOAL HN-3 Geographically accessible, safe, inclusive, and active public spaces for all residents.
People who live in Opportunity
Neighborhoods in the City are more likely to
suffer from diabetes, physical inactivity, and
overall poor health.
Public facilities and physical activity are
intertwined and play an important role in
contributing to public health. Public facilities
include public spaces like parks, community
centers, and recreational facilities.
Individuals with access to public spaces, such
as safe and enjoyable parks and open spaces
and safe streets for walking and biking, have
more opportunities to incorporate activities
into their daily lives that support physical
health and overall mental well-being.
Connectivity, accessibility, and safety are
important aspects of public facilities such as
well-lit streets connected to everyday
destinations such as schools, parks, and
grocery stores. These factors significantly
impact individual choices regarding
walking/rolling and biking. Opportunity
Neighborhoods often lack these attributes—
limiting opportunities for physical activity.
Investing in improving infrastructure in
communities where the needs are greatest
will build toward providing safe, connected,
and accessible public spaces equitably and
support the physical health and well-being of
all Morgan Hill residents regardless of where
they live in the City.
The General Plan includes policies in other
Elements, as shown in Table HN-3,to advance
connections, access, and safety of public
facilities and promote physical activity. This
Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element
provides additional guidance for promoting
physical health. Together these policies
support public facilities, promote physical
activity, and overall well-being.
Policies
Policy HN-3.1 Affordable Recreation.
Ensure affordable access to
the Centennial Recreation
Center and Aquatics Center
and associated programs by
offering subsidized fees,
expanding free or low-cost
recreation activities, and
partnering with healthcare
and community providers to
offset costs to community
members.
Policy HN-3.2 Prioritize Parks within
Opportunity
Neighborhoods. Prioritize
the siting of new parks and
recreation facilities within
Opportunity Neighborhoods
that support physical health.
Page HN-11
Actions
Action HN-3.A Health and Fitness. Provide
multilingual educational
information to community
members regarding the
availability of financial
assistance and no-cost
memberships for health and
fitness programming and
senior adult programs at the
Centennial Recreation
Center.
Action HN-3.B Inclusive Parks. Design new
parks to be inclusive,
equitable, and accessible for
all ages, abilities, and
cultural needs, while
transforming existing parks
to accommodate the
recreational needs of all
users, such as cultural
programing and multilingual
signage.
Action HN-3.C Neighborhood-Serving
Parks. Review and consider
revising Article I (Park Land
Dedication) within Title 17
(Subdivisions) to encourage
privately maintained parks
remain open and accessible
to the public to promote
equitable access.
Action HN-3.D Community Events and
Recreation. Expand
community events and free
recreation opportunities,
including extended Splash
Pad hours and seasonal
programming at the
Community and Cultural
Center.
Action HN-3.E Park Distribution. Ensure an
equal distribution of parks
and park amenities within
the City; strive to achieve a
goal that all homes within
Opportunity Neighborhoods
are within one-quarter mile
walking distance of at least
one usable park and/or open
space with amenities.
Action HN-3.F Bicycle Racks. Review and
revise the City’s Bicycle
Parking Ordinance requiring
new developments provide
bicycle connections to
adjacent uses and install
bicycle racks near building
entrances to encourage
cycling.
Page HN-12
Table HN-3 Additional Policies and Actions in the General Plan Promoting Physical Health Element Section Policy/Action
City and
Neighborhood Form
Commercial/Industrial Policy CNF-18.1 Vibrant Job Centers Economic
Development
Commercial
Development
Policy ED-7.4 Compatible Uses in Retail Centers
Healthy Community Parks, Recreation, and
Trails
Policy HC-3.1 Universal Recreation
Policy HC-3.10 Walking Distance
Policy HC-3.12 Bikeways
Policy HC-3.13 Sports Fields
Policy HC-3.14 Streamside Trails
Policy HC-3.21 Multiuse Facilities
Page HN-13
Affordable Access to Healthy Food Options
GOAL HN-4 Equitable access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food within a short, safe distance from home.
Health implications due to food insecurity can
have far-reaching consequences on both
physical and mental well-being. It can lead to
nutritional deficiencies that can hinder proper
growth and development in children, chronic
health conditions such as type-two diabetes
and cardiovascular diseases, obesity and
weight gain, complications related to
maternal and child health, and can also
negatively impact cognitive function. For
areas that lack safe, convenient, and
affordable access to healthy and fresh food
options, more grocery stores, along with
produce stands, community gardens, and
food banks, in areas lacking access, can play
a significant role in reducing food insecurity by
offering better options for obtaining nutritious
and affordable food.
A multifaceted policy approach can support
healthy food consumption and food security.
Strategies include identifying opportunities to
improve availability, access and affordability
to fresh and healthy food, as well as sharing
information on healthy food options and
nutrition education. Well-connected urban
gardens, produce stands, grocery stores and
quality public spaces are among the
strategies that can be used to support these
efforts and offer the potential to further
sustainability goals; improve public health
and equity through better access to fresh
healthy food; promote food system security by
reducing reliance on long distance supply
chains; reduce the amount of energy used to
transport food; and foster economic
development opportunities, including microenterprises. At the same time, supporting programs that expand the affordability of fresh
food is crucial to making healthy food an
option when faced with food insecurity.
The Healthy Community Element contains
policies and actions, as shown in Table HN-4,
that promote fresh and healthy food by
expanding the opportunities for food carts,
urban agriculture, community gardens, and
residential gardens, as well as food
education, particularly to residents who might
otherwise have a hard time accessing highquality fresh food.
The policies below work together to facilitate
programming in both public and private
spaces to advance the availability, access,
and affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables
to promote a healthy food system.
Policies
Policy HN-4.1 Affordable Produce.
Promote access to fresh
affordable produce, such as
produce stands and mobile
food vendors, within
Opportunity Neighborhoods.
Policy HN-4.2 Hispanic Grocery Store.
Advocate for the siting of a
Hispanic grocery store within
Opportunity Neighborhoods
to meet the cultural needs of
the area.
Page HN-14
Policy HN-4.3 Healthy Food Literacy.
Increase healthy food
literacy and provide
resources to community
members through
collaboration with the
County of Santa Clara Public
Health Department, schools,
community groups, and
other partners.
Actions
Action HN-4.A Fresh Produce Sales and
Cultivation. Amend the
Zoning Code to permit
flexibility for the sale and
cultivation of fresh
affordable produce via
permanent produce stands,
mobile produce vendors,
community gardens, and
urban farming.
Action HN-4.B Food Banks. Support the
efforts of local organizations
to expand the reach of food
bank and pantry distribution
centers by extending
operating hours and
facilitating the siting of new
locations within Opportunity
Neighborhoods.
Action HN-4.C Senior Nutrition Program.
Continue to sustain the
Senior Nutrition Program,
providing free lunch to lowincome seniors.
Action HN-4.D Health and Wellness
Education. Encourage the
County of Santa Clara Public
Health Department to
provide multilingual health
education such as wellness
classes, nutrition education,
healthy cooking classes, as
well as to raise awareness of
healthy habits and other
current public health
concerns within Morgan Hill.
Page HN-15
Table HN-4 Additional Policies and Actions in the General Plan Addressing Affordable Access to Healthy Food Options
Element Section Policy/Action
Healthy Community Healthy Foods Policy HC-6.1 Garden Partnerships Policy HC-6.2 School Gardens
Policy HC-6.3 Zoning
Policy HC-6.4 Open Space Requirements
Policy HC-6.5 Food Education
Policy HC-6.6 Residential Gardens
Policy HC-6.7 Agricultural Retention
Policy HC-6.8 School Wellness
Action HC-6.A Open Space
Action HC-6.B Identify Sites
Action HC-6.C Zoning
Action HC-6.D Home Gardens
Action HC-6.E Produce Carts
Page HN-16
Safe and Healthy Homes
GOAL HN-5 Safe, affordable, and stable housing for people to thrive in their communities regardless of race, national origin, income, or neighborhood Homes designed, constructed, and
maintained to promote the physical, mental,
and social well-being of occupants offer many
benefits, including stability, reduced stress,
and good health. Children raised in safe and
healthy environments tend to have better
opportunities for physical and cognitive
development. Access to clean air, natural
light and stimulating surroundings positively
influences a child’s growth and learning
capabilities. Location, quality, and
affordability of homes also play a role in
fostering comfortable and secure living
environments for all ages.
The Child Opportunity Index measures
neighborhood resources and conditions that
affect childhood development. The index has
neighborhood-level indicators including
access and quality of early childhood
education, high-quality schools, green space,
healthy food, toxin-free environments and
socioeconomic resources as shown on Figure
HN-2.
Rising housing costs and lack of affordable
homes is a cause of housing insecurity.
Households that spend 30 percent or more of
their income on housing costs are considered
housing-burdened, and those that spend 50
percent, or more are significantly housing
burdened. Households that are housingburdened have fewer financial resources for food, healthcare, and other basic needs.
Within the City, 22 percent of households are
housing burdened, and 15 percent are
significantly housing burdened. However,
renters are more cost-burdened than owners,
with over 25 percent being housing burdened
and nearly 24 percent being significantly
housing burdened.
Access to safe housing that is sustainable to
maintain with an individual’s living wage offers
economic stability and community stability.
People who live in affordable, secure, and
well-maintained homes are more likely to be
productive in their personal and professional
lives.
The benefits of safe and healthy housing
extend beyond the immediate inhabitants. As
generations grow up in such environments,
they are more likely to carry forward healthier
lifestyles and contribute successfully to their
communities. The Housing Element sets
goals, policies, and actions to guide the
development of homes. The Housing Element
addresses housing concerns relating to home
location, home quality, and home
affordability. Several Housing Element
policies and actions that address
environmental justice issues, such as
substandard living conditions and affordable
housing preservation, as identified in Table
HN-5.
Policies
Policy HN-5.1 Promote Affordable
Housing. Promote
development of subsidized
and affordable housing
across affordable income
categories.
Page HN-17
Policy HN-5.2 Anti-Displacement and
Tenant Protections.
Implement
anti-displacement strategies
and tenant protections in all
neighborhoods.
Policy HN-5.3 Healthy Homes. Partner
with the County of Santa
Clara Public Health
Department and community
organizations to promote
safe, sanitary, and healthy
housing practices.
Actions
Action HN-5.A Mobile Home Rent
Stabilization Ordinance.
Review and update, where
appropriate, the Mobile
Home Rent Stabilization
Ordinance within Chapter
5.36 (Mobile Home Park
Rents) of the Municipal Code
to protect mobile home park
residents from sudden rent
increases and ensure
affordable housing options.
Action HN-5.B Tenant Protection. Evaluate
existing City tenant
protection programs,
conduct a feasibility
analysis, and develop a new
program to protect tenants
through legal assistance,
prevent foreclosures,
provide rental assistance, or
enforce fair housing laws
consistent with Metropolitan
Transportation Commission
(MTC) Transit-Oriented
Communities (TOC) policy.
Action HN-5.C Healthy Homes Filtration.
Explore the feasibility of a
program to provide residents
within Opportunity
Neighborhoods with air
purifiers or the resources to
retrofit their homes to filter
air contaminants inside their
homes.
Page HN-18
Figure HN-2 Child Opportunity Levels
Page HN-19
Table HN-5 Additional Policies and Actions in the General Plan Addressing Safe and Healthy Homes
Element Section/Goal Policy/Action
Housing Goal 1. Provide a
diversified housing
stock to meet the
full range of future
community housing
needs
Policy HE-1.4 Market Rate Developments
Policy HE-1.17 Relocation Assistance
Policy HE-1.18 Rental Assistance Programs
Goal 2: Encourage
Extremely LowIncome (ELI)
housing production,
increasing
availability of
affordable and
workforce housing
Policy HE-2.4 Programs Providing Extremely Low-,
Very Low-, and Low-Income Housing
Policy HE-2.14 Support Farmworker Housing
Policy HE-2.15 Farm Worker Housing Advocacy
Goal 3: Advance
equity and inclusion
throughout the City
Policy HE-3.1 Increase Affordable Housing
Opportunities
Policy HE-3.2 Displacement
Policy HE-3.4 Fair Housing Education
Action HE-3.T Elevate Morgan Hill
Goal 4: Preserve
and rehabilitate
existing housing
supply
Policy HE-4.7 Rehabilitation Loan Programs
Policy HE-4.10 Preserve Existing Mobile Home
Parks
Policy HE-4.11 Rent Stabilization Ordinance
Policy HE-4.12 Rehabilitation and Sustainability
Action HE-4.B Preserve Affordable Housing
Action HE-4.C Rehabilitation
Goal 6: Provide
adequate housing
for groups with
special needs
Policy HE-6.11 Emergency Home Repairs and
Accessibility Retrofits
Page HN-20
Increase Overall Health
GOAL HN-6 Equitable access to physical activity, recreation, and wellness opportunities for all residents, especially within Opportunity Neighborhoods.
Overall health is shaped by the interplay of
physical, mental, and social well-being, and is
deeply influenced by the environments in
which people live, work, and play. In Morgan
Hill, residents of Opportunity Neighborhoods
face compounded health risks due to factors
such as limited access to medical care, fewer
safe and affordable recreation opportunities,
higher exposure to extreme heat, and
transportation barriers that make it harder to
reach essential services. These inequities
contribute to disparities in chronic disease
rates, mental health outcomes, and life
expectancy.
Improving overall health requires a holistic
approach that addresses both the conditions
that cause illness and the resources that
promote wellness. This includes ensuring that
all residents—regardless of race, income, or
neighborhood—can access preventive
healthcare, culturally relevant health
education, safe spaces for physical activity,
and reliable transportation to medical and
wellness services.
Environmental conditions also play a critical
role. Extreme heat events, for example,
disproportionately affect residents in areas
with limited tree canopy and shade,
increasing the risk of heat-related illness.
Similarly, landscaping choices can either
exacerbate or alleviate respiratory conditions
such as asthma and allergies. Integrating
health considerations into land use,
transportation, and urban design decisions
can help reduce these risks and create
healthier, more resilient neighborhoods.
Partnerships with healthcare providers,
schools, community-based organizations,
and public agencies are essential to delivering
health services and education in ways that are
accessible, multilingual, and culturally
responsive. Mobile clinics, micro-transit
programs, and neighborhood-based outreach
can bridge gaps in service delivery,
particularly for residents who face mobility,
cost, or language barriers.
Prioritizing equitable access to health
resources can help reduce preventable
illness, improve quality of life, and strengthen
community resilience. The policies and
actions in this section aim to ensure that every
Morgan Hill resident has the opportunity to
live a healthy life—supported by the built
environment, informed by accessible health
education, and sustained by strong
community connections.
Several Healthy Community and
Transportation Element policies and actions
address healthy living and overall health, as
identified in Table HN-6; the policies below
expand on these policies to promote
wellness.
Policies
Policy HN-6.1 Health Advocacy. Advocate
for community members
health and increase health
awareness through
multilingual health
education materials.
Page HN-21
Policy HN-6.2 Medical Siting. Encourage
siting of medical clinics,
mobile medical clinics, and
mobile dental clinics within
Opportunity Neighborhoods.
Policy HN-6.3 Transit Access. Advocate
for increased transit access
connecting community
members to alternative
transportation to medical
appointments, grocery
stores, and recreation.
Policy HN-6.4 Urban Heat. Require new
development, and pursue
funding for existing areas of
the City, to accommodate
street trees or other shade
coverage along key
pedestrian and bicycle
routes and near transit
stops.
Actions
Action HN-6.A Overall Health Education.
Partner with the County of
Santa Clara Public Health
Department to provide
multilingual health
education materials,through
newsletters, community
boards, newspaper, and
other mechanisms,
regarding asthma, allergies,
nutrition, overall health, and
other current public health
concerns within Morgan Hill,
including resources for
mental health services,
substance use services, and
suicide prevention.
Action HN-6.B Mobile Clinics. Review and,
if warranted, amend the
Municipal Code to allow
mobile preventative health
and dental care clinics.
Action HN-6.C Asthma-Friendly
Landscaping. Evaluate and
consider revising Chapter
18.64 (Landscaping) of the
Zoning Code, and other
landscaping policies, to
prioritize asthma-friendly
plant species.
Action HN-6.D Transit and Micro-Transit
Access. Pursue funding for a
revived MoGo-style microtransit program, or
alternative service model
program, to provide
first/last-mile service.
Action HN-6.E Extreme Heat Mitigation.
Increase urban tree canopy,
shaded areas, and open
space within heat-vulnerable
communities, especially in
Opportunity Neighborhoods,
to mitigate extreme heat and
improve health outcomes,
prioritizing heat-exposed
sidewalks, transit stops,
parks, and multi-family
housing.
Page HN-22
Table HN-6 Additional Policies and Actions in the General Plan Addressing Overall Health Element Section Policy/Action
Healthy Community Schools Policy HC-1.7 Neighborhood Activities Youth and Seniors Policy HC-2.6 Healthy Kids
Policy HC-2.7 Underage Tobacco Access
Policy HC-2.8 Underage Alcohol Access
Access to Health
Care
Policy HC-7.1 Mental Health
Policy HC-7.3 Transit
Action HC-7.A Medical Zoning
Transportation Transit Policy TR-6.11 Transit for a Healthy and Active Community
Bikeways Policy TR-8.1 Bikeways for All Abilities
Pedestrian
Network
Policy TR-9.2 Walking as an Alternate Mode
Page HN-23
Public Facilities and Infrastructure
GOAL HN-7 Safe, well-maintained, and accessible public spaces, facilities, and infrastructure that support active lifestyles and community well-being.
Infrastructure is not just the physical
structures that surround us, it is the essential
fabric that connects us to opportunity.
Community members drive down roads and
wait at transit stops, walk down sidewalks to
drop their children off at school, meet with
friends and family in parks, borrow books and
media from the Morgan Hill library and pass
under streetlights. When infrastructure is high
quality, located where it is needed, and wellmaintained, community members can access economic opportunities, use essential
services, and deepen social connections,
resulting in healthy and stable communities.
Infrastructure lays the foundation for safe,
healthy, and connected communities.
