Increasing housing density where there is no convenient access to public rail transit increases Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and air pollution. Fewer mass transit options in residential neighborhoods to offset VMT. Valley Transportation Authority Light Rail System has cut services to residential areas and even closed light rails.

Increasing housing density (six-plexes) in neighborhoods that were originally planned for single family homes adds to traffic and parking congestion. Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) will increase and more cars will be on the road.

Many residents intentionally decided to purchase or rent homes in quiet, un-congested, single family neighborhoods. Others prefer to live in mixed use urban villages, moderate to high density multi-unit developments, senior living communities, student housing communities, mobile home parks, and historic districts. Their choices should be respected and protected.

City proposed 2040 General Plan Urban Villages have not been a priority and are incomplete because of limited staffing levels. Urban villages should be completed as planned and demonstrated to be viable before jumping to increasing density through-out the city.

We need transparency! No citywide polling has been conducted to gage public opinion. Special interests, housing advocates and lobbyists have been heard but not the community. The 2040 General Plan Task Force made no effort to publicize its proposal and process. Outreach was limited to small, politically active individuals and organizations.

Increasing housing in neighborhoods not designed for it will impact sewer lines, power, roads and more! We already are experiencing rolling blackouts. Higher density in single-family neighborhoods will increased electric usage even more. The ability to increase parks, open spaces and athletic fields to accommodate increased population is limited in legacy neighborhoods.

First-time home buyers could be outbid by profit motivated investors/developers who could make more money constructing 4 to 6 units on a single property.

San José has done more than its fair share to address the regional housing shortage for decades. Other cities need to step up and do their fair share of the heavy lifting on housing. Los Gatos, Saratoga, Los Altos, Palo Alto, and other cities in SCC need to ramp up housing production. This a regional issue, San Jose has been lifting the burden and addressing the housing shortage as a long-time bedroom community for SCC.

Let's try to keep the ambiance and character of San Jose single family home neighborhoods intact! Spread the word on this important issue.

Note: This picture is from San Jose already!

More than half of our city’s trees are on single family lots. Densification of single family lots forces tree removal. For example, the densification of single family properties in the Seattle suburb of Ballard, WA resulted in a 41% loss of its tree canopy in just 7 years.

Adding low-density housing increases San Jose’s long-standing structural budget deficit. The city planning department has determined that only high-density Urban Village market rate housing (with more than 45 new dwelling units per acre) generates enough new revenue (through real estate and other taxes) to offset new expenses for city services (police, fire, parks, road repair). Low-density SB9/SB10 Housing will add less than 10 new dwelling units per acre, far below the threshold of fiscal sustainability.