San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - November 20, 2024: El Paseo Project Amendment
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San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - November 20, 2024
The San Jose Planning Commission held a public hearing on a planned development permit amendment for the El Paseo shopping center site (1312 El Paseo de Saratoga and 1777 Saratoga Avenue). The meeting began with roll call (7 present, 2 absent), approval of the consent calendar, and no public comment on non-agendized items.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from the October 23, 2024 meeting by a vote of 8 yes, 0 no, 1 absent.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public provided testimony on the main agenda item.
Discussion Items
- PDA 20-006-02, T24-010, ER23-267 – Planned Development Permit Amendment (El Paseo Mixed-Use Village):
- Staff (Alec Atienza) presented the proposal to amend the previously approved project (June 2022 City Council approval) which originally allowed 994 residential units (150 affordable), 165,000 sq ft of commercial space, and a 1.1-acre park. The amendment reduces residential units to 772 (39 affordable – 5% of units at up to 100% AMI), adds approximately 331,000 sq ft of commercial space (including a 230,000 sq ft, 263-bed senior care facility), and modifies buildings 1, 2, and 4. The affordable housing compliance plan is changed from 150 BMR units (15%) to 39 on-site units plus a $13 million in-lieu fee for a sibling affordable project (Cathedral project). The amendment also includes a vesting tentative map to reconfigure lots and allow commercial condominiums. An addendum to the certified EIR found no new significant impacts.
- Applicant (Steve Lynch, Sand Hill Property Company; Ken Rodriguez) cited economic conditions, rising costs, and market shifts (reduced rents, high vacancies) as drivers for the reduction. They emphasized retaining the main street Paseo, Whole Foods grocery (40,000 sq ft), and the one-acre privately owned public space. The senior facility partner is Sunrise Senior Living.
- Commissioners discussed the drastic reduction in affordable units (from 15% to 5%), the change from a 100% BMR building off-site to on-site inclusion, and the shift from office space to senior care. Questions were raised about bedroom mix (all one-bedroom for BMR units; commissioners encouraged including two-bedroom units for families), park safety near Kietzke Road (grading and fencing planned), and the affordability level (100% AMI vs. deeper affordability). Housing Director Eric Sullivan confirmed the units are deed-restricted at 100% AMI and that the sibling project will serve households up to 80% AMI.
- Commissioner Oliverio noted the project fully complies with city policies and moved to approve staff's recommendation, seconded by Commissioner Young.
Key Outcomes
- The Planning Commission voted 8-0-1 (Commissioner Cantrell absent) to approve the staff recommendation, which includes:
- Adoption of a resolution recommending City Council approve the CEQA addendum.
- Adoption of a resolution approving the vesting tentative map.
- Adoption of a resolution approving the planned development permit amendment, including the modified affordable housing compliance plan.
- The item will now go to City Council for final action (the Commission's decision is advisory for the zoning and general plan amendments, but the permit amendment is appealable).
- The applicant was encouraged to explore adding two-bedroom units to the affordable component and to ensure park safety features near the roadway.
Other Business
- Staff reported on recent City Council actions, including approvals of large-format signage amendments at the airport, emergency shelter ordinance updates, and the Good Samaritan Hospital rezoning.
- Commissioners noted the upcoming annual retreat and a General Plan study session on December 4, 2024.
- Commissioner Lardinois congratulated former Planning Commissioner George Casey on his election to City Council.
Meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. My name is Anthony Tordillos and I'm the Chair of the Planning Commission. Welcome to this planning commission meeting. Please remember to turn off your cell phones. The parking validation machine for the garage under City Hall is located at the rear of the chambers. Following roll call during the summary of hearing procedures, we will review how the public may provide comment during today's session. At this time, if you're able, please join me in rising for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands elimination under God. Thank you. We will now move on to roll call. Vice Chair Cantrell. Commissioner Barosio. Here. Commissioner Bendal. Here. Commissioner Bickford. Here. Commissioner Lardnois. Here. Commissioner Oliverio. Commissioner Rosario. Here. Commissioner Young? Here. Myself here. That's seven in attendance, two absences, so we have quorum. All right, we will now move on to summary of hearing procedures. If you want to address the commission, please fill out a speaker card located on the table near the audio visual technician and deposit the completed card in the basket. There are also speaker cards in the back of the chambers and at the side entrance. The procedure for this hearing is as follows. After staff's presentation, applicants and or appellants may make up to a five minute presentation. During the public comment period, the chair will call out names on the submitted speaker cards in the order received for those members of the public who attend in person. As your name is called, line up in front of the microphone at the front of the chamber. Generally, each speaker will be given up to two minutes for public testimony, and speakers using a translator will have up to four minutes. At the discretion of the chair, the time allotted to each speaker may be changed depending on the number of items on the agenda, number of speakers, and other factors. Speakers using a translator will have double the time allotted. After the public testimony, the applicant and or appellant may make closing remarks for up to an additional five minutes. Planning commissioners may ask questions of the speakers. Response to Commissioner questions will not reduce the speaker's time allowance. The public hearing will then be closed, and the planning commission will take action on the item. The planning commission may request staff to respond to the public testimony, ask staff questions, and discuss the item. If you challenge these land use decisions in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at this public hearing or in written correspondence delivered to the city at or prior to the public hearing. The planning commission's action on rezonings, pre-zonings, general plan amendments, and code amendments is only advisory to the city council. The City Council will hold public hearings on these items. Section 20.120.400 of the municipal code provides the procedures for legal protests to the City Council on rezonings and pre-zonings. The Planning Commission's action on conditional use permits is appealable to the City Council in accordance with section 20.100.220 of the municipal code. Agendas and all staff reports for this meeting may be accessed on the city's website. All right, we'll move on to call to order and orders of the day. Before we begin, I want to remind the planning commission members and members of the public to follow our code of conduct at meetings. This includes commenting on the specific agenda item only and addressing the full body.
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