Public infrastructure is funded through a
variety of funding sources such as the City
infrastructure fund, General Fund, grants,
development impact fees, and other funding
sources. Funding and prioritizing public
facilities equitably are critical to advancing
Opportunity Neighborhoods and improving
access for Morgan Hill residents of all ages
and abilities.
The Healthy Community and Transportation
Element contains policies and actions, as
shown in Table HN-7, that encourage
innovative partnerships, funding, and
development programs to maintain and
develop parks and recreation that current and
future residents of all ages, incomes, and
mobility levels can conveniently access as the
community grows. The policies in this section
builds upon the Healthy Communities and
Transportation Elements.
Policies
Policy HN-7.1 Active Transportation
Network. Implement an
active transportation
network that links residential
uses with schools, shopping,
entertainment, recreation,
transit, and employment
centers, and addresses
traffic congestion and safety
barriers that limit pedestrian
and cycling access to parks
and community services.
Policy HN-7.2 New Public Amenities.
Prioritize and allocate new
public amenities in
Opportunity Neighborhoods.
Page HN-24
Actions
Action HN-7.A Safe and Active
Transportation. Pursue
funding to improve
pedestrian and bicycle
infrastructure, including
sidewalks, lighting, and
traffic calming, to promote
safe and active
transportation as identified
in the Transportation Master
Plan and the Comprehensive
Safety Action Plan,
prioritizing Opportunity
Neighborhoods.
Action HN-7.B Safe Routes to Schools.
Partner with Morgan Hill
Unified School District to
implement and expand “Safe
Routes to Schools”,
including trails and bike
infrastructure connecting
Opportunity Neighborhoods
to schools.
Action HN-7.C Lighting in Public Spaces.
Review and revise lighting
standards for sidewalks,
trails, parks, and public and
private spaces to ensure they
are well-lit to enhance
comfort and usability as a
community safety initiative.
Action HN-7.D Physical Fitness Park
Amenities. Provide public
amenities that promote free
opportunities for physical
fitness, including but not
limited to, community
gardens, outdoor exercise
equipment in parks, and
shade structures.
Action HN-7.E Community Schoolyards.
Work with the Morgan Hill
Unified School District to
utilize school playgrounds as
“community schoolyards”
outside of school hours.
Page HN-25
Table HN-7 Additional Policies and Actions in the General Plan Addressing Public Facilities and Infrastructure
Element Section Policy/Action
Healthy Community Parks, Recreation,
and Trails
Policy HC-3.1 Universal Recreation
Policy HC-3.3 Park Land Fees
Policy HC-3.8 Private Open Space
Policy HC-3.9 Open Space Requirements
Policy HC-3.10 Walking Distance
Policy HC-3.11 Conservation Coordination
Policy HC-3.12 Bikeways
Policy HC-3.13 Sports Fields
Policy HC-3.14 Streamside Trails
Policy HC-3.15 County Parkland
Policy HC-3.16 Greenbelt Areas
Policy HC-3.21 Multiuse Facilities
Policy HC-3.22 School Coordination
Policy HC-3.24 Parkland Acquisition
Policy HC-3.25 Partnerships
Policy HC-3.28 Funding
Action HC-3.F Pursue Funding
Action HC-3.N El Toro Trails
Transportation Bikeways Policy TR-8.10 Safe Routes to Schools
Healthy
Neighborhoods for All
Element
City Council
December 3, 2025
Why are we doing this?
2 Senate Bill 1000 (Environmental Justice)
• Address pollution and other hazards disproportionately impacting low-income communities and communities of color
• Identify “disadvantaged communities”
• Must address 8 different topics:
• Promote civic engagement
• Reduce pollution exposure
• Promote physical activity
• Promote food access
• Promote safe and sanitary homes
• Reduce unique or compounded health risks
• Promote public facilities
• Prioritize the needs of “disadvantaged communities”
Healthy Neighborhoods for All
3 What is Healthy Neighborhoods for All?
• A plan to ensure everyone has the right to clean air, water, and a healthy environment • No group of people should have more pollution risk than others • Communities should have a say in making their neighborhoods better • This plan will be part of the future for Morgan Hill (2035 General Plan)
Opportunity
Neighborhoods
Indicators by Census Tract
6 Indicators by
Census Tract
5123.055123.075123.085123.095123.105123.115123.125123.135123.145124.02 Low Income XXX
Income InequalityXXX
Mostly HispanicXXX
Low Child Opportunity LevelsXXXXX
Low Education AttainmentXXXXX
Lower Life ExpectancyXXX
Lead RiskXXX
AsthmaXXXX
DiabetesXXX
StrokeXXX
Heart DiseaseXXXX
ObesityXXXXX
Teeth LostXXXX
Population who SmokesXXXXX
Poor HealthXXXX
Lack of Health InsuranceXXXX
Low Health VisitsXXX
Diesel Particulate MatterXXX
Traffic DensityXXXX
Groundwater ThreatsX
Impaired Water BodiesXX
Hazardous Waste FacilitiesXX
Cleanup & Solid Waste SitesXXX
Pesticide UseXXXX
Lack of Parks/FacilitiesXXXX
Unhealthy Food OptionsXXXX
Food Stamp AssistanceXXX
Housing Cost BurdenX
Substandard HousingXXXX
Barriers to EngagementXXXX
Lack of Digital AccessXX
Flood ZonesXXXX
Fire HazardX X X
Lack of Tree CanopyXX
TOTAL INDICATORS3845 29 123 17 17 16 Page 208 of 340
Summary of Engagement
# of people engaged
59 events reaching a total of 1,529
community members
6 Pop-Up Events 176
27 Visioning Workshops 749
23 Community Events 577
3 ¡Morgan Hill Prospera! 27
# of events
Inclusive Public Engagement in City Decisions
GOAL HN-1 Equitable access to decision making, safe and welcoming civic spaces, and the resources necessary to live in healthy, connected, and empowered communities regardless of race, national origin, income, or neighborhood.
Policy HN-1.1 Trust and Transparency.
Foster trust between City staff and community
members through transparency and implementing
best practices to make information easily accessible.
Action HN-1.A Interpretation at Public Meetings. Provide access to Spanish interpretation at public meetings, as requested.
Action HN-1.B Translation for Public Notices. Publish public meeting notices in English and Spanish.
Action HN-1.C Distribution of Information. Distribute City information to all community members such as numbers to call for city and community partner programs, housing needs, and general City information.
Action HN-1.D Engagement. Encourage successful engagement participation by utilizing differing social media platforms and community boards, using clear concise language on agenda items, providing alternative meeting locations, food, interpretation services, childcare, giveaways, or other methods, when warranted, that reduce or remove barriers to participation.
Action HN-1.E Healthy Neighborhoods Promotoras. Evaluate the need to recruit, train, and compensate resident and/or youth ambassadors from Opportunity Neighborhoods to conduct outreach, provide multilingual interpretation, and bridge gaps in obtaining community feedback.
Policy HN-1.2 Meaningful, Relevant
Engagement. Pursue opportunities to promote
engagement at evening meetings, weekend
workshops, and community meetings.
Policy HN-1.3 Community Partners. Partner
with community-based organizations on an ongoing
basis to develop and implement effective outreach
programs, increase opportunities for community
involvement in civic processes, and build a deeper
understanding of city governance within the
community.
Pollution Exposure and Air Quality
GOAL HN-2 Pollution reduction in Opportunity Neighborhoods with no segment of the community disproportionately burdened by environmental conditions.
Policy HN-2.1 Reduce Pollution. Strive to
reduce pollution exposure and air quality issues
experienced in Opportunity Neighborhoods
identified in the Healthy Neighborhoods for All
Background Review Report.
Action HN-2.A Sensitive Site Protection. Require new residential development in Opportunity Neighborhoods located within 500 feet from Highway 101 or adjacent to Butterfield Boulevard to implement appropriate measures to reduce exposure to traffic related air pollution, including but not limited to, increased landscape buffers and setbacks, restrict outdoor common and private open space adjacent to roadways, and high efficiency indoor air filtration.
Action HN-2.B Heavy Duty Truck Routes. Limit truck routes adjacent to sensitive receptors where feasible, post anti idling signage where necessary, and coordinate targeted enforcement in Opportunity Neighborhoods through the evaluation of Chapter 10.60 (Truck Route and Parking Ordinance) of the Municipal Code in conformance with Assembly Bill 98.
Action HN-2.C Reduce Potential Pollution Exposure. Require new development adjacent to incompatible uses to incorporate mechanisms to reduce potential exposure to pollution, including but not limited to, buffers, setbacks, building orientation, and high efficiency filtration.
Action HN-2.D Zero Emission Standards. Evaluate and consider zero-emission standards for businesses.
Policy HN-2.2 Air Quality Monitoring.
Collaborate with the Bay Area Air Quality
Management District (BAAQMD) to support the
expansion of air quality monitoring efforts in Morgan
Hill, prioritizing Opportunity Neighborhoods, to
inform area-specific improvement actions and other
Community Emissions Reduction Programs (CERPs).
Policy HN-2.3 Land Use Compatibility. Buffer
incompatible uses within Opportunity
Neighborhoods to reduce exposure to pollution and
other health impacts.
Promoting Physical Health
GOAL HN-3 Geographically accessible, safe, inclusive, and active public spaces for all residents.
Policy HN-3.1 Affordable
Recreation. Ensure affordable
access to the Centennial Recreation
Center and Aquatics Center and
associated programs by offering
subsidized fees, expanding free or
low cost recreation activities, and
partnering with healthcare and
community providers to offset costs
to community members.
Action HN-3.A Health and Fitness. Provide multilingual educational information to community members regarding the availability of financial assistance and no-cost memberships for health and fitness programming and senior adult programs at the Centennial Recreation Center. Action HN-3.B Inclusive Parks. Design new parks to be inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all ages, abilities, and cultural needs, while transforming existing parks to accommodate the recreational needs of all users, such as cultural programing and multilingual signage. Action HN-3.C Neighborhood-Serving Parks. Review and consider revising Article I (Park Land Dedication) within Title 17 (Subdivisions) to encourage privately maintained parks remain open and accessible to the public to promote equitable access.
Action HN-3.D Community Events and Recreation. Expand community events and free recreation opportunities, including extended Splash Pad hours and seasonal programming at the Community and Cultural Center.
Action HN-3.E Park Distribution. Ensure an equal distribution of parks and park amenities within the City; strive to achieve a goal that all homes within Opportunity Neighborhoods are within one-quarter mile walking distance of at least one usable park and/or open space. Action HN-3.F Bicycle Racks. Review and revise the City’s Bicycle Parking Ordinance requiring new developments provide bicycle connections to adjacent uses and install bicycle racks near building entrances to encourage cycling.
Policy HN-3.2 Prioritize
Parks within Opportunity
Neighborhoods. Prioritize the siting
of new parks and recreation
facilities within Opportunity
Neighborhoods that support
physical health.
Affordable Access to Healthy Food Options
GOAL HN-4 Equitable access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food within a short, safe distance from home.
Policy HN-4.1 Affordable Produce. Promote
access to fresh affordable produce, such as produce
stands and mobile food vendors, within Opportunity
Neighborhoods.
Action HN-4.A Fresh Produce Sales and Cultivation. Amend the Zoning Code to permit flexibility for the sale and cultivation of fresh affordable produce via permanent produce stands, mobile produce vendors, community gardens, and urban farming. Action HN-4.B Food Banks. Support the efforts of local organizations to expand the reach of food bank and pantry distribution centers by extending operating hours and facilitating the siting of new locations within Opportunity Neighborhoods. Action HN-4.C Senior Nutrition Program. Continue to sustain the Senior Nutrition Program, providing free lunch to low-income seniors.
Action HN-4.D Health and Wellness Education. Encourage the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department to provide multilingual health education such as wellness classes, nutrition education, healthy cooking classes, as well as to raise awareness of healthy habits and other current public health concerns within Morgan Hill.
Policy HN-4.2 Hispanic Grocery Store.
Advocate for the siting of a Hispanic grocery store
within Opportunity Neighborhoods to meet the
cultural needs of the area.
Policy HN-4.3 Healthy Food Literacy.
Increase healthy food literacy and provide resources
to community members through collaboration with
the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department,
schools, community groups, and other partners.
Safe and Healthy Homes
GOAL HN-5 Safe, affordable, and stable housing for people to thrive in their communities regardless of race, national origin, income, or neighborhood
Policy HN-5.1 Promote Affordable Housing.
Promote development of subsidized and affordable
housing across affordable income categories.
Action HN-5.A Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Review and update, where appropriate, the Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Ordinance within Chapter 5.36 (Mobile Home Park Rents) of the Municipal Code to protect mobile home park residents from sudden rent increases and ensure affordable housing options. Action HN-5.B Tenant Protection. Evaluate existing City tenant protection programs, conduct a feasibility analysis, and develop a new program to protect tenants through legal assistance, prevent foreclosures, provide rental assistance, or enforce fair housing laws consistent with Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) TransitOriented Communities (TOC) policy. Action HN-5.C Healthy Homes Filtration. Explore the feasibility of a program to provide residents within Opportunity Neighborhoods with air purifiers or the resources to retrofit their homes to filter air contaminants inside their homes.
Policy HN-5.2 Anti-Displacement and Tenant
Protections. Implement anti displacement strategies
and tenant protections in all neighborhoods.
Policy HN-5.3 Healthy Homes. Partner with
the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department
and community organizations to promote safe,
sanitary, and healthy housing practices.
Increase Overall Health
GOAL HN-6 Equitable access to physical activity, recreation, and wellness opportunities for all residents, especially within Opportunity Neighborhoods.
Policy HN-6.1 Health Advocacy. Advocate for
community members health and increase health
awareness through multilingual health education
materials.
Action HN-6.A Overall Health Education. Partner with the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department to provide multilingual health education materials, through newsletters, community boards, newspaper, and other mechanisms, regarding asthma, allergies, nutrition, overall health, and other current public health concerns within Morgan Hill, including resources for mental health services, substance use services, and suicide prevention.
Action HN-6.B Mobile Clinics. Review and, if warranted, amend the Municipal Code to allow mobile preventative health and dental care clinics. Action HN-6.C Asthma-Friendly Landscaping. Evaluate and consider revising Chapter 18.64 (Landscaping) of the Zoning Code, and other landscaping policies, to prioritize asthma-friendly plant species.
Action HN-6.D Transit and Micro-Transit Access. Pursue funding for a revived MoGo style micro-transit program, or alternative service model program, to provide first/last mile service.
Action HN-6.E Extreme Heat Mitigation. Increase urban tree canopy, shaded areas, and open space within heat-vulnerable communities, especially in Opportunity Neighborhoods to mitigate extreme heat and improve health outcomes, prioritizing heat exposed sidewalks, transit stops, parks, and multi-family housing.
Policy HN-6.2 Medical Siting. Encourage
siting of medical clinics, mobile medical clinics, and
mobile dental clinics within Opportunity
Neighborhoods.
Policy HN-6.3 Transit Access. Advocate for
increased transit access connecting community
members to alternative transportation to medical
appointments, grocery stores, and recreation.
Policy HN-6.4 Urban Heat. Require new
development, and pursue funding for existing areas
of the City, to accommodate street trees or other
shade coverage along key pedestrian and bicycle
routes and near transit stops.
Public Facilities and Infrastructure
GOAL HN-7 Safe, well-maintained, and accessible public spaces, facilities, and infrastructure that support active lifestyles and community well-being.
Policy HN-7.1 Active Transportation
Network. Implement an active transportation
network that links residential uses with schools,
shopping, entertainment, recreation, transit, and
employment centers, and addresses traffic
congestion and safety barriers that limit pedestrian
and cycling access to parks and community services.
Action HN-7.A Safe and Active Transportation. Pursue funding to improve pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, including sidewalks, lighting, and traffic calming, to promote safe and active transportation as identified in the Transportation Master Plan and the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, prioritizing Opportunity Neighborhoods.
Action HN-7.B Safe Routes to Schools. Partner with Morgan Hill Unified School District to implement and expand “Safe Routes to Schools”, including trails and bike infrastructure connecting Opportunity Neighborhoods to schools. Action HN-7.C Lighting in Public Spaces. Review and revise lighting standards for sidewalks, trails, parks, and public and private spaces to ensure they are well lit to enhance comfort and usability as a community safety initiative. Action HN-7.D Physical Fitness Park Amenities. Provide public amenities that promote free opportunities for physical fitness, including but not limited to, community gardens, outdoor exercise equipment in parks, and shade structures. Action HN-7.E Community Schoolyards. Work with the Morgan Hill Unified School District to utilize school playgrounds as “community schoolyards” outside of school hours.
Policy HN-7.2 New Public Amenities.
Prioritize and allocate new public amenities in
Opportunity Neighborhoods.
Healthy Neighborhoods for All
18 Recommendation
1. Open/Close Public Hearing; and
2. Adopt Resolution to add the Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element to the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan.
Findings
1. The proposed amendment meets the letter and intent of the general plan goals and policies
Questions?
Barrios Saludables
Para Todos
City Council
3 de diciembre de 2025
¿Por qué hacemos esto?
2 Proyecto de ley 1000 del Senado (Justicia ambiental)
• Abordar la contaminación y otros peligros que afectan desproporcionadamente a las comunidades de bajos ingresos y a las comunidades de color
• Identificar las comunidades desfavorecidas
• Debe abordar ocho temas diferentes:
• Promover la participación ciudadana
• Reducir la exposición a la contaminación
• Promover la actividad física
• Promover el acceso a los alimentos
• Promover viviendas seguras e higiénicas
• Reducir los riesgos para la salud únicos o complejos
• Promover las instalaciones públicas
• Priorizar las necesidades de las comunidades
desfavorecidas
Barrios Saludables Para Todos
3 ¿Qué es Barrios Saludables para Todos?
• Un plan para garantizar que todos tengan derecho a aire limpio, agua y un medio ambiente sano. • Ningún grupo de personas debería tener mayor riesgo de contaminación que otros. • Las comunidades deberían tener voz y voto para mejorar sus vecindarios. • Este plan formará parte del futuro de Morgan Hill (Plan General 2035).
