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The Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), also referred to as the “Greenline”, defines the ultimate perimeter of urbanization in San José. Outside of this boundary, development remains rural and open in character. The UGB also develops a clearer identity for the City by defining where it begins and ends and by preserving valuable open space and habitat resources. The intent of the UGB is to define the limit of the encroachment of development and semi-urban land uses into the hillsides that border the valley floor. San José’s UGB generally follows the 15% slope line, unless geologic issues or existing land uses suggest that it should be located downhill from the 15% slope line. Areas outside the UGB should be designated Open Hillside or Open Space, Parklands, and Habitat, and they should remain outside the Urban Service Area boundary.In the 1990s the City strengthened its commitment to environmental leadership and growth management by incorporating its UGB into the General Plan. Adoption of the UGB identified the limits of the City’s potential expansion and today permanently limits urbanization in San José to those areas already developed and/or already planned for urban development. To implement the UGB, San José worked with Santa Clara County to improve upon long established cooperative policies and practices to ensure that urban uses occur only inside the Urban Growth Boundary. This effort builds upon existing strategies, goals, and policies of the San José 2020 General Plan. In 2000, a ballot measure establishing the UGB and procedures for its modification was placed before and easily approved by the City’s voters, demonstrating broad community support for this limitation upon the San José’s outward expansion and preservation of the surrounding hillsides as open spaces areas.Data is updated as needed. |