City of Morgan Hill Water System Master Plan 2017

HISTORICAL AND FUTURE GROWTH

The City is a growing community, with over 2 percent of the Santa Clara County population residing within the City limits. DOF records estimate the 2015 population at more than 42,000. Between 1970 and 1980 the City saw dramatic growth, with the population increasing from 5,579 to 16,924 at an average annual growth rate of approximately 18 percent. This rapid growth led to the City’s adoption of a growth management system, known as the Residential Development Control System (RDCS), which regulates growth by limiting the number of new homes approved annually. Following the implementation of the RDCS the average annual growth rate between 1980 and 2000 fell to approximately 4.7 percent. From 2000 to present the City has observed an average annual growth rate of approximately 2.4 percent. The General Plan Update anticipates a 2035 population of 58,200 and this 2017 WSMP is consistent with the General Plan projections. The current and projected service area population is summarized in Table 2.2 ; it should be noted that projected service area populations are consistent with the City’s 2015 UWMP. The City’s RDCS sets a maximum number of annual housing allotments that would not be exceeded and can only be reduced. Furthermore, if the number of allotments is reduced in a given year, they cannot be added to a future year. The population limit, which is a ceiling and not a target, is then a function of the maximum number of allotments.

June 2017

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City of Morgan Hill Water System Master Plan