Frequently Asked Questions

about
Measure A
How will the charm of the downtown be preserved?
The Morgan Hill Downtown Specific Plan specifically states that the intent of the plan is ‘to preserve and enhance the
character and pedestrian scale, while accommodating areas for redevelopment and growth in a more dense and mixed use
pattern (Chapter 5 on Design Guidelines). The guidelines will be used to review all proposed development including additions
and remodels. The Design Guidelines are based on best practices for integrating transportation and land use.

Why should we focus on residential building in the Downtown?

The original Residential Growth Control measure and subsequent competitions is about developing Morgan Hill as a
community with well designed and well thought out residential development. But times have changed.
We find ourselves with shrinking resources (water, energy and materials) and a clear need to develop in a truly sustainable way
just to maintain our environment. Transit oriented development moves Morgan Hill to the forefront of planned development
once again. Development in the downtown takes the last 35 years of experience and innovation that we have developed, with
a more focused effort to eliminate sprawl and encourage a healthy, well planned, sustainable downtown community.

Will developers still be able to participate in the current Residential Development

Control System (Measure C)?
Yes. Measure A respects the Residential Development Control System (Measure C) and does not increase the population cap.
Developers will still be able to compete for approx. 250 building allotments per year.

Does Measure A require developers to build below market rate housing (affordable
housing) in the downtown?
No. And what’s more there are no low income housing requirements in the Measure or in the Downtown Specific Plan.

What about the downtown infrastructure; can it support new housing?

Yes. Suburban sprawl creates a demand for infrastructure investments and taxes our utility systems. Compact development in
the downtown is smart growth and uses or upgrades existing infrastructure.

What are the downtown geographical boundaries where additional housing could be
built under Measure A?
A 20 block area – W. Central Ave. to the north (excluding Britton Jr. High), Ciolino to the South, Butterfield to the East,
and Del Monte to the West.

Impact on schools?
All new development, whether built in the downtown or not, must pay its fair share of school impact fees to mitigate any
impacts. However, it is anticipated that new housing in the downtown will be smaller and marketed to empty nesters and
young professionals just starting out.

www.YESonA.blogspot.com Continued on back

 Are there design standards in place to insure high quality new housing under Measure A?
Yes. The Downtown Specific Plan clearly articulates building design guidelines for new commercial and residential development
to insure high quality materials and craftsmanship. And all new development must go through design review.

Will 500 new homes in the downtown be built all at once?

Not likely. Economic forces will help to temper the rate of new growth. But it will be a great time to plan quality development
ready to go when the market turns around.

Will there be a monetary cost or increase in taxes as a result of the new housing
downtown?
No. And that’s the beauty of Measure A. We reduce sprawl, promote smart growth, stimulate the economy and bring greater
pride of ownership to our downtown with no new taxes or fees!

What will the ratio of rental units to owner occupied homes be under Measure A?
The City's current Residential Development Control System (Measure C) does not regulate the ratio of rental to owner occupied
units. However, market conditions will determine this ratio. New development is exempt from the requirement to build Below
Market Rate (BMR) housing.

Is there sufficient parking in the downtown to accommodate more homes?

Yes. The Downtown Specific Plan has undertaken an EIR (Environmental Impact Report) that stipulates where new parking can
be accommodated and also stipulates when parking must be added. As well, all new residential development will need to provide
sufficient on-site parking. Also, the City has acquired land for two new surface parking lots ( 3rd and Monterey and on Depot
Street between 3rd and 4th St.).

What part of ‘NO’ didn’t you understand?

The results of the past election underlined the need for better information sharing with our residents. Improved community
conversations and dialogue on the facts of Measure A will hopefully result in a YES vote this time around on May 19th.

Are there enough police to ensure the downtown is safe because of the new housing?
The Morgan Hill Chief of Police reports that the Police Department does not anticipate any significant impacts on crime or
safety in the Downtown if Measure A passes and 500 units are built. The Chief indicated that the Department could see a minor
increase in calls for service but having more people downtown could actually enhance crime prevention by having more ‘eyes and
ears’ to observe, deter and report criminal activity.

Why does this have to happen now? What is the rush?

Real leadership takes the initiative and charts a clear course during times of duress, such as this economic downtown.
Development takes several years to complete so now is the best time to plan for new housing and send a signal to interested
developers that we are ready to do business in our downtown.

Why are we spending $133,000 on this election when the City is laying people off
and reducing services?
We will save far more than the cost of an election if we plan during a down economy instead of waiting for two years. And the
funds invested for the election (Redevelopment) are intended for rebuilding and improvement efforts and cannot be spent on
general City services.

On Tuesday www.YESonA.blogspot.com
May 19th:
Vote Yes on Measure A
For a Vibrant Downtown
 www.YesonA.blogspot.com

The following is a partial list of Measure A supporters.

Elected Officials 
  Local Businesses  Organizations 
Mayor Steve Tate  Alcini Partnership  Greenbelt Alliance 
Hon. Greg Sellers  BookSmart Enterprises, Inc.  League of Women Voters 
Hon. Larry Carr  Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce  Santa Clara County Association of 
Hon. Marby Lee  Morgan Hill Downtown Association  Realtors 
Hon. Marilyn Librers  Morgan Hill Downtown PBID  Silicon Valley Leadership Group 
Assemblyman Bill Monning  The Reserve Wine Bar & Merchants   
  Weston Miles Architects, Inc. 
  Mama Mia’s 
  RNP Advisors, Inc. 
MSC Advantage 
Rosy’s at the Beach 
The Music Tree 
Magpie 
Friends and Neighbors  Ricatoni’s  Friends and Neighbors 
Anne Rosenzweig  Poppy’s Fish, Poultry & More  Laura Gonzalez‐Escoto 
Anthony Goularte  Legend’s Bar & Grill  Adam Escoto 
Bert & Joyce Berson  South County Realty Robert & Lori Escobar 
Brian T. Sullivan  Rosemary Kamei 
Bud & Carol O’Hare  Friends and Neighbors  Majid Bahriny 
Dennis & Eileen Kennedy  Lesley Miles & Charles Weston  Gary Walton 
Janene Towner  Martin Cheek  Carl & Geri Reinhardt 
John & Vivian Varela  Mr. & Mrs. Larry McElvain  Roger & Janie Knopf 
Jorge & Joyce Briones  Rocke & Glenda Garcia  Dana & Elaine Ditmore 
Laura Brunton  Rosy & Rich Bergin  Jeff Chernoff 
Rick Moreno  Scott Schilling  Janene Towner 
Darin Dixon  Swanee Edwards  Tom & Louise Fry 
Erik & Roberta Vinkhyuzen  Tracy & Julie Hutcheson  Martha Baughman 
Bob & Diana Gomez  Victor Gaxiola  Doug and Petra Rainbolt 
Shauna & Michael St. Cloud  Bart Devries 
Mario & Fawn Banuelos 
Lisa Allman  Marieke Ruys 
Brad Jones & Cinda Meister 
Franz & Jennifer Ingram 
John & Cathy Wolfenbarger 
John Telfer 

www.YesonA.blogspot.com
Measure A is also endorsed by the Morgan Hill Times and the San Jose Mercury News