Tell Council: Developers Should Pay Their Fees!

Downtown developer fees have been discounted for years. There’s a proposal to cut fees further AND extend the cuts throughout the city. The fees pay for major park repairs and new parks for underserved areas and near new big developments. The San Jose City Council will be meeting Tuesday, June 18. You can find further details on the meeting agenda under item "8.2".

What is happening

For years, the City of San Jose has been trying to encourage residential high-rise development in the Downtown neighborhood, with little success due to the high cost of this type of development. In 2017, park impact fees for Downtown high-rises were significantly reduced, but according to City staff, only two new high-rises have been completed since then. Now, staff is proposing cutting park fees again by 50%, even though the city’s own study acknowledges that these fees only account for a tiny fraction of the total cost of development and are unlikely to make the difference as to whether a project gets built.

In addition, City staff is recommending exploring similar cuts in park impact fees for all multi-family residential housing throughout the entire city. This could radically harm San Jose’s ability to provide enough parkland to serve the whole community.

Why it matters

Parks are necessary for a healthy and thriving community. The pandemic made it abundantly clear that people need to be able to get outside to relax, socialize and enjoy nature. Particularly for those who do not have their own backyards, access to parks is a matter of equity. Cutting fees for multi-family developments will hurt most those who live in those new developments.

Parks and urban green space provide tangible health benefits. Studies have shown that stress levels are lower and ADHD symptoms are reduced when people get out into nature. In addition, trees and other vegetation absorb carbon from the atmosphere, reduce air pollution, and lower temperatures on hot summer days.

As climate change causes our city to become hotter, it is more important than ever to provide enough parks and green space to keep pace with new development. Studies show that neighborhoods with fewer trees and less green space can be up to 20 degrees hotter than neighborhoods with sufficient greenery.

What you can do

Please email the City Council and tell them not to cut fees for parks!

Email Addresses: city.clerk@sanjoseca.gov, district1@sanjoseca.gov, district2@sanjoseca.gov, district3@sanjoseca.gov, district4@sanjoseca.gov, district5@sanjoseca.gov, district6@sanjoseca.gov, district7@sanjoseca.gov, district8@sanjoseca.gov, district9@sanjoseca.gov, district10@sanjoseca.gov, mayoremail@sanjoseca.gov

Subject: 6/18/24 Agenda Item 8.2: Downtown Residential High-Rise Incentive Program Extension

Body:

Dear Mayor Mahan and Councilmembers,

Please protect San Jose’s parks by voting NO on item 8.2(c) and 8.2(d) on the 6/18/24 City Council agenda, “Downtown Residential High-Rise Incentive Program Extension.” Both the drastic cuts to park fees for Downtown high-rises and the potential for further park fee cuts for all multifamily developments citywide would drastically affect San Jose’s ability to provide enough parkland to serve the whole community. Parks are necessary for a healthy and thriving community. The pandemic made it abundantly clear that people need to be able to get outside to relax, socialize and enjoy nature. Particularly for those who do not have their own backyards, access to parks is a matter of equity. That means that cutting fees for multifamily development will hurt most those who live in those new developments.

Please do not cut park fees any further! Please vote NO on item 8.2(c) and 8.2(d) on the 6/18/24 City Council agenda.