Opportunity
Neighborhoods
Indicators by Census Tract
6 Indicators by
Census Tract
5123.055123.075123.085123.095123.105123.115123.125123.135123.145124.02 Low Income XXX
Income InequalityXXX
Mostly HispanicXXX
Low Child Opportunity LevelsXXXXX
Low Education AttainmentXXXXX
Lower Life ExpectancyXXX
Lead RiskXXX
AsthmaXXXX
DiabetesXXX
StrokeXXX
Heart DiseaseXXXX
ObesityXXXXX
Teeth LostXXXX
Population who SmokesXXXXX
Poor HealthXXXX
Lack of Health InsuranceXXXX
Low Health VisitsXXX
Diesel Particulate MatterXXX
Traffic DensityXXXX
Groundwater ThreatsX
Impaired Water BodiesXX
Hazardous Waste FacilitiesXX
Cleanup & Solid Waste SitesXXX
Pesticide UseXXXX
Lack of Parks/FacilitiesXXXX
Unhealthy Food OptionsXXXX
Food Stamp AssistanceXXX
Housing Cost BurdenX
Substandard HousingXXXX
Barriers to EngagementXXXX
Lack of Digital AccessXX
Flood ZonesXXXX
Fire HazardX X X
Lack of Tree CanopyXX
TOTAL INDICATORS3845 29 123 17 17 16 Page 227 of 340
Resumen del compromiso
# de personas comprometidas
59 eventos que alcanzaron un total
de 1,529 miembros de la comunidad
6 Eventos emergentes 176
27 Talleres de visión 749
23 Eventos comunitarios 577
3 ¡Morgan Hill Prospera! 27
# de eventos
Participación pública inclusiva en las decisiones de la ciudad GOAL HN-1 Acceso equitativo a la toma de decisiones, espacios cívicos seguros y acogedores y los recursos necesarios para vivir en comunidades saludables, conectadas y empoderadas, independientemente de la raza, el origen nacional, los ingresos o el vecindario.
Policy HN-1.1 Confianza y Transparencia.
Fomentar la confianza entre el personal municipal y
los miembros de la comunidad mediante la
transparencia y la implementación de buenas
prácticas para facilitar el acceso a la información.
Acción HN-1.A Interpretación en Reuniones Públicas. Proporcionar acceso a interpretación al español en las reuniones públicas, según se solicite. Acción HN-1.B Traducción para Avisos Públicos. Publicar los avisos de las reuniones públicas en inglés y español.
Acción HN-1.C Distribución de Información. Distribuir información de la Ciudad a todos los miembros de la comunidad, como números de contacto para programas de la ciudad y de socios comunitarios, necesidades de vivienda e información general de la Ciudad. Acción HN-1.D Participación. Fomentar la participación activa mediante el uso de diferentes plataformas de redes sociales y foros comunitarios, utilizando un lenguaje claro y conciso en los puntos de la agenda, ofreciendo lugares de reunión alternativos, comida, servicios de interpretación, cuidado infantil, obsequios u otros métodos, cuando sea necesario, que reduzcan o eliminen las barreras a la participación. Acción HN-1.E Promotoras de Barrios Saludables. Evaluar la necesidad de reclutar, capacitar y remunerar a embajadores residentes y/o jóvenes de Barrios de Oportunidad para realizar actividades de divulgación, brindar interpretación multilingüe y facilitar la obtención de retroalimentación de la comunidad.
Policy HN-1.2 Participación significativa y
relevante. Busque oportunidades para promover la
participación en reuniones nocturnas, talleres de fin
de semana y reuniones comunitarias.
Policy HN-1.3 Socios Comunitarios.
Colaborar continuamente con organizaciones
comunitarias para desarrollar e implementar
programas de divulgación eficaces, aumentar las
oportunidades de participación comunitaria en los
procesos cívicos y profundizar la comprensión de la
gobernanza municipal en la comunidad.
Exposición a la contaminación y calidad del aire
GOAL HN-2 Reducción de la contaminación en barrios de oportunidad sin que ningún segmento de la comunidad se vea afectado desproporcionadamente por las condiciones ambientales.
Política HN-2.1 Reducir la contaminación.
Esforzarse por reducir la exposición a la contaminación y los problemas de calidad del aire en los Barrios de
Oportunidad identificados en el Informe de Revisión de Antecedentes de Barrios Saludables para Todos.
Acción HN-2.A Protección de Sitios Sensibles. Exigir que los nuevos desarrollos residenciales en Barrios de Oportunidad ubicados a menos de 152 metros de la Carretera 101 o adyacentes al Bulevar Butterfield implementen medidas adecuadas para reducir la exposición a la contaminación atmosférica relacionada con el tráfico, incluyendo, entre otras, el aumento de las zonas de amortiguación y los retranqueos paisajísticos, la restricción de los espacios abiertos comunes y privados al aire libre adyacentes a las carreteras y la filtración de aire interior de alta eficiencia.
Acción HN-2.B Rutas de Camiones de Servicio Pesado. Limitar las rutas de camiones adyacentes a receptores sensibles cuando sea posible, colocar señalización para evitar el ralentí donde sea necesario y coordinar la aplicación de la normativa específica en Barrios de Oportunidad mediante la evaluación del Capítulo 10.60 (Ordenanza de Rutas y Estacionamiento de Camiones) del Código Municipal, de conformidad con el Proyecto de Ley 98 de la Asamblea. Acción HN-2.C Reducir la Exposición Potencial a la Contaminación. Exigir que los nuevos desarrollos adyacentes a usos incompatibles incorporen mecanismos para reducir la exposición potencial a la contaminación, incluyendo, entre otras, zonas de amortiguación, retranqueos, orientación de los edificios y filtración de aire interior de alta eficiencia. Acción HN-2.D Estándares de cero emisiones. Evaluar y considerar estándares de cero emisiones para empresas.
Política HN-2.2 Monitoreo de la Calidad del Aire.
Colaborar con el Distrito de Gestión de la Calidad del Aire del Área de la Bahía (BAAQMD) para apoyar la expansión
de las iniciativas de monitoreo de la calidad del aire en Morgan Hill, priorizando los Barrios de Oportunidad, para fundamentar las acciones de mejora específicas de la zona y otros Programas de Reducción de Emisiones
Comunitarias (CERP).
Política HN-2.3 Compatibilidad del uso del suelo.
Proteger los usos incompatibles dentro de los barrios de oportunidad para reducir la exposición a la contaminación y otros impactos en la salud.
Promoción de la salud física
GOAL HN-3 Espacios públicos geográficamente accesibles, seguros, inclusivos y activos para todos los residentes.
Política HN-3.1 Recreación
Asequible. Garantizar el acceso
asequible al Centro Recreativo
Centennial, al Centro Acuático y a
los programas asociados
ofreciendo tarifas subsidiadas,
ampliando las actividades
recreativas gratuitas o de bajo
costo y colaborando con
proveedores de atención médica y
comunitarios para compensar los
costos de los miembros de la
comunidad.
Acción HN-3.A Salud y Bienestar. Brindar información educativa multilingüe a la comunidad sobre la disponibilidad de asistencia financiera y membresías gratuitas para programas de salud y bienestar, así como para adultos mayores, en el Centro Recreativo Centennial. Acción HN-3.B Parques Inclusivos. Diseñar nuevos parques que sean inclusivos, equitativos y accesibles para todas las edades, capacidades y necesidades culturales, a la vez que se transforman los parques existentes para satisfacer las necesidades recreativas de todos los usuarios, como la programación cultural y la señalización multilingüe.
Acción HN-3.C Parques Vecinales. Revisar y considerar la revisión del Artículo I (Dedicación de Terrenos para Parques) del Título 17 (Subdivisiones) para fomentar que los parques privados permanezcan abiertos y accesibles al público y así promover un acceso equitativo. Acción HN-3.D Eventos y Recreación Comunitaria. Ampliar los eventos comunitarios y las oportunidades recreativas gratuitas, incluyendo el horario extendido de los parques acuáticos y la programación de temporada en el Centro Comunitario y Cultural.
Acción HN-3.E Distribución de Parques. Garantizar una distribución equitativa de parques y servicios en la Ciudad; procurar que todas las viviendas en los Barrios de Oportunidad se encuentren a menos de un cuarto de milla a pie de al menos un parque o espacio abierto utilizable con servicios. Acción HN-3.F Aparcabicicletas. Revisar y modificar la Ordenanza Municipal de Aparcamiento de Bicicletas, que exige que los nuevos desarrollos proporcionen conexiones para bicicletas con usos adyacentes e instalen aparcabicicletas cerca de las entradas de los edificios para fomentar el uso de la bicicleta.
Política HN-3.2 Priorizar los
parques en barrios de
oportunidad. Priorizar la ubicación
de nuevos parques e instalaciones
recreativas en barrios de
oportunidad que fomenten la salud
física.
Acceso asequible a opciones de alimentos saludables
GOAL HN-4 Acceso equitativo a alimentos frescos, saludables y asequibles a una distancia corta y segura del hogar.
Política HN-4.1 Productos Asequibles.
Promover el acceso a productos frescos y asequibles,
como puestos de venta de frutas y verduras y
puestos ambulantes de comida, en los Barrios de
Oportunidad.
Acción HN-4.A Venta y Cultivo de Productos Frescos. Modificar el Código de Zonificación para permitir flexibilidad en la venta y el cultivo de productos frescos y asequibles a través de puestos permanentes, vendedores ambulantes, huertos comunitarios y agricultura urbana.
Acción HN-4.B Bancos de Alimentos. Apoyar los esfuerzos de las organizaciones locales para ampliar el alcance de los bancos de alimentos y centros de distribución de despensas, ampliando el horario de atención y facilitando la ubicación de nuevas ubicaciones en los Barrios de Oportunidad.
Acción HN-4.C Programa de Nutrición para Personas Mayores. Continuar apoyando el Programa de Nutrición para Personas Mayores, proporcionando almuerzos gratuitos a personas mayores de bajos ingresos.
Acción HN-4.D Educación sobre Salud y Bienestar. Instar al Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Santa Clara a brindar educación sanitaria multilingüe, como clases de bienestar, educación nutricional y clases de cocina saludable, así como a concientizar sobre hábitos saludables y otras preocupaciones actuales de salud pública en Morgan Hill.
Política HN-4.2 Tienda de comestibles
hispana. Abogar por la ubicación de una tienda de
comestibles hispana en barrios con oportunidades
para satisfacer las necesidades culturales de la zona.
Política HN-4.3 Alfabetización en
alimentación saludable. Fomentar la alfabetización
en alimentación saludable y brindar recursos a la
comunidad mediante la colaboración con el
Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de
Santa Clara, escuelas, grupos comunitarios y otros
colaboradores.
Hogares seguros y saludables
GOAL HN-5 Vivienda segura, asequible y estable para que las personas prosperen en sus comunidades independientemente de su raza, origen nacional, ingresos o vecindario.
Política HN-5.1 Promover la vivienda
asequible. Promover el desarrollo de vivienda
subsidiada y asequible para todos los grupos de
ingresos.
Acción HN-5.A Ordenanza de Estabilización de Alquileres de Casas Móviles. Revisar y actualizar, cuando corresponda, la Ordenanza de Estabilización de Alquileres de Casas Móviles, dentro del Capítulo 5.36 (Alquileres de Parques de Casas Móviles) del Código Municipal, para proteger a los residentes de parques de casas móviles de aumentos repentinos de alquiler y garantizar opciones de vivienda asequible. Acción HN-5.B Protección de Inquilinos. Evaluar los programas municipales de protección de inquilinos, realizar un análisis de viabilidad y desarrollar un programa para proteger a los inquilinos mediante asistencia legal, prevenir ejecuciones hipotecarias, brindar asistencia para el alquiler o hacer cumplir las leyes de vivienda justa, de conformidad con la política de Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) de la Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).
Acción HN-5.C Filtración de Viviendas Saludables. Explorar la viabilidad de un programa para proporcionar a los residentes de Barrios de Oportunidad purificadores de aire o recursos para modernizar sus viviendas y filtrar los contaminantes del aire en su interior.
Política HN-5.2 Protección contra el
desplazamiento y arrendatarios. Implementar
estrategias contra el desplazamiento y protección de
inquilinos en todos los vecindarios.
Política HN-5.3 Hogares Saludables.
Colaboramos con el Departamento de Salud Pública
del Condado de Santa Clara y organizaciones
comunitarias para promover prácticas de vivienda
seguras, higiénicas y saludables.
Aumentar la salud general
GOAL HN-6 Acceso equitativo a la actividad física, la recreación y las oportunidades de bienestar para todos los residentes, especialmente en los vecindarios de oportunidad.
Política HN-6.1 Promoción de la Salud. Promover
la salud de la comunidad y fomentar la concienciación
sobre la salud mediante materiales educativos
multilingües.
Acción HN-6.A Educación para la Salud Integral. Colaborar con el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Santa Clara para proporcionar materiales educativos multilingües sobre salud, a través de boletines informativos, foros comunitarios, periódicos y otros medios, sobre asma, alergias, nutrición, salud integral y otras preocupaciones actuales de salud pública en Morgan Hill, incluyendo recursos para servicios de salud mental, servicios para el abuso de sustancias y prevención del suicidio.
Acción HN-6.B Clínicas Móviles. Revisar y, si procede, el Código Municipal para permitir clínicas móviles de salud preventiva y atención dental.
Acción HN-6.C Paisajismo Adaptado a Personas con Asma. Evaluar y considerar la revisión del Capítulo 18.64 (Paisajismo) del Código de Zonificación y otras políticas de paisajismo para priorizar especies de plantas adaptadas a personas con asma. Acción HN-6.D Acceso a Transporte Público y Microtransporte. Buscar financiación para un programa de microtransporte estilo MoGo revitalizado, o un programa de modelo de servicio alternativo, para brindar servicio de primera y última milla. Acción HN-6.E Mitigación del Calor Extremo. Aumentar la cubierta arbórea urbana, las áreas de sombra y los espacios abiertos en comunidades vulnerables al calor, especialmente en los Barrios de Oportunidad, para mitigar el calor extremo y mejorar la salud, priorizando las aceras, paradas de transporte público, parques y viviendas multifamiliares expuestas al calor.
Política HN-6.2 Ubicación de clínicas médicas.
Fomentar la ubicación de clínicas médicas, clínicas móviles y clínicas dentales móviles en barrios de oportunidad.
Política HN-6.3 Acceso al transporte público.
Abogar por un mayor acceso al transporte público que
conecte a los miembros de la comunidad con transporte
alternativo para citas médicas, supermercados y
actividades recreativas.
Política HN-6.4 Calor urbano. Exigir nuevos
desarrollos y buscar financiación para las zonas existentes de la ciudad, a fin de incorporar árboles en las calles u otras áreas de sombra a lo largo de las principales rutas peatonales y ciclistas, y cerca de las paradas de transporte público.
Instalaciones e infraestructura públicas
GOAL HN-7 Espacios públicos, instalaciones e infraestructura seguros, bien mantenidos y accesibles que apoyan estilos de vida activos y el bienestar de la comunidad.
Política HN-7.1 Red de Transporte
Activo. Implementar una red de transporte
activo que conecte los usos residenciales con
escuelas, centros comerciales, de
entretenimiento, recreativos, de transporte
público y de empleo, y que aborde la
congestión vehicular y las barreras de
seguridad que limitan el acceso de peatones
y ciclistas a parques y servicios comunitarios.
Acción HN-7.A Transporte Seguro y Activo. Buscar financiación para mejorar la infraestructura peatonal y ciclista, incluyendo aceras, alumbrado público y medidas de moderación del tráfico, con el fin de promover el transporte seguro y activo, tal como se identifica en el Plan Maestro de Transporte y el Plan Integral de Acción de Seguridad, priorizando los Barrios de Oportunidad. Acción HN-7.B Rutas Seguras a las Escuelas. Colaborar con el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Morgan Hill para implementar y ampliar las "Rutas Seguras a las Escuelas", incluyendo senderos e infraestructura para bicicletas que conecten los Barrios de Oportunidad con las escuelas. Acción HN-7.C Iluminación en Espacios Públicos. Revisar y modificar las normas de iluminación para aceras, senderos, parques y espacios públicos y privados para garantizar que estén bien iluminados y mejoren la comodidad y la usabilidad como iniciativa de seguridad comunitaria. Acción HN-7.D Servicios de Parques para la Aptitud Física. Proporcionar servicios públicos que promuevan oportunidades gratuitas para la actividad física, incluyendo, entre otros, jardines comunitarios, equipos de ejercicio al aire libre en parques y estructuras de sombra. Acción HN-7.E Patios Escolares Comunitarios. Colaborar con el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Morgan Hill para utilizar los patios escolares como "patios escolares comunitarios" fuera del horario escolar.
Política HN-7.2 Nuevos servicios
públicos. Priorizar y asignar nuevos servicios
públicos en barrios con oportunidades.
Barrios Saludables Para Todos
18 Recomendación
1. Audiencia pública abierta/cerrada; y
2. Adoptar una resolución para agregar el elemento Vecindarios saludables para todos al Plan General de Morgan Hill 2035.
Recomendaciones
1. La enmienda propuesta cumple con la letra y la intención de los objetivos y políticas del plan general.
¿Preguntas?
10 CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: December 3, 2025
PREPARED BY:
Adam Paszkowski, Principal Planner
APPROVED BY: City Manager
ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE TEXT OF THE NATURAL
RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT ELEMENT (GENERAL PLAN
AMENDMENT GPA2024-0004) OF THE MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN IN COMPLIANCE WITH CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 1425
RECOMMENDATION(S)
1. Open/Close the Public Hearing; and
2. Adopt a Resolution approving an amendment to the Natural Resources and Environment Element of the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES
City Council Ongoing Priorities
Protecting the Environment and Preserving Open Space and Agricultural Land Supporting our Youth, Seniors, and Entire Community
Fostering a Positive Organizational Culture
Preserving and Cultivating Public Trust
Preserving our Community History
Enhancing Diversity and Inclusiveness
Advocating for Local, Regional, and State Legislative Initiatives 2024-2025 Strategic Priorities
Community Engagement
Healthy Community
Guiding Documents
Bikeways, Trails, and Recreation Master Plan
Climate Action Plan
Communications, Outreach, and Engagement Plan
Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan
REPORT NARRATIVE:
The Natural Resources and Environment Element of the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan is proposed to be updated to be in compliance with Senate Bill (SB) 1425.
