San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - March 26, 2025
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San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - March 26, 2025
The San Jose Planning Commission met on March 26, 2025, at 2:30 PM to consider two public hearing items: a conditional use permit for converting a recreation building to a single-family residence in a mobile home park, and a conditional use permit for converting an office building to a mental health inpatient facility. The commission also deferred a data center project and approved the consent calendar. All nine commissioners were present, and a quorum was established.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Action Minutes: The commission unanimously approved the action minutes from the previous meeting (9-0).
Deferrals
- CP23-016, V24-001, ER20-219 (Data Center): A conditional use permit for two single-story data center buildings at 1657 Alviso was deferred to the next meeting. The motion passed 9-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 (CP24-005 - Mobile Home Park Recreation Building Conversion): Multiple residents of Rancho Santa Teresa Mobile Home Park spoke in opposition. They stated that amenities (laundry, billiards, car wash, parking, clubhouse) had been locked or removed, not underused as claimed by the applicant. They cited lack of access, unresponsive management, and reduced services since 2019. One speaker requested translation but none was available. Residents urged denial of the permit as a way to pressure the owner to restore services.
- Item 2 (CP24-029 - Mental Health Inpatient Facility): Three public speakers expressed concerns. Lori Oseberg noted a nearby 7-story residential project and infrastructure strain. Brian Maldonado questioned the severity of patient pathologies and parking adequacy. Linda Ellis highlighted existing parking issues on her street. All urged denial.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 (CP24-005): Staff presented the project: conversion of a 1,907 sq ft recreation building to a 1,742 sq ft single-family residence for an assistant park manager, plus a 529 sq ft addition to another recreation building for a billiards/cards room. The applicant (John Worthing, family owner) said he took over management three years ago, believed the buildings were underused, and conducted a survey (20% response) indicating only 2 of 58 respondents used the laundry rooms. He promised to install key fob access and add parking spaces. Commissioners discussed their limited role—only to evaluate the planning application, not tenant grievances. The city attorney clarified that complaints about services should be directed to the State Department of Housing and Community Development. Commissioner Cantrell moved to deny, but the motion failed for lack of a second. Commissioner Young then moved to approve staff recommendation, seconded by Commissioner Oliverio, noting the need for on-site management.
- Item 2 (CP24-029): Staff presented the project: conversion of a 7,369 sq ft office building into a 48-bed mental health inpatient facility for teens and adults (mild pathologies like eating disorders, depression, anxiety). The applicant (Eugene Tillman, LGTC Group) said it would be a closed facility with 24-hour monitoring, off-site discharge, and shuttle transport. He stated the facility would have 10-15 staff, a 1:1 to 1:3 staff-to-patient ratio, and ample parking on-site. Commissioners discussed parking, noting the city has abolished parking minimums, and the applicant offered to mitigate issues if needed. Commissioner Lardnois highlighted conditions of the permit (indoor treatment only, off-site discharge) and that violations could lead to fines or revocation. Commissioner Rosario moved to approve staff recommendation, seconded by Commissioner Young, citing the acute need for mental health beds. The commission noted a similar facility on First Street has operated without neighborhood complaints.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (CP24-005): Approved 8-1 (Vice Chair Cantrell dissenting). The commission adopted the staff recommendation to approve the conditional use permit. The resident manager will occupy the new residence. Residents were encouraged to pursue reduction-of-service complaints with HCD.
- Item 2 (CP24-029): Approved 9-0. The commission adopted the staff recommendation to approve the conditional use permit. The facility will operate under strict conditions (indoor treatment, off-site discharge, security monitoring).
- Study Session: The commission agreed to hold a study session on the Capital Improvement Program budget on May 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM (prior to the regular meeting).
- Zoom Access: Commissioner Young requested a formal report from the city clerk’s office on restoring Zoom public comment, noting the clerk’s removal in early 2024 and a promised solution by June 2024 that has not materialized. The commission will forward this request to the city council.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. My name is Anthony Tordillus, 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. Thank you. We will now move on to roll call. Vice Chair Cantral. Here. Commissioner Brosio. Here. Commissioner Bendal. Here. Commissioner Bickford. Here. Commissioner Lord Nois. Here. Commissioner Oliverio. Here. Commissioner Rosario. Here. Commissioner Young. Here. Myself here. That's nine in attendance. So we have Quorum. All right. We will now move on to 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 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 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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