City of Morgan Hill Sewer System Master Plan 2017

August 2017

2-1

City of Morgan Hill

Sewer System Master Plan

2017

City of Morgan Hill

2.0

CHAPTER 2 - PLANNING AREA CHARACTERISTICS

This chapter presents a discussion of the planning area characteristics for this master plan and

includes a study area description, service area land use, and population for the City of Morgan

Hill.

2.1 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION

The City of Morgan Hill is located in Santa Clara County, approximately 22 miles southeast of the

City of San Jose and 24 miles northwest of the city of Hollister. The City’s closest neighbor, the

City of Gilroy, is located 8 miles to the southeast. U.S. Route 101 bisects the eastern boundary of

the City in the north-south direction. The City limits currently encompass 12.9 square miles, with

an approximate population of 42,000 residents.

The City is generally bound to the north by Tilton Avenue, to the east by Anderson Lake, to the

southeast by Foothill Avenue, to the west by Sunnyside Drive, and to the south by Middle Avenue.

There are several creeks flowing through and along the boundaries of the City, including: Fisher

Creek, West Little Llagas Creek, and Llagas Creek. The topography is generally flat in the valley

portion of the city, with increasing slopes in east and west side of the city due to the Santa Cruz

Mountain to the west and the Diablo Range to the east. The unincorporated community of San

Martin is located to the south of the City.

Figure 2.1

displays the planning area showing City

Limits, the Urban Growth Boundary of the City

, and the City’s Sphere of Influence Boundary

The City operates and maintains a sewer collection system that covers the majority of the area

within the City Limits. Currently, the wastewater flows are conveyed to the South County Regional

Wastewater Authority (SCRWA) Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).

2.2 SEWER SERVICE AREAS AND LAND USE

The City of

Morgan Hill’s

wastewater collection system services residential and non-residential

lands within the City limits, as summarized on

Table 2.1

. This service area includes:

5,260 net acres of developed lands inside the City limits.

1,732 net acres of undeveloped lands inside the City limits.

The existing land use statistics were based on information received from Placeworks staff, the

planning firm responsible for preparing the 2035 General Plan, and are shown on

Figure 2.2.