10 Government Code Section 65302 mandates the requirements of general plans as well as the mandatory elements, including the Open Space Element and the Conservation Element. Pursuant to the State's General Plan Guidelines, elements can be prepared in any order or combined; therefore, within Morgan Hill, the Open Space Element and the Conservation Element are combined into one Element named the Natural Resources and Environment Element.
SB 1425 requires that Open Space Elements be updated by January 1, 2026, with expanded requirements, including:
1. Access to open space for all residents in a manner that considers social, economic, and racial equity, correlated with the environmental justice element or environmental justice policies in the general plan, as applicable.
2. Climate resilience and other co-benefits of open space, correlated with the safety element.
3. Rewilding opportunities, correlated with the land use element.
Rewilding is defined in SB 1425 as: opportunities to preserve, enhance, and expand an integrated network of open space to support beneficial uses, such as habitat, recreation, natural resources, historic and tribal resources, water management, and aesthetics, and establishing a natural communities conservation plan to provide for coordinated mitigation of the impacts of new development.
Existing Natural Resources and Environment Element
The Natural Resources and Environment Element is part of the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan and guides the long-term conservation of natural resources and preservation of available open space areas. The Natural Resources and Environment Element was last updated in 2016, when the General Plan was adopted.
The Natural Resources and Environment Element advocates preserving open space, agricultural uses, hillsides, riparian areas, wildlife habitat, and other natural features.
Policies seek to establish a greenbelt around the City, preserve El Toro, conserve resources and protect the City’s cultural heritage, all to help Morgan Hill retain its rural atmosphere as it continues to grow. The Element provides some brief background information and related goals, policies, and actions on the following topics:
• Open Space, Hillsides, and Scenic Features
• Agricultural Resources
• Biological Resources
• Water Quality and Conservation
• Air Quality
• Climate Change
• Energy Conservation
Natural Resources and Environment Element Update
10 The revisions to the Natural Resources and Environment Element utilized feedback gathered from the community engagement collected during the Healthy Neighborhoods for All outreach. As such, the draft goals, policies, and actions seek to promote efforts to address equitable park access, climate resilience, and rewilding opportunities consistent with SB 1425 requirements through the following:
• Ensure that all homes in designated Opportunity Neighborhoods are within a quarter-mile walking distance of a usable park or open space with amenities. • Designing parks that are accessible and culturally responsive to all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
• Support for food access through gardens and farms in Opportunity Neighborhoods, directly addressing environmental equity. • Enhance ecological corridors, support biodiversity, and provide passive recreation and educational opportunities.
• Prioritize open space preservation in areas that offer floodplain resilience, urban heat mitigation, and biodiversity benefits.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing regarding the Natural Resources and Environment Element on November 11, 2025; following discussion, the Planning Commission unanimously approved Resolution No. 25-18, recommending the City Council approve the Natural Resources and Environment Element. As part of the Planning Commission's approval, they also proposed the addition of the below Action.
Action HN-3.C Neighborhood-Serving Parks. Review and consider revising Article I (Park Land Dedication) within Title 17 (Subdivisions) to encourage privately maintained parks remain open and accessible to the public to promote equitable access.
Complete details of the proposed amendments are provided in the draft Resolution (Attachment 1) and in the Planning Commission's November 11, 2025, staff report.
Climate Action Pathways for Schools
City staff assisted Climate Action Pathways for Schools (CAPS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, secure a $300,000 grant over the course of three years from the James Cary Smith Community Grant Program to recruit, hire, and train Morgan Hill Unified School District (MHUSD) students to lead sustainability projects within Morgan Hill. One of the projects under the grant consisted of reviewing SB 1425, including researching other cities' Open Space Elements, best management practices, and developing a recommendations report (see attachment). Several of the recommendations from the interns were incorporated into the draft Natural Resources and Environment Element Update.
Findings for Approval
Pursuant to Section 18.115.060 (Findings for Approval), the City Council may approve a general plan amendment only if the following finding is made:
10 A. The city council must find that the proposed amendment meets the letter and intent of the general plan goals and policies.
The draft Natural Resources and Environment Element update meets the letter and intent of the general plan goals and policies as it complements existing policies and is consistent with the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan vision to maintain Morgan Hill’s family-friendly character and strong sense of community while the community grows and prospers.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Inform, Involve, Collaborate, and Empower
A 10-day public hearing notice was published in the Friday, November 21, 2025, edition of the Morgan Hill Times pursuant to Government Code Sections 65090-65096. Notice was also provided on the website and email/social media with the City's 411 distribution.
On November 11, 2025, the Planning Commission held a public hearing regarding the proposed amendments to the Natural Resources and Environment Element, in which a 10-day public hearing notice was published in the Friday, October 31, 2025, edition of the Morgan Hill Times.
Community engagement gathered from the Healthy Neighborhoods for All outreach was utilized in the development of the Natural Resources and Environment Element update.
Community engagement was extensive, multilingual, and inclusive, which included 59 events between August 2024 and August 2025, reaching 1,529 participants.
Engagement formats included pop-up events, visioning workshops, community meetings, and targeted outreach in Opportunity Neighborhoods. Materials and surveys were provided in English and Spanish, and interpretation was available at events. The engagement process built trust, particularly in Spanish-speaking communities, and directly shaped the Element’s goals, policies, and actions.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
Alternatively, the City Council may choose to adopt the Natural Resources and Environment Element with specific modifications or not adopt the Natural Resources and Environment Element.
If the City Council does not take action to adopt the Natural Resources and Environment Element, the Element will remain as-is, and therefore, the City will not be in compliance with SB 1425. Failing to comply with SB 1425 could mean the General Plan may be statutorily incomplete and vulnerable to legal challenge under the Government Code, alleging the General Plan is inadequate or inconsistent because it lacks required Open Space content.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMISSION ACTIONS:
On November 11, 2025, the Planning Commission considered and recommended,
10 unanimously, the City Council approve to add the Natural Resources and Environment Element to the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan.
FISCAL AND RESOURCE IMPACT:
This item is included in the current adopted budget (FY24-25 and FY25-26) and is part of the Long Range Planning workplan and is funded through the Long Range Planning Fund (207).
CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):
Exempt
The Natural Resources and Environment Element has been reviewed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The proposed draft goals, policies, and actions are primarily programmatic and policy-level, and will not result in any direct impact upon the physical environment. Any development that occurs in the future subject to such standards will undergo an independent analysis per the requirements of CEQA. The Natural Resources and Environment Element is covered under the certified Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and no further environmental review is required pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15183.
The EIR for the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan was prepared in accordance with CEQA and certified by the Morgan Hill City Council on July 27, 2016 (SCH#2015022074).
RESOLUTION NO. 25-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MORGAN HILL ADOPTING A GENERAL PLAN
AMENDMENT (GPA2024-0004) TO AMEND THE TEXT OF
THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
ELEMENT OF THE MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
IN COMPLIANCE WITH SENATE BILL (SB) 1425
WHEREAS, the State of California requires cities and counties to adopt a comprehensive, long-term General Plan for the physical development of the City, pursuant to Government Code Section 65302;
WHEREAS, an Open Space Element is one of seven mandated elements of the General Plan;
WHEREAS, Senate Bill (SB) 1425 requires that the Open Space Element be updated by January 1, 2026, with expanded requirements including consideration of access to open space for all residents in a manner that considers social, economic, and racial equity, correlated with the environmental justice element; WHEREAS, SB 1425 also mandates the requirement to address climate resilience and other co-benefits of open space in coordination with the Safety Element; WHEREAS, SB 1425 also explicitly focuses on "rewilding opportunities," or creating and preserving open space networks to support biological and recreational uses; WHEREAS, the City of Morgan Hill has prepared the Natural Resources and Environment Element in accordance with State law;
WHEREAS, the Natural Resources and Environment Element includes specific goals, policies, and actions to implement SB 1425;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines, a Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (SCH No. 2015022074) for the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan Update was prepared and certified by the City of Morgan Hill in July 2016;
WHEREAS, the City of Morgan Hill acting as a lead agency has completed an environmental analysis and determined that the goals, policies, and actions of the Natural Resources and Environment Element are primarily programmatic and policy-level, and will not result in any direct impact upon the physical environment, and any development that occurs in the future subject to such standards will undergo an independent analysis per the requirements of CEQA. Therefore, the City has determined that the Natural
City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 25-xx
Resources and Environment Element is covered under the certified Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan EIR, and no further environmental review is required pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15183.
WHEREAS, on November 21, 2025, a public notice was published in the Morgan Hill Times, specifying the date, time, and location of the public hearing to consider the recommendation that the City Council adopt the General Plan Amendment to amend the text of the Natural Resources and Environment Element of the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan;
WHEREAS, such request was considered by the Planning Commission at its regular meeting of November 11, 2025, and by the City Council at its meeting of December 3, 2025; and
WHEREAS, testimony received at a duly noticed public hearing, along with exhibits and other materials have been considered in the review process.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE MORGAN HILL CITY COUNCIL DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Morgan Hill City Council finds that the General Plan amendment meets the letter and intent of the General Plan goals and policies.
SECTION 2. That the City Council adopt the Resolution amending the text of the Natural Resources and Environment Element of the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan as set forth in Exhibit “A” and by this reference incorporated herein.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
SECTION 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 3rd DAY OF DECEMBER 2025, AT A MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 25-xx
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
______________________________ _______________________________ MICHELE BIGELOW, City Clerk MARK TURNER, Mayor
City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 25-xx
CERTIFICATE OF THE CITY CLERK
I, MICHELLE BIGELOW, CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL, CALIFORNIA, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. , adopted by the City Council of the City of Morgan Hill, California at their regular meeting held on the ____ day of ________, 2025.
WITNESS MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF MORGAN HILL.
DATE: _____________________ _____________________________ MICHELE BIGELOW, City Clerk
City of Morgan Hill
Resolution No. 25-xx
EXHIBIT “A”
NATURAL RESOURCES AND
ENVIRONMENT
NRE-1
8 CHAPTER PURPOSE
The Natural Resources and Environment Element advocates preserving open space, agricultural uses, hillsides, riparian areas, wildlife habitat, and other natural features. Policies seek to establish a greenbelt around the City, preserve El Toro, conserve resources and protect the City’s cultural heritage, all to help Morgan Hill retain its rural atmosphere as it continues to grow. A number of policies in this element derive from the South County Joint Area Plan, which addresses a variety of open space, conservation, and regional planning concerns unique to the area around Morgan Hill and Gilroy. This Element provides some brief background information and related goals, policies, and actions on the following topics:
Open Space, Hillsides, and Scenic Features
Agricultural Resources
Biological Resources
Water Quality and Conservation
Air Quality
Climate Change
Energy Conservation
Several policies and actions were added to this Element to address equitable access to open space for all residents, climate resilience and other co-benefits of open space, and rewilding opportunities.
Rewilding refers to the opportunities to preserve, enhance, and expand an integrated network of open space to support beneficial uses, such as habitat, recreation, natural resources, historic and tribal resources, water management, and aesthetics, and establishing a natural communities conservation plan to provide for coordinated mitigation of the impacts of new development.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-2
OPEN SPACE, HILLSIDES, AND SCENIC FEATURES
OPEN SPACE
The abundance of open space within and around Morgan Hill is a key contributor to quality of life for City residents and visitors.
Preserving open space, including in conjunction with new development, is essential to maintaining the uniqueness and quality of life of Morgan Hill.
HILLSIDES AND SCENIC RESOURCES
The slopes that flank Morgan Hill to the east and west play a major role in shaping the character of the City. They provide a scenic backdrop for the community and access to trails and open spaces.
Maintaining views of the hillsides from public rights of way, as well as preserving their important resources, are City priorities.
GREENBELTS
The Natural Resources and Environment Element identifies a Greenbelt, which is intended to physically define the City and separate it from San Jose and San Martin. The Greenbelt includes both public open space and private properties as shown on Figure NRE-1. Identification of areas as “Greenbelt” does not change the development potential or restrictions imposed under Santa Clara County development policies and regulations. Rather, it indicates that the City will work with the County to minimize off-site visual impacts of new development. In addition, the Greenbelt is intended to identify areas where a targeted program of acquisition of open space easements or fee title to land may occur.
Areas outside of the Urban Growth Boundary that have been substantially subdivided into parcels smaller than 10 acres generally are not included in the identified Greenbelt areas. Many of the parcels in these areas are developed or are eligible for construction of single-family homes. The existing and potential density of development in these areas minimizes their value as Greenbelt areas. However, the rural character of these areas does
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-3
help to define and distinguish the urbanized City area from other urban and rural county areas.
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
Agriculture has been important to the City throughout its history as an industry and employment generator, in addition to contributing to the City’s rural character. The City’s economy once depended on the cultivation of stone fruits, pears, apples, and nuts.
Although the local economy diversified, agriculture is still an important asset to the region, as evident by the surrounding nurseries, orchards, and vineyards, which boost the region’s economy and the local tourism industry.
Supporting agriculture requires finding innovative ways to help farming and ranching operations become and remain competitive in an increasingly global economic environment. Agricultural development policies intend to retain the historic agricultural character of lands surrounding Morgan Hill, and to minimize conflicts between urban development and agricultural uses.
Agricultural land can be found within the Morgan Hill City limit and within the Sphere of Influence (SOI). The Morgan Hill area includes prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, farmland of local importance, unique farmland, and grazing land, as classified by the State Department of Conservation. As shown in Figure NRE-2, most of the prime farmland is located on the eastern side of the City, east of Highway 101. However, the Department of Conservation’s data reflect conditions as of 2010. Since the time the State published the data, some limited pieces of land may have been developed or may now be under development review.
Nevertheless, the data provide a broad picture of the agricultural resources within Morgan Hill today.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
Figure NRE-1 Greenbelts
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-5
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, also known as the Williamson Act, provides tax relief for landowners who preserve their agricultural and open space property under Williamson Act contracts. Under contract, the tax on a Williamson Act property is assessed at a rate consistent with its actual use, rather than the potential value. These contracts run for 10 years, are automatically renewable on an annual basis, and may be terminated by the initiative of either the property owner or the legislative body. There are a number of parcels under Williamson Act contracts in and around Morgan Hill.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-6
Figure NRE-2 Important Farmland
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-7
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
NATURAL COMMUNITIES
A natural community refers to a group of species that occurs in the same habitat or area. Six natural communities and two non-natural communities are present in the Morgan Hill City limits and SOI (Figure NRE-3). The six natural communities include:
oak woodland (3,221 acres within the SOI),
grassland (2,518 acres within the SOI) chaparral and coastal scrub (546 acres within the SOI),
riparian forest and scrub (236 acres within the SOI), open water (181 acres within the SOI), and
wetland (13 acres within the SOI).
The two non-natural land cover types consist of developed land (9,373 acres) and agricultural lands (3,486 acres).
SENSITIVE NATURAL COMMUNITIES
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has identified several native plant communities that are rare and/or diminishing within California. Although some of these
communities represent important biological resources and may be unique to California, they have no legal protective status.
Nevertheless, substantial losses of some of these plant communities may be considered “significant” under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Plant communities that CDFW considers sensitive in the Morgan Hill City limits and SOI (see Figure NRE- 4) include serpentine bunchgrass grassland, valley oak woodland, and blue oak woodland. Areas of welldeveloped riparian woodland and scrub, such as central California sycamore alluvial woodland, as well as other wetlands, are also considered sensitive because they are valuable to plant and wildlife diversity and are diminishing.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-8
Figure NRE-3 Natural Communities
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-9
Figure NRE-4 Fish Habitat
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-10
RIPARIAN AREAS AND AQUATIC HABITAT
Five creeks traverse Morgan Hill: Coyote and Fisher Creeks drain north to the San Francisco Bay, and Edmunson, Tennant and West Little Llagas Creeks flow into Monterey Bay. The City creeks and drainages can complement existing and new development by providing recreational access, pedestrian and bicycle connections, and places where people can go to appreciate the natural environment. Efforts to retain and rehabilitate water courses and adjacent banks will benefit the entire community.
A variety of aquatic species have the potential to occur within Morgan Hill and the SOI. The creeks in Morgan Hill support riverine habitats for fish and amphibian species. Five habitat types are present within Morgan Hill as shown on Figure NRE-5:
Cold Steelhead Habitat: This habitat is primarily located downstream of reservoirs. High stream flows (due to reservoir releases), sufficient sun, and high water clarity provide for suitable steelhead habitat conditions.
Warm Potential Trout/Steelhead Habitat: This habitat is located further downstream of reservoirs and has higher water temperatures and/or lower stream flows than the cold steelhead habitat. Its high water temperatures increase steelhead food demands, but its low stream flows and poor turbidity characteristics often do not produce enough insects to feed the fish. Increasing stream flows or reducing water temperatures can make the habitat more suitable for
steelhead. Warm-water fish often dominate in this habitat type.
Warm Native Habitat: This habitat is suitable for native warm-water fish, such as Sacramento sucker, hitch or
California roach, Sacramento pikeminnow, threespine
stickleback, and prickly sculpin.
Mixed Native and Introduced Habitat: This habitat has warm water temperatures, which provide suitable habitat
conditions for native and introduced species, such as tule perch (Hysterocarpus traski).
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Figure NRE-5 Known Occurrences of Special Status Species
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Fish-Scarce Habitat: This habitat is mostly dry during summer and fall, but it can provide migration routes for steelhead and other fish or a reproductive habitat for
amphibians.
PLANTS AND WILDLIFE
Morgan Hill is home to federally and State listed special-status species. The City is committed to protecting significant native flora and fauna. Ensuring that development does not compromise existing habitat will be a part of future land use decisions.
In addition to plant and animal species, a special-status habitat, serpentine bunchgrass, has been identified in Morgan Hill. Figure NRE- 6 illustrates the locations of known occurrences of specialstatus species.
HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN
In October 2012, the City of Morgan Hill adopted the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), which is a regional partnership between six Local Partners (the County of Santa Clara, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Santa Clara Valley Water District, and the Cities of San Jose, Gilroy, and Morgan Hill) and two Wildlife Agencies (the CDFW and the USFWS), in order to protect special-status species. The HCP provides a framework for promoting the protection and recovery of natural resources, including endangered species, as well as aims to streamline the permitting process for planned development, infrastructure, and maintenance activities under the jurisdictions of the County of Santa Clara (County), the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD), the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and the Cities of Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and San José.
The Habitat Conservation Plan is currently under revision by the Habitat Agency and is expected to be adopted in early 2026.
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Figure NRE-6 Sensitive Natural Communities
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WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVATION
REGIONAL WATERSHEDS
A watershed refers to the entire area that drains to a single waterway, such as a stream, lake, aquifer, or the ocean. The Morgan Hill City limits and SOI lie in two regional watersheds: the Coyote Creek and Uvas-Llagas Watersheds. As illustrated in Figure NRE7, most of the City is located within the Uvas-Llagas Watershed, part of the Pajaro River Watershed, which drains southward towards Monterey Bay. The Coyote Creek Watershed, the largest watershed in Santa Clara County, covers the northern portions of the City. Coyote Creek originates in the Diablo Range and flows to Anderson Reservoir and then northward towards South San Francisco Bay through the flat Santa Clara Valley.
There are four reservoirs in the vicinity of Morgan Hill (Figure NRE- 8). Two of them are part of the Coyote Creek Watershed:
Anderson Reservoir, located adjacent to the City’s eastern boundary, and Coyote Reservoir, located 3 miles south of Anderson Reservoir. Chesbro and Uvas Reservoirs are located on the west side of the City within the Uvas-Llagas Watershed. The southern portion of Chesbro Reservoir lies within the SOI.
LOCAL CREEKS AND DRAINAGE CHANNELS
As shown in Figure NRE- 7, several creeks traverse Morgan Hill.
Coyote and Fisher Creeks flow north to the San Francisco Bay.
Edmundson, Tennant, and West Little Llagas Creeks drain south into Monterey Bay. While creeks in the hills remain generally natural and provide riparian habitats, most creeks in developed areas have been straightened and channelized to prevent flooding.
Engineered drainage channels running through the City include Butterfield and Madrone Channels and some parts of West Little Llagas Creek and Tennant Creek.
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Figure NRE-7 Groundwater Basins
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Figure NRE-8 Watersheds
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GROUNDWATER
Morgan Hill lies within two groundwater subbasins: the Santa Clara Subbasin and the Llagas Subbasin, as shown in Figure NRE-7.
The City of Morgan Hill pumps groundwater from the Coyote and Llagas Subbasins for its water supply. The Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD), of which the City of Morgan Hill is a member agency, manages all groundwater basins in Santa Clara County and utilizes a Groundwater Recharge Program to maintain
groundwater levels. According to Morgan Hill’s 2010 Urban Water Management Plan, the groundwater basins are not in condition of overdraft, and groundwater levels are not expected to drop.
AIR QUALITY
Morgan Hill is located within the San Francisco Air Basin, which is managed by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). The Air Basin comprises all of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties; the southern portion of Sonoma County; and the southwestern portion of Solano County. Air quality in this area is determined by such natural factors as topography, meteorology, and climate, in addition to the presence of existing air pollution sources and ambient conditions.
Air pollutants of concern in Morgan Hill include ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NO2), and particulate matter (PM).
These pollutants originate from sources both within and outside of Morgan Hill. Natural gas use for energy, heating and cooking, vehicle trips, and area sources such as landscaping equipment and consumer cleaning products are the primary sources of air pollutants in Morgan Hill.
Sensitive receptors include those segments of the population that are most susceptible to poor air quality, such as children, elderly people, and sick people, as well as sensitive land uses, such as schools, hospitals, parks, and residential communities. Air quality problems intensify when sources of air pollutants and sensitive receptors are located near one another. Since residential areas are
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located throughout the city, as are schools, parks, and medical facilities, the consideration of sensitive receptors is an important aspect of the General Plan.
CLIMATE CHANGE
The earth’s atmosphere is composed of naturally occurring and human-caused greenhouse gases (GHGs) that trap heat in the atmosphere and affect the Earth’s temperature. This phenomenon, known as the greenhouse effect, is responsible for maintaining a climate suitable for human life. Human activities, including burning fossil fuels and removing trees, have contributed to an excessive release of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere. Consequently, the amounts of GHGs in the atmosphere have increased, intensifying the natural greenhouse effect. This intensified greenhouse effect has contributed to global warming, which is an increased rate of warming of the earth’s surface temperature. Warming of the earth’s lower atmosphere induces large-scale changes in ocean circulation patterns, precipitation patterns, global ice cover, biological distributions, and other large-scale changes to the ecosystem.
In the State’s efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, the Governor of California signed Assembly Bill (AB) 32 in 2006, codified under the Global Warming Solutions Act, into legislation.
The Act requires that California cap its GHG emissions at 1990 levels by 2020. This legislation requires the California Air Resource Board (CARB) to establish a program for statewide GHG emissions reporting, as well as monitoring and enforcement of that program. CARB is also required to adopt rules and regulations to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective GHG emission reductions.
Senate Bill (SB) 375 also responds to AB 32, and calls for the automobile and light truck industry to produce reduced-emission vehicles and requires metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to prepare sustainable communities strategies, which will demonstrate how a region will meet CARB’s GHG reduction targets by reducing the amount of vehicle miles traveled.
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ENERGY CONSERVATION
Conserving resources often depends on modifying established behavior patterns. The plan intends to encourage residents and businesses to conserve energy by supporting programs that are easy to participate in.
GOALS, POLICIES, AND ACTIONS
OPEN SPACE, HILLSIDES, AND SCENIC FEATURES
GOAL NRE-1 Preserve, enhance, and equitably expand open space areas and natural features in Morgan Hill
to support ecological health, climate resilience,
cultural identity, and access for all residents.
Policy NRE-1.1 Natural Features. Preserve and restore
outstanding natural features, such as the skyline of
a prominent ridgelines and rock outcroppings, by
integrating them into ecological corridors and
climate-resilient landscapes.
Policy NRE-1.2 Large Open Space Areas. Work with the County, the Open Space Authority, appropriate conservancy organizations and land trusts, and property owners to preserve large open space areas, such as
agricultural lands and outdoor recreation areas, to
conserve natural resources and retain the City's
unique identity. Prioritize partnerships in areas
that provide floodplain resilience, urban heat
mitigation, or biodiversity co-benefits.
Policy NRE-1.3 Designated Open Space. Connect designated “Open Space” lands on the Morgan Hill General
Plan Land Use Map (Figure CNF-3) through
expanded trail networks and pedestrian
infrastructure to improve connections between
homes, schools, parks and public services, with
attention to safety and accessibility.
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Policy NRE-1.4 South County Open Space. Preserve and maintain the wide variety of open spaces in the South
County; including greenbelt areas, parks, and
agricultural uses (South County Joint Area Plan
16.00). Promote interjurisdictional efforts to
address equitable park access and rewilding
opportunities in South County open spaces.
Policy NRE-1.5 Coordinated Action. Continue to coordinate with Gilroy and Santa Clara County to implement
South County open space goals and objectives and
participate in the development of regional open
space preservation programs. (South County Joint
Area Plan 16.19 & 16.20)
Policy NRE-1.6 Open Space Preservation Tools. Use a variety of open space preservation tools to protect open
space, including public acquisition, land use
regulation, urban development policy, economic
incentives to landowners, open space easements,
transfer of development rights, planned cluster
development, assessment districts, and dedication
of additional lands upon development (South
County Joint Area Plan 16.17). Incorporate equitybased prioritization tools and incentives to support open space preservation in Opportunity
Neighborhoods identified in the Healthy
Neighborhoods for All Element.
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Policy NRE-1.7 Priority Areas for Preservation. The South County includes a variety of open space areas, including
the valley floor, stream corridors, lands around
reservoirs, foothills, inter-mountain valleys, and
mountain areas beyond the foothills. Of these
geographic areas, stream corridors, lands around
the reservoirs, lands which provide greenbelts,
and significant hillside features should receive
highest priority for preservation as open space and
future regional park location. (South County Joint
Area Plan 16.01 & 16.02)
Policy NRE-1.8 County Parks and Open Space Programs. Support County programs to:
a) acquire and develop regional parks in the South
County, providing just compensation for the
taking of private lands;
b) protect open space resources by prohibiting the
introduction of uses incompatible with open space
resource preservation, and preserve open space
through planning, regulation, acquisition and/or
development rights transfer programs;
c) plan and regulate land use to avoid hazardous
areas and protect critical natural resources; and
d) continue to provide property tax relief via the
Williamson Act to land owners who agree to
maintain their lands in open space uses. (South
County Joint Area Plan 16.21)
Policy NRE-1.9 Poppy Jasper. Preserve Poppy Jasper as a natural resource unique to Morgan Hill.
Policy NRE-1.10 Wetland Delineation and Mitigation. Require wetland delineation, mitigation, and long-term
enhancement measures—including native species
planting, flood storage functions, and community
access—during environmental review of future
land development applications.
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Policy NRE-1.11 Prioritize Open Space within Opportunity Neighborhoods. Prioritize the siting of open
space, new parks, and recreation facilities within
Opportunity Neighborhoods that support physical
health.
Action NRE-1.A Identification of Lands to Preserve. Identify appropriate lands to preserve as open space.
Action NRE-1.B Open Space Acquisition and Maintenance.
Formulate a program for open space acquisition
and maintenance that could involve a variety of
funding sources and stewardship agencies.
Action NRE-1.C Orderly Development. Retain important open space lands through planning for orderly, staged
urban development. (South County Joint Area
Plan 16.20)
Action NRE-1.D Prohibition of Poppy Jasper Mining. Work cooperatively with the County to ensure that
County regulations prohibit the mining of Poppy
Jasper.
Action NRE-1.E Inclusive Parks and Open Space. Design new parks and open space to be inclusive, equitable,
and accessible for all ages, abilities, and cultural
needs, while transforming existing parks to
accommodate the recreational needs of all users.
Action NRE-1.F Equitable Open Space Access. Ensure an equal distribution of parks and park amenities within the
City; strive to achieve a goal that all homes within
Opportunity Neighborhoods – as identified in the
Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element – are
within one-quarter mile walking distance of at
least one usable park and/or open space with
amenities.
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Action NRE-1.G Neighborhood-Serving Parks. Review and
consider revising Article I (Park Land Dedication)
within Title 17 (Subdivisions) to encourage
privately maintained parks remain open and
accessible to the public to promote equitable
access.
Action NRE-1.H Equitable Access to Healthy Food. Support community gardens, cultural easements, and
urban farms in open space plans, especially in food
deserts and Opportunity Neighborhoods, to
improve food access and community cohesion.
Action NRE-1.I Culturally Significant Landscapes. Incorporate art, signage and programming that reflect the
languages, traditions and identities of local
communities, and protect culturally significant
landscapes in open space planning.
Action NRE-1.J Rewilding and Open Space. Incorporate rewilded areas into open space networks that provide
passive recreation, nature interpretation, and
educational opportunities, while preserving
ecological integrity.
Action NRE-1.K Indigenous Ecological Knowledge Integration.
Collaborate with Indigenous communities to
incorporate traditional stewardship practices and
cultural interpretation into open space
management.
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GOAL NRE-2 Preservation of hillside areas as open space and scenic features.
Policy NRE-2.1 Hillside and Ridgeline Views. Protect views of hillsides, ridgelines, and prominent natural
features surrounding the City. These features help
define the City’s historic rural character, sense of
place, image and identity.
Policy NRE-2.2 El Toro Mountain as Landmark Feature. Retain the City's unique identity by preserving its
landmark natural feature, El Toro Mountain.
Policy NRE-2.3 Scenic Hillside Preservation. Preserve scenic hillsides around the City in an undeveloped state,
wherever feasible. Provide for retention of hillside
areas as open space through the dedication and/or
purchase of scenic easements and/or open space
easements, transfer of development rights and
other appropriate measures.
Policy NRE-2.4 Building Distance below Ridgelines. Limit all building pads located within the hillside areas to
an elevation at or below the 80-foot vertical drop
from the ridgeline.
Action NRE-2.A Rural Hillsides. Limit the hillside/mountain areas to the east and west to low-intensity rural uses
compatible with open space in order to maintain
their integrity as the South County's major scenic
and natural resources. (South County Joint Area
Plan 16.08)
Action NRE-2.B El Toro Mountain Preservation. Preserve El Toro Mountain in open space above the 500-foot
contour line on all sides, with the exception of the
Llagas and Paradise Valleys (where all land above
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the 600-foot contour elevation should be
preserved).
Action NRE-2.C Purchase of Easements. Purchase lands and/or open space easements on El Toro Mountain
through funds provided by a general bond election
and/or grants from State, federal, and private
sources.
Action NRE-2.D El Toro Mountain and Santa Clara County Parks.
Work with Santa Clara County Parks and
Recreation Department and/or the Open Space
Authority of Santa Clara Valley (OSA) to
incorporate a portion of El Toro Mountain into the
County park system or into the OSA managed
system of open space.
Action NRE-2.E Hillside Ordinance. All hillside areas with an average slope of 10 percent or greater shall be
regulated by the Hillside Ordinance.
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GREENBELTS
GOAL NRE-3 A stable, long-term City boundary reinforced by a greenbelt
POLICIES REGARDING CREATION OF THE GREENBELT
Policy NRE-3.1 Greenbelt as a Community Separator. Maintain a greenbelt to separate the northern and southern
boundaries of the City from surrounding rural
lands and the urbanized areas of San Jose and San
Martin, using rewilded landscapes to define urban
edges, prevent leapfrog development, and reduce
infrastructure strain.
Policy NRE-3.2 San Jose Coyote Valley Greenbelt. Work with the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County to ensure
that the San Jose Coyote Valley Greenbelt, which
includes the area south of Palm Avenue and north
of the Morgan Hill City limits and is located within
the San Jose Sphere of Influence, shall continue to
provide the non-urban buffer for the north side of
Morgan Hill.
Policy NRE-3.3 Greenbelt Easements. Acquire easements on properties using an approach that would maintain
some appropriate development potential,
maximize the use of available funds for greenbelt
and open space protection, and minimize land
management and maintenance costs.
Policy NRE-3.4 Land in Fee Title for Greenbelts. Acquire land in fee title when the City’s objectives include
allowing public access to the site for recreational or
related activities.
Policy NRE-3.5 “Willing Seller” Greenbelt Acquisition. Acquire properties and easements on a “willing seller”
basis.
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POLICIES REGARDING USES WITHIN THE GREENBELT
Policy NRE-3.6 No Commercial/Industrial Uses within
Greenbelts. Support County policies prohibiting
commercial and industrial uses (excluding
agricultural industry) in the unincorporated and
greenbelt areas surrounding the City.
Policy NRE-3.7 Appropriate Greenbelt Land Uses. Encourage land uses appropriate within a greenbelt, which
might include: a) low-density residential
development on lots 10 acres or more in size; b)
public parks and recreational areas; c) privately
operated recreation areas (e.g., golf courses and
riding stables); and, d) agriculture. (South County
Joint Area Plan 16.16)
Policy NRE-3.8 Appropriate Greenbelt Land Uses. Require appropriate uses within Greenbelt areas such as
parks and other designated open spaces,
scenic/open space easements, golf courses, low
intensity public facilities involving minimal
permanent improvements and agricultural
activities are appropriate uses. Existing residential
may remain and new residential uses should be
located and designed to have minimal visual and
other environmental impacts.
Policy NRE-3.9 Greenbelt Areas on Private Land. Greenbelt areas which are privately owned are not intended for
public recreational use.
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ACTIONS REGARDING CREATION OF THE GREENBELT
Action NRE-3.A Tools to Create a Greenbelt. Use a variety of tools to create a greenbelt, including public acquisition,
land use regulation, urban development policy,
economic incentives to landowners, open space
easements, transfer of development rights,
planned cluster development, assessment districts,
and dedication of additional lands upon
development.
Action NRE-3.B Greenbelt Acquisition Program. Pursue a
targeted program for acquisition of Greenbelt land
in fee title or conservation easements. Prioritize
undeveloped properties that are most threatened
with development which, if acquired, would
provide significant public benefit.
Action NRE-3.C Greenbelt Monitoring Program. Develop a
comprehensive program for monitoring land uses
and acquiring and maintaining certain Greenbelt
areas. Components of the program should include
staffing and/or contract resources, identification of
and securing funding for acquisition of easements
and fee title to property, and administration of the
program.
Action NRE-3.D Regional Approach to Form a Greenbelt. Work with San Jose and Santa Clara County to establish
and preserve a defined, permanent greenbelt
between Morgan Hill and San Jose in the southern
Coyote Valley, comprised of agricultural uses,
rural estates, and the Coyote Park chain. (South
County Joint Area Plan 16.13 & 16.14)
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Action NRE-3.E Regional Greenbelt Plan Implementation. Work with San Jose, Gilroy and Santa Clara County to
implement plans for the preservation of greenbelts
between the cities. (South County Joint Area Plan
16.22)
Action NRE-3.F Greenbelt Funding Source. Work with San Jose, Gilroy and the County to identify and establish a
viable source of funding for acquiring and
developing regional parks, pathways, and open
space. (South County Joint Area Plan 16.22)
Action NRE-3.G Greenbelt Priority Areas. The highest priority areas for Greenbelt preservation include the east
side of El Toro, the Edmundson/DeWitt/Sunset
area, and the foothills on the eastern side of the
valley north of Dunne Ave.
Action NRE-3.H Greenbelt Secondary Priority Areas. The second highest priority areas for Greenbelt preservation
include the west side of El Toro and the hill area
south of Edmundson.
Action NRE-3.I Greenbelt Tertiary Priority Areas. The third highest priority areas for Greenbelt preservation
include the west side of Paradise Valley, the Baird
Ranch (north of Llagas Road), and the Boy’s
Ranch/Coyote Creek Park area.
