Update on Wednesday, November 6, 4:00 p.m.: After decades of debate over land use, the San Jose City Council voted unanimously to enter into agreements with POST and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority to acquire 937 acres at the northern end of Coyote Valley. Find the full story here.
Coyote Valley, just south of San Jose, has become a focal point for the local conservation community in recent years as we have come to realize just how important this landscape is to the health of our entire region. Protecting this critical wildlife linkage has become a top priority for POST.
Looking back, it’s remarkable this open space still exists so close to San Jose, the nation’s 10th largest city. For decades, the valley floor has been a target for the development of tech campuses and housing. But thanks to the persistence of the conservation community, the conversation about the future of Coyote Valley is changing. This timeline takes you through the history of the valley and the significant events that made a brighter vision for the future of this landscape possible.
1970s
In 1976, IBM completes the 620,000 square foot IBM Labs facility at 555 Bailey Road. This remains the only large tech development in Coyote Valley. In what will become a trend, Hewlett Packard chooses Alviso as the site for its new headquarters as opposed to Coyote Valley.
1980s
San Jose adopts a General Plan that envisions tech campuses and houses in Coyote Valley. Tandem Computer and Apple Computer abandon massive office park plans, something that will be repeated by Cisco Systems in the 2000s.
2000s
A growing body of scientific research identifies Coyote Valley as a critical wildlife linkage between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range. Citing challenges with environmental review and entitlement hurdles, Coyote Housing Group scraps plans to build 25,000 homes in Coyote Valley in 2008.
2017
With support from POST, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority publishes the Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage Report, summarizing the scientific importance of the valley to wildlife movement across the region, as well as water storage and quality. In addition, the 30-acre Fisher Flats and 63-acre Fisher’s Bend properties are protected by POST in partnership with the Authority.
2018
In June, San Jose voters reject Measure B, which would have allowed developers to bypass development zoning regulations. And, in November, San Jose voters approve Measure T, providing up to $50 million for land protection in Coyote Valley.
2019
On Nov 6, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved the purchase and permanent protection of 937 acres in the North Coyote Valley through an innovative public and private partnership with POST and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. Learn more here.
See for yourself why protecting Coyote Valley is so important – both now and for the future.
Our Hope for the Future
Along with our partners in the conservation community and the City of San Jose, POST is working to create a sustainable and resilient landscape linkage in Coyote Valley. With so many positive environmental, social and economic benefits to be had here, we continue to work on safeguarding our regional biodiversity through the acquisition of land, long-term habitat restoration and the construction of viable infrastructure to support wildlife movement.
Aerial support provided by LightHawk.
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Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all. Since its founding in 1977, POST has been responsible for saving more than 87,000 acres as permanently protected land in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Learn more