A New Year is Here , and Aren ’ t We All Ready to Turn the Page ?
By Amy Whelan , City of Morgan Hill / Photos by Sergio Covarrubias
There are a couple of basics to remember as we move forward . One of the most significant take-aways is that controlled growth in Morgan Hill is now , in effect , gone due to the passing of Senate Bill 330 ( SB330 ). SB 330 is a state-wide law that permits all housing growth and suspends Morgan Hill ’ s voter-approved Residential Development Control System , first implemented in 1977 and updated through Measure S in 2016 .
Also known as " The Housing Crisis Act of 2019 ," SB330 is intended to accelerate housing construction to alleviate the housing shortage throughout the State .
While big community topics remain up for discussion from one year to the next , they evolve and so must our responses . The City is ready to handle the inevitable change that is always on the horizon
Environmental Considerations
Top of our minds are environmental topics , which are so abundant it is tough to cover them all in one page . Let ’ s focus on ordinances that have some specific dates and requirements to know about :
• Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Ordinance : Effective January 2022 , this enforces Senate Bill 1383 , which requires residents and businesses to separate organic waste , like food scraps , from trash .
• Private Sewer Lateral ( PSL ) Ordinance : This goes into effect on June 1 , 2022 , and will require all residential , commercial , and industrial buildings over 15 years of age to have private sewer laterals inspected for defects to be repaired prior to the sale of a property . What is a private sewer lateral ? That is the term for home owners ’ pipes ( laterals ) that connect to neighborhood collection pipes .
The good news here is that the City has a grant program in place to repair or fix your PSL . Search ‘ PSL Grant ’ at the City ’ s website for more info .
Economic Development
The local economy is always on the City ’ s and residents ’ minds , especially after any period of struggle . Still , there are many economic opportunities that will help Morgan Hill in the long run . As part of the City ’ s General Plan 2035 , the economic development team is working toward diversifying the local economy , increasing the quality and quantity of available jobs , decreasing the need for commuting for work or leisure , and creating a thriving community to enhance Morgan Hill ’ s appeal as a tourist destination .
To fulfill those goals , Morgan Hill is prioritizing key projects in 2022 . These include prohibiting distribution centers , developing an automotive business recruitment strategy , continuing our ‘ Buy Local ’ campaign to keep local or small businesses open and profitable , and much more . The City is also looking to recruit more healthcare , medical facilities , retail , and advanced manufacturing companies . Attracting a range of industries will help the City build a solid economic base that can better withstand industry-specific downturns , State or national-level economic crises , or global problems .
Planned changes , unexpected changes , it ’ s all possible ! 2022 is here and Morgan Hill is ready . Keep up on the latest happenings at
www . morganhill . ca . gov and consider direct updates through the City ’ s ‘ Notify Me ’ feature on its website .
• Water Conservation Ordinance : This also goes into effect on June 1 , 2022 , and states that all properties constructed before January 1 , 1994 , will need to be inspected and retrofitted exclusively with high-efficiency plumbing fixtures at the time of a property sale .
Meeting the Community ’ s Housing Needs
Our primary goal is to draw lines that follow the law , respect State
law requires that every City and County in California adopt a Housing Element , which are housing plans that are one part of the City ’ s General Plan that guides all the ways each city , town or county is planned and managed , from our roads and sidewalks to our parks and neighborhoods . Morgan Hill is no exception .
56 WINTER 2022 gmhTODAY Magazine gmhtoday . com