Action NRE-3.J Fair Market Value. When acquiring fee title or easements, offer property owners fair market
value using industry standard appraisal
techniques.
Action NRE-3.K Habitat Connectivity and Landscape Resilience.
Connect fragmented open spaces using
greenways, easements, and habitat corridors,
focusing on key linkages for wildlife movement
across jurisdictional boundaries.
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ACTIONS REGARDING USES WITHIN THE GREENBELT
Action NRE-3.L Land Uses that Supports Greenbelts. Support the County maintaining low densities and large
minimum lot size requirements for undeveloped
areas not planned for urbanization and lands
identified as Greenbelt.
Action NRE-3.M City Influence in Unincorporated Areas. Actively work with the County to find mechanisms that
would provide the City with greater influence over
development in the unincorporated areas of the
City’s Sphere of Influence.
Action NRE-3.N Low Impact Development in Hillside Greenbelt Areas. Subject new development within City
hillside Greenbelt areas to a site and design review
process that encourages minimizing
environmental impacts including minimizing the
amount of grading and encouraging location of
structures in areas where they are least visible from
the valley floor.
Action NRE-3.O Visibility of Structures within Greenbelts.
Encourage the evaluation and update of the basic
Santa Clara County development review process
to achieve greater restriction on visibility, from the
valley floor and major transportation corridors, of
structures in the hillside Greenbelt areas. This
updated review process should result in a minimal
review process for structures that are not visible
from the valley floor and major transportation
corridors, and an extensive review process for
structures that are visible.
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AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
GOAL NRE-4 A viable agricultural industry.
Policy NRE-4.1 Agriculture Retention and Transition to Urban Uses. Support programs and techniques, including
conservation easements and purchase of
development rights to encourage the retention of
agricultural activities and to minimize conflicts in
the transition from agriculture to urban uses.
Policy NRE-4.2 Support for Agricultural Activity. Support agricultural activity by encouraging agriculturerelated industry, commercial uses, and community events within the urban area, and expanding
opportunities for small-scale agriculture.
Policy NRE-4.3 Agriculture in the Sphere of Influence. Support significant agricultural activity within the Sphere
of Influence by providing a market for agricultural
products (e.g., farmers’ markets) and decreasing
the costs associated with agriculture by allowing
such uses to occur in the Sphere of Influence.
Policy NRE-4.4 Farming Cooperatives in Buffer Areas. Support use of farming cooperatives within agricultural
buffer areas.
Policy NRE-4.5 Local Agricultural Products. Purchase locallyproduced agricultural products for City functions and encourage Morgan Hill Unified School District
and other local agencies to do the same, whenever
feasible.
Policy NRE-4.6 Agricultural Education. Support programs to foster agricultural education.
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Policy NRE-4.7 Long-Term Maintenance of Agriculture.
Continue to support the long-term maintenance of
agricultural land uses and agriculture, including
vineyards and wineries, as an economic enterprise
in South County. (South County Joint Area Plan
14.00)
Policy NRE-4.8 Policy Support for Agriculture. Take positive action to encourage agriculture by supporting
local, county, and State policies favorable to
agriculture. (South County Joint Area Plan 14.01)
Policy NRE-4.9 Urban Encroachment. Require new urban
development adjacent to an existing agricultural
operation to create an appropriate buffer area, on
land within the proposed development, between
urban uses and agricultural activities.
Policy NRE-4.10 Land Use to Support Agricultural Viability.
Maintain the economic viability of agriculture
using a variety of methods, such as:
Designating land outside urban areas as
agricultural;
Requiring minimum lot sizes in agricultural
areas;
Requiring land uses that support agricultural
activities;
Marketing the benefits of agricultural uses to
the public. (South County Joint Area Plan 14.02)
Policy NRE-4.11 Agricultural Mitigation. Enforce the agricultural mitigation requirement of requiring the
preservation of a minimum of 1 acre of agricultural
land for each acre of agricultural land changed to a
non-agricultural use, consistent with the City’s
Agricultural Lands Preservation Program.
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Policy NRE-4.12 Permanent Preservation of Agriculture. Establish areas for the permanent preservation of
agricultural lands and programs to accomplish
that objective, such as exclusive agricultural
zoning, transfer of development rights (TDR)
programs, and right-to-farm legislation. (South
County Joint Area Plan 14.03)
Policy NRE-4.13 Urban Growth. Wherever existing development patterns and existing and planned roads and other
public facilities permit, concentrate urban
development adjacent to existing developed areas
in order to minimize the impact of development on
agricultural land. Plan for further urban growth to
occur in areas which will avoid encroachment into
those agricultural lands with the greatest longterm potential to remain economically viable. (South County Joint Area Plan 14.07)
Policy NRE-4.14 LAFCO Policies. Support policies of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) which
would guide urban development away from those
agricultural areas with the greatest potential for
long-term economic viability. Use policies for
Urban Service Area extensions and utility
extensions to guide urban growth away from longterm agricultural areas. (South County Joint Area Plan 14.09 & 14.10)
Policy NRE-4.15 Conversion to Urban Use. Convert agricultural land that has been designated for urban growth in
an orderly manner to retain the stability and
viability of remaining agricultural lands as long as
possible. (South County Joint Area Plan 14.08)
Policy NRE-4.16 Prioritization of Agricultural Land. Prioritize protection of existing agriculture lands in the
Sphere of Influence, outside the Urban Growth
Boundary.
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Policy NRE-4.17 Williamson Act Contracts. Support the
preservation of land under Williamson Act
contracts within the Morgan Hill Sphere of
Influence.
Policy NRE-4.18 Agricultural Operations Disclosure. In areas where residential development is adjacent to
agricultural operations, require a disclosure to
residents that agricultural operations happen
nearby and that they will be exposed to impacts
from such operations, such as dust, noise, and
odors.
Policy NRE-4.19 Agricultural Lands Preservation Program. Use a wide variety of funding sources to support the
Agricultural Lands Preservation Program,
including land use regulation, urban development
policy, conservation easements (with matching
grant funds from appropriate agencies, where
possible), transfer or purchase of development
rights, increased transfer fees, Residential
Development Control funds, or Homeowners
Association fees for new development.
Action NRE-4.A Agricultural Marketing. Participate in direct marketing of locally produced agricultural
products, as appropriate.
Action NRE-4.B Buffer Area Requirements. Develop and adopt buffer area requirements that address the width,
location, and allowed uses in buffer areas, and
address the right to farm.
Action NRE-4.C Buffer Area Uses. Limit activities in these buffer areas to uses which are compatible with both
agricultural and urban activities, such as parks,
playing fields, and/or alternative energy facilities.
(South County Joint Area Plan 14.11)
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Action NRE-4.D South County Agricultural Areas. Determine the range of activities permitted in agricultural areas
of South County through an intergovernmental
process, where the range of allowed uses reflects
the activities which are necessary to promote the
continued economic viability of agriculture in
South County. (South County Joint Area Plan
14.12)
Action NRE-4.E Small-Scale Agriculture. Explore techniques to support small-scale agricultural operations, such
as amendments to the Zoning Code to reduce
minimum lot sizes for agricultural uses or allow a
greater range of agricultural activities in
residential and other urban areas. Consider
amending the Zoning Code to allow beekeeping.
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
GOAL NRE-5 Preservation and reclamation of streams and
riparian areas as open space.
Policy NRE-5.1 Reclamation of Streams and Riparian Areas.
Encourage reclamation of degraded streams and
riparian areas.
Policy NRE-5.2 Other Agencies and Environmental Review.
Coordinate with jurisdictional agencies, as
required, as part of the environmental review
process for development projects.
Policy NRE-5.3 Natural State of Streamside and Riparian Areas.
Retain natural streamside and riparian areas in
their natural state in order to preserve their value
as percolation and recharge areas, natural habitat,
scenic resources, and recreation corridors, and to
stabilize banks. (South County Joint Area Plan
15.08)
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-36
Policy NRE-5.4 Development Impacts in Riparian Areas.
Consider development impacts upon wildlife in
riparian areas and mitigate those environmental
impacts.
Policy NRE-5.5 Flood Control Projects. Where flood control projects are needed to protect existing
development, minimize disruption of streams and
riparian systems, maintaining slow flow and stable
banks through design and other appropriate
mitigation measures. (South County Joint Area
Plan 15.08)
Policy NRE-5.6 Stream Channel Protection. Protect existing stream channels and riparian vegetation by
requiring buffering or landscaped setbacks and
storm runoff interception as specified in Table
NRE-1.
TABLE NRE-1 REQUIRED STREAM SETBACK DISTANCES
Slope
Category 1 Streams
(Water Present Year Round
During Normal Rain Years)
Category 2 Streams
(Water Present During
the Wet Season Only
During Normal
Rain Years)
Inside Urban
Service Area
Outside Urban
Service Area
Inside/Outside
Urban Service Area
0-30% 100 feet 150 feet
35 feet
>30% 150 feet 200 feet
Policy NRE-5.7 Creek Visibility. Require creek areas in new developments to be visible from the public rightof-way to ensure safety, maintenance, access, and integration into the neighborhood.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-37
Policy NRE-5.8 Creeks Access. Access to creeks should be of sufficient width to accommodate trails, flood
control access, and protection of riparian habitat.
(South County Joint Area Plan 16.11)
Action NRE-5.A West Little Llagas Creek. A proposed streamside park along West Little Llagas Creek should be
actively implemented and connected to the County
trail system. (South County Joint Area Plan 16.10 &
16.12)
Action NRE-5.B Design Guidelines for Riparian Features.
Develop Design Guidelines for preserving,
reclaiming and incorporating riparian features into
development.
Action NRE-5.C Riparian Preservation and Reclamation
Programs. Develop programs for the preservation
and reclamation of degraded riparian areas.
GOAL NRE-6 Protection of native plants, animals, and
sensitive habitats.
Policy NRE-6.1 Natural State of Habitat. Preserve all fish and wildlife habitats in their natural state whenever
possible. Consider development impacts upon
wildlife and utilize actions to mitigate those
environmental impacts.
Policy NRE-6.2 Habitat Conservation Plan. Support the
implementation of the Santa Clara Valley Habitat
Plan to protect wildlife, rare and endangered
plants and animals, and sensitive habitats from
loss and destruction.
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NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-38
Policy NRE-6.3 Urban Expansion Impacts. Minimize impacts upon wildlife when considering annexations,
urban service area extensions, and other
governmental actions that permit urban
development of previously undeveloped property.
Policy NRE-6.4 Tree Preservation and Protection. Preserve and protect mature, healthy trees whenever feasible,
particularly native trees, historically significant
trees, and other trees which are of significant size
or of significant aesthetic value to the immediate
vicinity or to the community as a whole.
Policy NRE-6.5 Soil and Erosion. Require development to be designed to conserve soil and avoid erosion.
(South County Joint Area Plan 13.06)
Policy NRE-6.6 Use of Native Plants. Encourage use of native plants, especially drought-resistant species, in
landscaping.
Policy NRE-6.7 Habitat Protection and Enhancement. Encourage the protection, restoration, and enhancement of
remaining native grasslands, oak woodlands,
marshlands, and riparian habitat.
Policy NRE-6.8 Community-Led Rewilding. Support communitydriven restoration of native ecosystems, including on underutilized city parcels, through grants and
technical assistance.
Action NRE-6.A Standard Measures for Construction Activities.
Develop a set of standard measures requiring
construction activities to avoid disturbance to
natural features to the extent feasible.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-39
Action NRE-6.B Small-Scale Rewilding. Incorporate pocket parks, vacant lots, utility corridors, and roadside
medians, where appropriate, into rewilding
strategies that expand habitat connectivity and
green infrastructure within urban areas.
Action NRE-6.C Ecological Rewilding. Encourage native
vegetation, pollinator gardens, and green roofs
that provide ecological benefits while improving
air quality, shading, and stormwater management.
Action NRE-6.D Connected Rewilding Sites. Connect small-scale rewilded sites to larger open space and habitat
corridors, ensuring that urban ecological
restoration contributes to regional climate
resilience and biodiversity goals.
WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVATION
GOAL NRE-7 Conservation of water resources.
Policy NRE-7.1 Water Standards for Private Development.
Promote water conservation and efficient water
use in all private development projects. Require
development to exceed State standards for the use
of water.
Policy NRE-7.2 Water Standards for Public Development.
Promote water conservation and efficient water
use in all public development projects. All new
public buildings shall be designed to exceed State
standards for water efficiency.
Policy NRE-7.3 Water Efficiency and Landscaping. Promote water conservation and efficient water use in all
public and private landscaping plans.
Policy NRE-7.4 Non-Potable Water for Irrigation. Encourage use of non-potable water for landscape irrigation.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-40
Policy NRE-7.5 Dual Plumbing. Explore installation of dual plumbing in large, new commercial and/or
residential developments to enable future use of
recycled non-potable water generated on- or offsite.
Action NRE-7.A Infrastructure Maintenance. Correct known deficiencies in the City’s sewer, storm drain, and
water systems and work toward environmentally
sustainable systems. Maintain the City’s
infrastructure to ensure that facilities are up to date and incorporate efficiency and conservation
mechanisms.
Action NRE-7.B Drought-Tolerant Landscaping. Develop local ordinances that require new commercial and
industrial development to use only droughttolerant landscaping and that increase the use of drought-tolerant landscaping in new residential
development.
Action NRE-7.C Water Fixture Retrofitting. Create incentives for homeowners of older residential buildings to
retrofit water fixtures to improve water efficiency
and conservation. Explore ways to link
homeowners with incentive programs offered by
other agencies or organizations. Options for
creating a City-sponsored retrofit program could
include using Residential Development Control
Funds or creating Citywide fees for water usage.
Work with utility providers and City departments
to market the program owners who own older
homes, are undertaking renovations, or are new
owners.
Action NRE-7.D Water Efficiency at City Facilities. Develop a comprehensive strategy for using water efficiently
at all City facilities.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-41
GOAL NRE-8 Protection of water quality from contamination associated with urbanization.
Policy NRE-8.1 Contamination from Toxic Chemicals. Protect water quality from contamination, and monitor it
to assure that present policies and regulations are
adequate. Prohibit such uses as waste facilities,
septic systems, and industries using toxic
chemicals where polluting substances may come in
contact with groundwater, floodwaters, and creeks
or reservoir waters. (South County Joint Area Plan
8.00)
Policy NRE-8.2 Septic Systems. Continue land use policies that limit the number of individual septic systems in
areas vulnerable to groundwater contamination,
because of the potential for cumulative
degradation of water quality. (South County Joint
Area Plan 8.01)
Policy NRE-8.3 Water Quality Monitoring. Continue to monitor groundwater and surface water quality conditions
to determine if changes in regulations regarding
septic systems and land use are needed. (South
County Joint Area Plan 8.04)
Policy NRE-8.4 Sewer Service for Future Development. In areas where future development is expected to be served
by sewers, continue large lot policies which allow
minimal development and limited numbers of
septic systems. (This approach increases the
feasibility of designing future urban density
subdivisions with smaller lots, which are more
efficient for sewers in terms of service and cost.)
(South County Joint Area Plan 8.02)
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NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-42
Policy NRE-8.5 Hazardous Waste Facilities. Site and operate hazardous waste disposal facilities and transfer
stations so as to minimize hazards to ground and
surface water quality. (South County Joint Area
Plan 8.07)
Policy NRE-8.6 Percolation Rates. Protect properties located in areas that have soils with rapid water percolation
from future development in order to ensure
existing water quality. Permit development
(including commercial and industrial uses) in such
areas only under strict safety limitations according
to the City's Hazardous Materials Storage
Ordinance section specifically related to high
percolation rates. (South County Joint Area Plan
8.11 & 8.12)
Policy NRE-8.7 Aquifer Protection. In order to provide greater protection of the aquifers which supply drinking
water to the South County, give special
consideration to the management of contaminants
(e.g., hazardous materials, sanitary effluents) in
groundwater recharge areas where no protective
aquitard layer exists. (South County Joint Area
Plan 8.13)
Policy NRE-8.8 Water Quality Compliance. Implement Best Management Practices to improve water quality,
in conformance with the South Santa Clara County
and City of Morgan Hill Total Maximum Daily
Load (TMDL) Monitoring Plan for the Pajaro River
Watershed (2015) and findings in subsequent
annual status updates, as required for compliance
with community standards and applicable State
and federal provisions.
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NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-43
GOAL NRE-9 Cooperative efforts to ensure regional water quality.
Policy NRE-9.1 Interjurisdictional Coordination. Maintain close coordination with the following agencies and
organizations which share jurisdiction and interest
relative to South County's water supply and water
quality: the Regional Water Quality Control
Boards, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Santa
Clara County, City of Gilroy Planning
Department, and San Martin Planning Committee.
(South County Joint Area Plan 10.02)
Policy NRE-9.2 Water Board Standards. Encourage the two Regional Water Quality Control Boards which
have jurisdiction in South County to agree upon
compatible water quality standards and consistent
approaches to implementing the State Board's
nondegradation policy, so as not to confuse
developers and jurisdictions which must carry out
the Board's regulations. (South County Joint Area
Plan 10.01)
Policy NRE-9.3 Solid Waste Facility Impacts and Benefits. Work jointly with Gilroy and Santa Clara County to
achieve a balance between potential negative
impacts and the benefits associated with the
location of solid waste disposal sites and transfer
stations. (South County Joint Area Plan 8.10)
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-44
Policy NRE-9.4 Compatibility of Regulations. Where
appropriate, the Regional Water Quality Boards,
Cities, County and other local agencies should
adopt compatible ordinances (i.e., Hazardous
Materials Storage Ordinance’s HMSOs), standards
(i.e., septic tank and alternative treatment and
disposal methods), and enforcement procedures
(i.e., implementing AB 2185, California Health and
Safety Code Chapter 6.95, Division 20, Section
25500 et seq.) regarding water quality so that there
is no advantage for a company to locate in an area
with lower standards. (South County Joint Area
Plan 10.03)
Action NRE-9.A Intergovernmental Coordination. Consider intergovernmental coordination between the
Cities, the County, and local agencies as an
effective means of resolving issues of concern and
investigating the feasibility of compatible
standards, ordinances, and enforcement
procedures. (South County Joint Area Plan 10.00)
AIR QUALITY
GOAL NRE-10 Reduced air pollution emissions.
