Plan Benefits

Benefits to Developers

For developers, the Habitat Plan offers a streamlined permitting process for planned development, infrastructure, and maintenance activities. Applications for endangered species permits can occur in tandem with other building permits because the Habitat Plan allows local agencies—specifically, the County and the Cities of Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and San José—to grant endangered species permits to projects and activities under their jurisdictions.

Without the Habitat Plan, applicants could be required to negotiate directly with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or California Department of Fish and Wildlife to obtain endangered species permits—this can result in unpredictable timelines, complex permitting requirements, and the purchase and restoration of mitigation lands. Although this traditional process can still be followed, the Habitat Plan provides a less costly, more efficient process to request and receive endangered species permits.

Benefits to Landowners

For landowners wishing to develop land, the Habitat Plan streamlines the permitting process by pre-identifying mitigation obligations for impacts on species habitat, including aquatic land covers (e.g., wetlands and streams), and providing a process to meet mitigation obligations. The Habitat Plan allows landowners seeking endangered species permits to pursue their projects with increased certainty of project timelines and associated costs and requirements.

Benefits to the Environment

Regionally, the Habitat Plan benefits the environment by protecting, enhancing, and restoring valuable natural resources in Santa Clara County and contributing to the recovery of threatened and endangered species. Whereas permitting on a project-by-project basis can result in piecemeal and disjointed land conservation efforts, the Habitat Plan facilitates a coordinated, comprehensive approach to land conservation, ensuring that habitats are connected, monitored, and maintained for maximum benefit to at-risk species.

At full plan implementation, the Reserve System will protect an estimated 46,920 acres for the benefit of covered species, natural communities, biological diversity, and ecosystem function.