San José Planning Commission Regular Hearing – March 12, 2025
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San José Planning Commission Regular Hearing – March 12, 2025
This regular hearing of the San José Planning Commission was convened at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Earlier in the day, the Commission held a special study session (5:00 p.m.) on the Housing Catalyst Work Plan, which is not covered in this transcript. During the regular hearing, the commission handled one deferral, approved the consent calendar, and received a report on a recent City Council action. No items were on the public hearing agenda.
Consent Calendar
- Action Minutes (Feb. 12, 2025): The commission approved the minutes from the February 12, 2025 regular meeting.
- CP24-016 & ER24-145: A Conditional Use Permit for the construction of an approximately 105‑foot‑high utility facility with an antenna for remote water meter data collection at 21143 McKean Road (Council District 2). The project was found exempt from CEQA under Guidelines Section 15303. The commission adopted the resolution approving the permit subject to conditions.
Both items were adopted unanimously on a single motion (9‑0).
Deferrals and Removals
- CP23-016 & ER20-219 (Microsoft data center): Staff requested, and the commission unanimously approved (9‑0), deferring this item to the March 26, 2025 Planning Commission meeting for re‑notice. The proposal involves two single‑story data center buildings, an electrical substation, pump stations, a water storage tank, and 224 backup generators on a 64.59‑acre site at 1657 Alviso‑Milpitas Road.
Good and Welfare
- Report from City Council: Staff reported that the City Council, on a 7‑4 vote, denied request for off‑sale of alcohol at a Planned Development permit (PD 24‑016) previously heard by the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission had recommended denial of the alcohol component.
- No subcommittee reports, study session updates, or public record comments were made.
Key Outcomes
- Approved deferral of CP23‑016/ER20‑219 to March 26, 2025 (unanimous).
- Approved consent calendar (minutes and CP24‑016) unanimously.
- Noted that the earlier 5:00 p.m. study session on the Housing Catalyst Work Plan occurred but no details were discussed during the regular hearing.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. My name is Anthony Tordillos, and I am 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 United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice law. Thank you. We'll now move on to roll call. My name is Anthony Tordillos, and I'm here. Vice Chair Cantrell. Here. Commissioner Barroso. Here. Commissioner Bendal. Here. Commissioner Bickford. Here. Commissioner Lardnois. Here. Commissioner Oliverio. Commissioner Rosario. Here. Commissioner Young. Here. That's eight in attendance. So we have quorum. All right. We will now move on to the summary of hearing procedures. If you would like 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 procedures for this hearing are 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 applicants and or appellants 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 actions on rezonings, pre-zonings, general plan amendments, and code amendments is only advisory to the city council. The City Council will hold public hearing 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.
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