Policy NRE-10.1 Regional and Subregional Cooperation.
Cooperate with regional agencies in developing
and implementing air quality management plans.
Support subregional coordination with other
cities, counties, and agencies in the Santa Clara
Valley and adjacent areas to address land use,
jobs/housing balance, and transportation planning
issues as a means of improving air quality.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-45
Policy NRE-10.2 State and Federal Regulation. Encourage effective regulation of mobile and stationary sources of air
pollution and support State and federal
regulations to improve automobile emission
controls.
Policy NRE-10.3 Automobile Emissions. Encourage the use of and infrastructure for alternative fuel, hybrid, and
electric vehicles. Encourage new and existing
public and private development to include electric
vehicle charging stations.
Policy NRE-10.4 Reduced Automobile Use. To reduce air pollution the frequency and length of automobile trips and
the amount of traffic congestion by controlling
sprawl, promoting infill development, and
encouraging mixed uses and higher density
development near transit. Support the expansion
and improvement of alternative modes of
transportation. Encourage development project
designs that protect and improve air quality and
minimize direct and indirect air pollutant
emissions by including components that reduce
vehicle trips.
Action NRE-10.A Municipal Vehicle Fleet. Reduce air emission from municipal vehicles by increasing the City’s
alternative fuel vehicle fleet.
Action NRE-10.B Public Employees. Develop programs to reduce vehicle use by City employees.
Action NRE-10.C City Regulation. Review and evaluate ion the effectiveness of the City’s site design measures,
transit incentives, and new transportation
technologies and encourage those that most
successfully reduce air pollutant emissions.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-46
GOAL NRE-11 Minimized exposure of people to toxic air
contaminants such as ozone, carbon monoxide,
lead, and particulate matter.
Policy NRE-11.1 TACs and Proposed Sensitive Uses. Require modeling for sensitive land uses, such as
residential development, proposed near sources of
pollution such as freeways and industrial uses.
Require new residential development and projects
categorized as sensitive receptors to incorporate
effective mitigation measures into project designs
or be located adequate distances from sources of
toxic air contaminants (TACs) to avoid significant
risk to health and safety.
Policy NRE-11.2 TACs and Existing Sensitive Uses. Encourage the installation of appropriate air filtration
mechanisms at existing schools, residences, and
other sensitive receptors adversely affected by
existing or proposed pollution sources.
Policy NRE-11.3 Health Risk Assessments. For proposed
development that emits toxic air contaminants,
require project proponents to prepare health risk
assessments in accordance with Bay Area Air
Quality Management District procedures as part of
environmental review and implement effective
mitigation measures to reduce potential health
risks to less-than-significant levels. Alternatively,
require these projects to be located an adequate
distance from residences and other sensitive
receptors to avoid health risks. Consult with the
Bay Area Air Quality Management District to
identify stationary and mobile toxic air
contaminant sources and determine the need for
and requirements of a health risk assessment for
proposed developments.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-47
Policy NRE-11.4 Truck Routes. For development projects
generating significant heavy duty truck traffic,
designate truck routes that minimize exposure of
sensitive receptors to toxic air contaminants and
particulate matter.
Policy NRE-11.5 Truck Idling. For development projects
generating significant truck traffic, require signage
to remind drivers that the State truck idling law
limits truck idling to five (5) minutes.
Policy NRE-11.6 Vegetation Buffers. Encourage the use of pollution-absorbing trees and vegetation in buffer
areas between substantial sources of toxic air
contaminants and sensitive receptors.
GOAL NRE-12 Minimized air pollutant emissions from
demolition and construction activities.
Policy NRE-12.1 Best Practices. Requirement that development projects implement best management practices to
reduce air pollutant emissions associated with
construction and operation of the project.
Policy NRE-12.2 Conditions of Approvals. Include dust,
particulate matter, and construction equipment
exhaust control measures as conditions of
approval for subdivision maps, site development
and planned development permits, grading
permits, and demolition permits. At a minimum,
conditions shall conform to construction
mitigation measures recommended in the current
Bay Area Air Quality Management District CEQA
Guidelines.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-48
Policy NRE-12.3 Control Measures. Require construction and demolition projects that have the potential to
disturb asbestos (from soil or building material) to
comply with all the requirements of the California
Air Resource Board’s air toxics control measures
(ATCMs) for Construction, Grading, Quarrying,
and Surface Mining Operations.
Policy NRE-12.4 Grading. Require subdivision designs and site planning to minimize grading and use landform
grading in hillside areas.
Action NRE-12.A Standard Measures for Demolition and Grading.
Adopt and periodically update dust, particulate
matter, and exhaust control standard measures for
demolition, grading, and construction activities to
include on project plans mitigation measures as
conditions of approval based Bay Area Air Quality
Management District CEQA Guidelines. Include
measures to prevent silt loading on roadways that
generates particulate matter air pollution by
prohibiting unpaved or unprotected access to
public roadways from construction sites.
Action NRE-12.B Grading Ordinance. Revise the grading ordinance and condition grading permits to require that
graded areas be stabilized from the completion of
grading to commencement and construction.
GOAL NRE-13 Use of green building practices in new and
existing development to promote a healthful
indoor environment.
Policy NRE-13.1 Building Materials. Promote the use of building materials that maintain healthful indoor air quality
in an effort to reduce irritation and exposure to
toxins and allergens for building occupants.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-49
Policy NRE-13.2 Construction and Pre-Occupancy Practices.
Encourage construction and pre-occupancy
practices to improve indoor air quality for new
development upon occupancy of the structure.
Action NRE-13.A Building Materials Ordinance. Develop and implement ordinances to promote the use of
building materials, furniture, and paint that
maintain healthful indoor air quality and to
discourage the use of materials that degrade
indoor air quality.
Action NRE-13.B Construction and Pre-Occupancy Practices Ordinance. Develop and implement ordinances to
promote construction and pre-occupancy practices
beneficial to indoor air quality, such as sealing of
the HVAC system during construction, air flush
outs prior to occupancy, and/or air quality testing
and corrections prior to occupancy.
GOAL NRE-14 Minimum exposure of residents to objectionable odors.
Policy NRE-14.1 New Odor Sources. For new, expanded, or modified facilities that are potential sources of
objectionable odors require an analysis of possible
odor impacts and the provision of odor
minimization and control measures as mitigation.
Policy NRE-14.2 Odors and Proposed Sensitive Uses. Require new residential development projects and projects
categorized as sensitive receptors to be located an
adequate distance from facilities that are existing
or potential sources of odor. Determine the
adequate separation distance based on the type,
size, and operations of the facility.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-50
CLIMATE CHANGE
GOAL NRE-15 An adaptive and resilient community that
responds to climate change.
Policy NRE-15.1 Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Targets.
Maintain a greenhouse gas reduction trajectory
that is consistent with the greenhouse gas
reduction targets of Executive Orders B-30-15 (40
percent below 1990 levels by 2030) and S-03-05 (80
percent below 1990 levels by 2050) to ensure the
City is consistent with statewide efforts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
Policy NRE-15.2 Linking Land Use and Transportation. Encourage land use and transportation patterns that reduce
dependence on automobiles.
Policy NRE-15.3 Climate Action Plan. Utilize policies in this General Plan denoted with the green leaf symbol
as the City’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction
strategy.
Policy NRE-15.4 Sustainable Land Use. Promote land use patterns that reduce the number and length of motor
vehicle trips.
Policy NRE-15.5 Jobs Housing Balance. To the extent feasible, encourage a balance and match between jobs and
housing.
Policy NRE-15.6 Residential Near Transit. Encourage higher density residential and mixed-use development
adjacent to commercial centers and transit corridors
– the land along or within walking distance of a
street served by transit.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-51
Policy NRE-15.7 Mix of Uses in Employment Centers. Encourage employment areas to include a mix of support
services to minimize the number of employee trips.
Policy NRE-15.8 Walkable City. Encourage retail and office areas to be located within walking and biking distance of
existing and proposed residential developments.
Policy NRE-15.9 Urban Forest. Support development and
maintenance of a healthy, vibrant urban forest
through outreach, incentives, and strategic
leadership.
Policy NRE-15.10 VMT Reduction. Continue to work with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority on regional
transportation solutions that will reduce vehicle
miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions.
Policy NRE-15.11 Green Building. Promote green building practices in new development.
Policy NRE-15.12 Municipal Fleet Alternative Fuel Vehicles. Shift municipal vehicle fleet from gasoline- and dieselpowered vehicles to alternative fueled vehicles, to the extent possible.
Policy NRE-15.13 Climate-Responsive Open Space Planning.
Integrate urban greening, native landscaping, and
natural buffers into open space planning to
mitigate heat, support biodiversity, and reduce
wildfire risk.
Policy NRE-15.14 Urban Heat. Use parks and open spaces as tools to reduce the urban heat island effect, especially in
Opportunity Neighborhoods and heat-vulnerable
communities.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-52
Action NRE-15.A Long-term GHG Reduction Monitoring.
Regularly monitor progress made towards the
City’s 2035 and additional future targets through
inventory updates and review of implementation
success related to statewide actions.
Action NRE-15.B Green Infrastructure. Integrate green
infrastructure at larger and small scales in urban
areas, such as tree canopy, bioswales, and native
habitats, improving air quality, stormwater
management, and mental health.
Action NRE-15.C Multi-Benefit Ecosystems. Integrate rewilding into green infrastructure plans, leveraging native
vegetation to provide shade, cooling, carbon sinks,
and erosion control.
Action NRE-15.D Climate Resilience. Restore degraded ecosystems with high potential for rewilding, prioritizing
lands that can support biodiversity, aquifer
recharge, and long-term ecosystem recovery,
thereby combating climate change.
Action NRE-15.E Climate Education. Support environmental education and youth engagement programs that
connect Opportunity Neighborhoods with nature
and green careers.
Action NRE-15.F Urban Heat Mitigation. Increase urban tree canopy, shaded areas, and open space within heatvulnerable communities, especially in Opportunity Neighborhoods, to mitigate extreme
heat and improve health outcomes, prioritizing
heat exposed sidewalks, transit stops, parks, and
multi-family housing.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-53
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
GOAL NRE-16 Conservation of energy resources.
Policy NRE-16.1 Energy Standards for New Development. New development, including public buildings, should
be designed to exceed State standards for the use
of energy.
Policy NRE-16.2 Energy Conservation. Promote energy
conservation techniques and energy efficiency in
building design, orientation, and construction.
Policy NRE-16.3 Energy Use Data and Analysis. Provide
information to increase building owner, tenant,
and operator knowledge about how, when, and
where building energy is used.
Policy NRE-16.4 Retrofit Financing. Promote existing and support development of new private financing options for
building retrofits and renewable energy
development.
Policy NRE-16.5 Energy Efficiency. Encourage development project designs that protect and improve air
quality and minimize direct and indirect air
pollutant emissions by including components that
promote energy efficiency.
Policy NRE-16.6 Landscaping for Energy Conservation. Encourage landscaping plans for new development to address
the planting of trees and shrubs that will provide
shade to reduce the need for cooling systems and
allow for winter daylighting.
Policy NRE-16.7 Renewable Energy. Encourage new and existing development to incorporate renewable energy
generating features, like solar panels and solar hot
water heaters.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-54
Policy NRE-16.8 Residential Development Code. Emphasize energy conservation building techniques for new
residential construction through the
implementation of Chapter 18.78 of the Municipal
Code.
Policy NRE-16.9 Subdivision Design. In compliance with Section 66473.1 of the State Subdivision Map Act, promote
subdivision design that provides for passive solar
heating and natural cooling through the
Development Review Committee subdivision
review procedures.
Action NRE-16.A Community Choice Aggregation. Partner with other Santa Clara County jurisdictions to
determine the feasibility for development of a
regional CCA program, including identification of
the geographic scope, potential costs to
participating jurisdictions and residents, and
potential liabilities.
Action NRE-16.B Municipal Energy Audit. In cooperation with PG&E, subject all municipal buildings to an energy
audit and perform practicable energy conservation
alterations on municipal buildings. Such
alterations can include modifying automatic
heating, cooling, and lighting systems, and
installing natural ventilation methods and solar
hot water systems, etc.
Action NRE-16.C Local Energy Ordinances. Develop local
ordinances that promote energy conservation and
efficiency. Examples of such ordinances include:
energy audits, solar access, solar swimming pool
heating, insulation and solar retrofit, and solar
water heating.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-55
Action NRE-16.D Energy Efficiency Plan. Develop a comprehensive strategy for using energy efficiently at all City
facilities.
MORGAN HILL 2035 GENERAL PLAN
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
NRE-56
Natural Resources &
Environment Element
Update
City Council
December 3, 2025
Why are we doing this?
2 Senate Bill 1425 (Advancing Climate Resilience through Open Space Updates) • Equitable access to open space, considering social, economic, and racial equity. • Climate resilience and other co-benefits of open space. • Rewilding opportunities to preserve and enhance natural ecosystems. • To preserve, enhance, and expand an integrated network of open space to support beneficial uses, such as habitat, recreation, natural resources, historic and tribal resources, water management, and aesthetics, and establishing a natural communities conservation plan to provide for coordinated mitigation of the impacts of new development. • Update Open Space Element by January 1, 2026.
Senate Bill 1425 (Advancing Climate Resilience through Open Space Updates)
3 Equity
• SB 1425 mandates equitable planning for open spaces.
• Coordination of policies with draft Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element. • Improve opportunities for physical activity for Opportunity Neighborhoods. • Detailed data analysis and inclusive and innovative outreach to best meet the community’s needs and desires.
• Achieved jointly through Healthy Neighborhoods for All.
Senate Bill 1425 (Advancing Climate Resilience through Open Space Updates)
4 Climate Resilience
• Support the management of open space to provide nature-based solutions to the climate crisis. • Reduction of short- and long-term risks from climate hazards such as extreme heat, wildfire, flooding. • Coordination of policies with Safety, Services, and Infrastructure Element. • Reduce heat locally, improve health outcomes, manage wildfire and landslide threats.
Senate Bill 1425 (Advancing Climate Resilience through Open Space Updates)
5 Rewilding
• Ensure habitat connectivity that may span multiple jurisdictions, regions, or even states. • Protecting or restoring large areas of connected habitat. • Coordination of policies with City and Neighborhood Form Element. • While rewilding necessarily occurs at very large scales, city- and county-scale planning can address important portions of large-scale rewilding goals.
Summary of Engagement
# of people engaged
59 events reaching a total of 1,529
community members
6 Pop-Up Events 176
27 Visioning Workshops 749
23 Community Events 577
3 ¡Morgan Hill Prospera! 27
# of events
Community Engagement
Key Issues
Concerns about traffic-related pollution and the need for more green space.
Need for affordable recreation and expanded park access. More trees and green spaces are needed to improve air quality and overall environmental health.
Community members expressed the need to have closer parks, parks for all abilities, and ages.
Public park facilities in Opportunity Neighborhoods are limited. Need pedestrian and bicycle trails connecting neighborhoods to schools.
Open Space, Hillsides, and Scenic Features
8 GOAL NRE-1 Preserve, enhance, and equitably expand open space areas and natural features in Morgan Hill to support ecological health, climate resilience, cultural identity, and access for all residents Preservation of open space areas and natural features.
• Policy NRE-1.1 Natural Features. Preserve and restore outstanding natural features, such as the skyline of a prominent hill ridgelines and rock outcroppings, by integrating them into ecological corridors and climate-resilient landscapes.
• Policy NRE-1.2 Large Open Space Areas. Work with the County, the Open Space Authority, appropriate conservancy organizations and land trusts, and property owners to preserve large open space areas, such as agricultural lands and outdoor recreation areas, to conserve natural resources and retain the City's unique identity. Prioritize partnerships in areas that provide floodplain resilience, urban heat mitigation, or biodiversity co-benefits.
Open Space, Hillsides, and Scenic Features
9 • Policy NRE-1.3 Designated Open Space. Maintain land Connect designated as “Open Space” lands on the Morgan Hill General Plan Land Use Map (Figure CNF-3), in accordance with Measure C, through fiscal year 2019/20 through expanded trail networks and pedestrian infrastructure to improve connections between homes, schools, parks and public services, with attention to safety and accessibility.
• Policy NRE-1.4 South County Open Space. Preserve and maintain the wide variety of open spaces in the South County; including greenbelt areas, parks, and agricultural uses (South County Joint Area Plan 16.00). Promote interjurisdictional efforts to address equitable park access and rewilding opportunities in South County open spaces. • Policy NRE-1.6 Open Space Preservation Tools. Use a variety of open space preservation tools to protect open space, including public acquisition, land use regulation, urban development policy, economic incentives to landowners, open space easements, transfer of development rights, planned cluster development, assessment districts, and dedication of additional lands upon development (South County Joint Area Plan 16.17). Incorporate equity-based prioritization tools and incentives to support open space preservation in Opportunity Neighborhoods identified in the Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element.
Open Space, Hillsides, and Scenic Features
10 • Policy NRE-1.10 Wetland Delineation and Mitigation. Require wetland delineation, and mitigation, and long-term enhancement measures—including native species planting, flood storage functions, and community access—during as part of the environmental review of future land development applications. • Policy NRE-1.11 Wetlands Enhancement. Encourage enhancement of sensitive wetlands as part of future development. • Policy NRE-1.11 Prioritize Open Space within Opportunity Neighborhoods. Prioritize the siting of open space, new parks, and recreation facilities within Opportunity Neighborhoods that support physical health. • Action NRE-1.E Inclusive Parks and Open Space. Design new parks and open space to be inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all ages, abilities, and cultural needs, while transforming existing parks to accommodate the recreational needs of all users.
• Action NRE-1.F Equitable Open Space Access. Ensure an equal distribution of parks and park amenities within the City; strive to achieve a goal that all homes within Opportunity Neighborhoods – as identified in the Healthy Neighborhoods for All Element – are within one-quarter mile walking distance of at least one usable park and/or open space with amenities.
Open Space, Hillsides, and Scenic Features
11 • Action NRE-1.G Neighborhood-Serving Parks. Review and consider revising Article I (Park Land Dedication) within Title 17 (Subdivisions) to encourage privately maintained parks remain open and accessible to the public to promote equitable access.
• Action NRE-1.H Equitable Access to Healthy Food. Support community gardens, cultural easements, and urban farms in open space plans, especially in food deserts and Opportunity Neighborhoods, to improve food access and community cohesion.
• Action NRE-1.I Culturally Significant Landscapes. Incorporate art, signage and programming that reflect the languages, traditions and identities of local communities, and protect culturally significant landscapes in open space planning.
• Action NRE-1.J Rewilding and Open Space. Incorporate rewilded areas into open space networks that provide passive recreation, nature interpretation, and educational opportunities, while preserving ecological integrity. • Action NRE-1.K Indigenous Ecological Knowledge Integration. Collaborate with Indigenous communities to incorporate traditional stewardship practices and cultural interpretation into open space management.
Greenbelts
12 GOAL NRE-3 A stable, long-term City boundary reinforced by a greenbelt. • Policy NRE-3.1 Greenbelt as a Community Separator. Maintain a greenbelt to separate the northern and southern boundaries of the City from surrounding rural lands and the urbanized areas of San Jose and San Martin, using rewilded landscapes to define urban edges, prevent leapfrog development, and reduce infrastructure strain. • Action NRE-3.K Habitat Connectivity and Landscape Resilience. Connect fragmented open spaces using greenways, easements, and habitat corridors, focusing on key linkages for wildlife movement across jurisdictional boundaries.
Biological Resources
13 GOAL NRE-6 Protection of native plants, animals, and sensitive habitats. • Policy NRE-6.8 Community-Led Rewilding. Support community-driven restoration of native ecosystems, including on underutilized city parcels, through grants and technical assistance. • Action NRE-6.B Small-Scale Rewilding. Incorporate pocket parks, vacant lots, utility corridors, and roadside medians, where appropriate, into rewilding strategies that expand habitat connectivity and green infrastructure within urban areas. • Action NRE-6.C Ecological Rewilding. Encourage native vegetation, pollinator gardens, and green roofs that provide ecological benefits while improving air quality, shading, and stormwater management. • Action NRE-6.D Connected Rewilding Sites. Connect small-scale rewilded sites to larger open space and habitat corridors, ensuring that urban ecological restoration contributes to regional climate resilience and biodiversity goals.
Climate Change
14 GOAL NRE-15 An adaptive and resilient community that responds to climate change. • Policy NRE-15.13 Climate-Responsive Open Space Planning. Integrate urban greening, native landscaping, and natural buffers into open space planning to mitigate heat, support biodiversity, and reduce wildfire risk. • Policy NRE-15.14 Urban Heat. Use parks and open spaces as tools to reduce the urban heat island effect, especially in Opportunity Neighborhoods and heat-vulnerable communities. • Action NRE-15.B Green Infrastructure. Integrate green infrastructure at larger and small scales in urban areas, such as tree canopy, bioswales, and native habitats, improving air quality, stormwater management, and mental health. • Action NRE-15.C Multi-Benefit Ecosystems. Integrate rewilding into green infrastructure plans, leveraging native vegetation to provide shade, cooling, carbon sinks, and erosion control.
Climate Change
15 GOAL NRE-15 An adaptive and resilient community that responds to climate change. • Action NRE-15.D Climate Resilience. Restore degraded ecosystems with high potential for rewilding, prioritizing lands that can support biodiversity, aquifer recharge, and long-term ecosystem recovery, thereby combating climate change. • Action NRE-15.E Climate Education. Support environmental education and youth engagement programs that connect Opportunity Neighborhoods with nature and green careers. • Action NRE-15.F Urban Heat Mitigation. Increase urban tree canopy, shaded areas, and open space within heatvulnerable communities, especially in Opportunity Neighborhoods, to mitigate extreme heat and improve health outcomes, prioritizing heat exposed sidewalks, transit stops, parks, and multi-family housing.
Natural Resources & Environment Element Update
16 Recommendation
1. Open/Close Public Hearing; and
2. Adopt Resolution to amend the text of the Natural Resources and Environment Element of the Morgan Hill 2035 General Plan.
Findings
1. The proposed amendment meets the letter and intent of the general plan goals and policies.
Questions?
Actualización del elemento
de Recursos Naturales y
Medio Ambiente
City Council
3 de diciembre de 2025
¿Por qué hacemos esto?
2 Proyecto de Ley del Senado 1425 (Promoción de la resiliencia climática a través de actualizaciones de espacios abiertos)
• Acceso equitativo a los espacios abiertos, considerando la equidad social, económica y racial. • Resiliencia climática y otros beneficios colaterales de los espacios abiertos. • Oportunidades de restauración de ecosistemas para preservar y mejorar los ecosistemas naturales. • Preservar, mejorar y ampliar una red integrada de espacios abiertos para apoyar usos beneficiosos, como hábitat, recreación, recursos naturales, recursos históricos y tribales, gestión del agua y estética, y establecer un plan de conservación de comunidades naturales para proporcionar una mitigación coordinada de los impactos de los nuevos desarrollos.
• Actualizar el elemento Espacio Abierto antes del 1 de enero de 2026.
Proyecto de Ley del Senado 1425 (Promoción de la resiliencia climática a través de actualizaciones de espacios abiertos)
3 Equidad
• El proyecto de ley SB 1425 exige una planificación equitativa de los espacios abiertos. • Coordinación de políticas con el borrador del elemento de Barrios Saludables para Todos. • Mejorar las oportunidades para la actividad física en los barrios con oportunidades. • Análisis detallado de datos y un enfoque inclusivo e innovador para satisfacer mejor las necesidades y deseos de la comunidad.
• Logrado conjuntamente a través de Barrios Saludables para Todos.
Proyecto de Ley del Senado 1425 (Promoción de la resiliencia climática a través de actualizaciones de espacios abiertos)
4 Resiliencia climática
• Apoyar la gestión de espacios abiertos para proporcionar soluciones basadas en la naturaleza a la crisis climática.
• Reducción de los riesgos a corto y largo plazo derivados de peligros climáticos como el calor extremo, los incendios forestales y las inundaciones.
• Coordinación de políticas con el elemento de Seguridad, Servicios e Infraestructura. • Reducir el calor localmente, mejorar los resultados de salud, gestionar las amenazas de incendios forestales y deslizamientos de tierra.
Proyecto de Ley del Senado 1425 (Promoción de la resiliencia climática a través de actualizaciones de espacios abiertos)
5 Reconstrucción
• Garantizar la conectividad del hábitat que puede abarcar múltiples jurisdicciones, regiones o incluso estados.
• Proteger o restaurar grandes áreas de hábitat conectado. • Coordinación de políticas con el elemento de formulario de la ciudad y el vecindario. • Si bien la restauración de ecosistemas ocurre necesariamente a gran escala, la planificación a nivel de ciudad y condado puede abordar aspectos importantes de los objetivos de restauración de ecosistemas a gran escala.
Resumen del compromiso
# de personas comprometidas
59 eventos que alcanzaron un total
de 1,529 miembros de la comunidad
6 Eventos emergentes 176
27 Talleres de visión 749
23 Eventos comunitarios 577
3 ¡Morgan Hill Prospera! 27
# de eventos
Participación comunitaria
Cuestiones clave
Preocupación por la contaminación relacionada con el tráfico y la necesidad de más espacios verdes.
Necesidad de recreación asequible y mayor acceso a los parques. Se necesitan más árboles y espacios verdes para mejorar la calidad del aire y la salud ambiental en general.
Los miembros de la comunidad expresaron la necesidad de tener parques más cercanos, parques para todas las capacidades y edades.
Las instalaciones de parques públicos en los barrios de oportunidades son limitadas.
Se necesitan senderos para peatones y ciclistas que conecten los vecindarios con las escuelas. Page 330 of 340
Espacios abiertos, laderas y elementos paisajísticos
8 OBJETIVO NRE-1 Preservar, mejorar y ampliar equitativamente las áreas de espacios abiertos y los elementos naturales en Morgan Hill para apoyar la salud ecológica, la resiliencia climática, la identidad cultural y el acceso para todos los residentes Preservación de espacios abiertos y elementos naturales. • Política NRE-1.1 Características naturales. Preservar y restaurar rasgos naturales excepcionales, como el horizonte de un prominente colina crestas and rock y afloramientos rocosos, integrándolos en corredores ecológicos y paisajes resilientes al clima.
• Política NRE-1.2 Grandes áreas de espacios abiertos. Colaborar con el Condado, la Autoridad de Espacios Abiertos, las organizaciones de conservación y los fideicomisos de tierras pertinentes, y los propietarios para preservar grandes áreas de espacios abiertos, como tierras agrícolas y áreas de recreación al aire libre, para conservar los recursos naturales y mantener la identidad única de la Ciudad Priorizar las alianzas en áreas que proporcionen resiliencia a las llanuras aluviales, mitigación del calor urbano o beneficios colaterales para la biodiversidad.
Espacios abiertos, laderas y elementos paisajísticos
9 • Política NRE-1.3 Espacio abierto designado. Mantener la tierra Conectar designado como “Espacio abierto” tierras en el Mapa de Uso de Suelo del Plan General de Morgan Hill (Figura CNF-3) , de conformidad con la Medida C, hasta el año fiscal 2019/20 mediante la ampliación de las redes de senderos y la infraestructura peatonal, se mejorarán las conexiones entre viviendas, escuelas, parques y servicios públicos, prestando atención a la seguridad y la accesibilidad. • Política NRE-1.4 Espacio abierto del sur del condado. Preservar y mantener la amplia variedad de espacios abiertos en el sur del condado; incluyendo áreas de cinturón verde, parques y usos agrícolas (Plan Conjunto del Área del Sur del Condado 16.00). Promover los esfuerzos interjurisdiccionales para abordar el acceso equitativo a los parques y las oportunidades de restauración de ecosistemas en los espacios abiertos del sur del condado.
• Política NRE-1.6 Herramientas para la preservación de espacios abiertos. Utilizar una variedad de herramientas de preservación de espacios abiertos para proteger los espacios abiertos, incluyendo la adquisición pública, la regulación del uso del suelo, la política de desarrollo urbano, los incentivos económicos para los propietarios de tierras, las servidumbres de espacios abiertos, la transferencia de derechos de desarrollo, el desarrollo planificado en grupos, los distritos de evaluación y la dedicación de tierras adicionales al momento del desarrollo (Plan Conjunto del Área del Condado Sur 16.17). Incorporar herramientas e incentivos de priorización basados en la equidad para apoyar la preservación de espacios abiertos en los Barrios de Oportunidad identificados en el Elemento de Barrios Saludables para Todos.
Espacios abiertos, laderas y elementos paisajísticos
10 • Política NRE-1.10 Delimitación y mitigación de humedales. Requiere delimitación de humedales, y mitigación, y medidas de mejora a largo plazo —incluida la plantación de especies autóctonas, las funciones de almacenamiento de agua en caso de inundación y el acceso de la comunidad— durante como parte del revisión ambiental del futuro tierra desarrollo aplicaciones. • Política NRE-1.11 Mejora de los humedales. Fomentar la mejora de los humedales sensibles como parte del desarrollo futuro. • Política NRE-1.11 Priorizar los espacios abiertos en los barrios con oportunidades. Priorizar la ubicación de espacios abiertos, nuevos parques e instalaciones recreativas en los barrios con oportunidades que fomenten la salud física. • Acción NRE-1.E Parques y espacios abiertos inclusivos. Diseñar nuevos parques y espacios abiertos que sean inclusivos, equitativos y accesibles para todas las edades, capacidades y necesidades culturales, transformando a la vez los parques existentes para que satisfagan las necesidades recreativas de todos los usuarios. • Acción NRE-1.F Acceso equitativo a espacios abiertos. Garantizar una distribución equitativa de parques y sus servicios dentro de la ciudad; esforzarse por lograr que todas las viviendas en los Barrios de Oportunidad —identificados en el Elemento de Barrios Saludables para Todos— se encuentren a menos de 400 metros a pie de al menos un parque o espacio abierto utilizable con servicios.
Espacios abiertos, laderas y elementos paisajísticos
11 • Acción NRE-1.G Parques Vecinales. Revisar y considerar la revisión del Artículo I (Dedicación de Terrenos para Parques) del Título 17 (Subdivisiones) para fomentar que los parques privados permanezcan abiertos y accesibles al público y así promover un acceso equitativo. • Acción NRE-1.H Acceso equitativo a alimentos saludables. Apoyar los huertos comunitarios, las servidumbres culturales y las granjas urbanas en los planes de espacios abiertos, especialmente en los desiertos alimentarios y los barrios de oportunidades, para mejorar el acceso a los alimentos y la cohesión comunitaria.
• Acción NRE-1.I Paisajes de importancia cultural. Incorporar arte, señalización y programación que reflejen las lenguas, tradiciones e identidades de las comunidades locales, y proteger los paisajes de importancia cultural en la planificación de espacios abiertos. • Acción NRE-1.J Restauración de la naturaleza y espacios abiertos. Incorporar las áreas restauradas a la naturaleza en redes de espacios abiertos que ofrezcan recreación pasiva, interpretación de la naturaleza y oportunidades educativas, preservando al mismo tiempo la integridad ecológica.
• Acción NRE-1.K Integración del conocimiento ecológico indígena. Colaborar con las comunidades indígenas para incorporar prácticas de gestión tradicionales e interpretación cultural en la gestión de espacios abiertos.
Cinturones verdes
12 OBJETIVO NRE-3 Un límite de ciudad estable a largo plazo reforzado por un cinturón verde. • Política NRE-3.1 Cinturón verde como separador comunitario. Mantener un cinturón verde para separar los límites norte y sur de la ciudad de las tierras rurales circundantes y las zonas urbanizadas de San José y San Martín, utilizar paisajes renaturalizados para definir los límites urbanos, prevenir el desarrollo descontrolado y reducir la presión sobre las infraestructuras.
• Acción NRE-3.K Conectividad del hábitat y resiliencia del paisaje. Conectar espacios abiertos fragmentados mediante vías verdes, servidumbres y corredores ecológicos, centrándose en las conexiones clave para el movimiento de la fauna silvestre a través de los límites jurisdiccionales.
Recursos biológicos
13 OBJETIVO NRE-6 Protección de plantas, animales y hábitats sensibles autóctonos. • Política NRE-6.8 Restauración de ecosistemas liderada por la comunidad. Apoyar la restauración de ecosistemas nativos impulsada por la comunidad, incluso en parcelas urbanas subutilizadas, mediante subvenciones y asistencia técnica. • Acción NRE-6.B Renaturalización a pequeña escala. Incorporar, cuando corresponda, parques de bolsillo, solares baldíos, corredores de servicios públicos y medianas de carreteras en estrategias de renaturalización que amplíen la conectividad del hábitat y la infraestructura verde dentro de las áreas urbanas. • Acción NRE-6.C Restauración Ecológica de la Naturaleza. Fomentar la vegetación autóctona, los jardines para polinizadores y los techos verdes que proporcionan beneficios ecológicos al tiempo que mejoran la calidad del aire, la sombra y la gestión de aguas pluviales.
• Acción NRE-6.D Conexión de Sitios de Restauración Ecológica. Conectar sitios restaurados a pequeña escala con espacios abiertos y corredores de hábitat más amplios, garantizando que la restauración ecológica urbana contribuya a la resiliencia climática regional y a los objetivos de biodiversidad.
Cambio Climático
14 OBJETIVO NRE-15 Una comunidad adaptable y resiliente que responde al cambio climático. • Política NRE-15.13 Planificación de Espacios Abiertos Adaptada al Clima. Integrar la vegetación urbana, el paisajismo con especies autóctonas y las zonas de amortiguamiento naturales en la planificación de espacios abiertos para mitigar el calor, fomentar la biodiversidad y reducir el riesgo de incendios forestales. • Política NRE-15.14 Calor Urbano. Utilizar parques y espacios abiertos como herramientas para reducir el efecto isla de calor urbana, especialmente en barrios de oportunidades y comunidades vulnerables al calor. • Acción NRE-15.B Infraestructura Verde. Integrar la infraestructura verde a gran y pequeña escala en áreas urbanas, como la cubierta arbórea, los sistemas de drenaje sostenible y los hábitats nativos, mejorando la calidad del aire, la gestión de aguas pluviales y la salud mental.
• Acción NRE-15.C Ecosistemas de múltiples beneficios. Integrar la restauración de ecosistemas en los planes de infraestructura verde, aprovechando la vegetación nativa para proporcionar sombra, refrigeración, sumideros de carbono y control de la erosión.
Cambio Climático
15 OBJETIVO NRE-15 Una comunidad adaptable y resiliente que responde al cambio climático. • Acción NRE-15.D Resiliencia Climática. Restaurar ecosistemas degradados con alto potencial de renaturalización, priorizando tierras que puedan sustentar la biodiversidad, la recarga de acuíferos y la recuperación ecosistémica a largo plazo, combatiendo así el cambio climático.
• Acción NRE-15.E Educación Climática. Apoyar programas de educación ambiental y participación juvenil que conecten a los barrios de oportunidades con la naturaleza y las carreras verdes. • Acción NRE-15.F Mitigación del Calor Urbano. Aumentar la cobertura arbórea urbana, las zonas de sombra y los espacios abiertos en comunidades vulnerables al calor, especialmente en barrios con oportunidades, para mitigar el calor extremo y mejorar la salud, priorizando las aceras expuestas al calor, las paradas de transporte público, los parques y las viviendas multifamiliares.
Actualización del elemento de Recursos Naturales y Medio Ambiente
16 Recomendación
1. Audiencia pública abierta/cerrada; y
2. Adoptar la Resolución para enmendar el texto del Elemento de Recursos Naturales y Medio Ambiente del Plan General de Morgan Hill 2035.
Recomendaciones
1. La enmienda propuesta cumple con la letra y la intención de los objetivos y políticas del plan general.
¿Preguntas?