San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - April 9, 2025
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San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - April 9, 2025
The San Jose Planning Commission met on April 9, 2025, to consider several items including a conditional use permit for a memory care facility, an appeal of a site development permit for an affordable housing tower, a data center project, a general plan amendment for airport-related commercial development, and a mixed-use affordable housing project requiring annexation. All votes were unanimous (9-0) unless noted.
Consent Calendar
- The commission unanimously approved the meeting minutes.
- Item 4B (conditional use permit for tree removal) was pulled from the consent calendar and heard as a separate public hearing.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the non-agendized public comment period.
Discussion Items
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Item 4B: Silverado Memory Care Facility – A conditional use permit to remove 17 trees (14 ordinance-size, 3 non-ordinance-size) for construction of a 48,005 sq ft, two-story residential memory care facility with 70 rooms (94 beds) at 48,005 sq ft on a 1.77-acre site east of Union Avenue. The project includes 108 replacement trees, a community garden, and 52 parking spaces. Public speaker Birgit Calvildge expressed concerns about traffic and tree removal. Project applicant Lauren Shook and architect Doug Pancake highlighted the facility's specialized memory care model, including affiliations with Stanford and other universities. The commission discussed the transportation analysis and need for such services. Motion to approve by Vice Chair Cantrell, seconded by Commissioner Oliverio; passed 9-0.
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Public Hearing Item 1: San Jose Data Center (Microsoft) – A conditional use permit to remove 79 trees (35 ordinance-size, 44 non-ordinance-size) for construction of two single-story data center buildings totaling 397,205 sq ft, with 224 backup generators, on 64.59 acres at 1657 Alviso Milpitas Road. The project also includes a development exception for a parking reduction. Staff recommended approval. Public comments included support from Rigo Gallardo (Carpenters Local 405) urging use of responsible contractors, and a challenge from Mike Sodergrin (Preservation Action Council) to incorporate housing and reuse waste heat. Project applicant Jonathan Noble (Microsoft) confirmed a project labor agreement with many trades. Commissioners discussed employee shifts, transit, environmental mitigation (273 replacement trees), generator noise, and on-site renewables. Motion to approve by Commissioner Oliverio, seconded by Vice Chair Cantrell; passed 9-0.
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Public Hearing Item 2: Gateway Tower Appeal – An appeal by Steve Cohen of the planning director's approval of a site development permit for a 15-story, 100% affordable mixed-use building with 220 units (including permanent supportive housing) and 3,320 sq ft of commercial space at West William Street. The project involves partial demolition of a city landmark and incorporates historic facades. The appellant argued the building was too large, not compatible with the SOFA district, and that the developer could build more units. Public speakers from Silicon Valley at Home, San Jose Downtown Association, and the Chamber of Commerce supported the project, emphasizing the need for affordable housing. The Preservation Action Council did not oppose despite facadism concerns. Commissioners noted the appellant's contradictory arguments (too dense vs. not dense enough) and that similar appeals had been made by the same appellant. Motion to deny appeal and uphold approval by Commissioner Young, seconded by Commissioner Lardinois; passed 9-0.
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General Plan Hearing Item 1: Coleman Avenue Land Use Amendment – A city-initiated general plan amendment to change land use designations on four airport-owned parcels along Coleman Avenue and West Hedding Street from Open Space/Parkland/Habitat and Light Industrial to Combined Industrial Commercial, and rezone to Planned Development (OSPD). The project aims to generate airport revenue and comply with FAA requirements after the airport faced corrective action due to homeless encampments. Public speaker Jordan Moldow opposed the loss of parkland. Staff explained the history of the site, FAA community benefit designation, and that the remaining Guadalupe Gardens would be reactivated with dog parks, disc golf, etc. Commissioners discussed transparency regarding homelessness, FAA obligations, and the need to activate the property. Motion to recommend approval to City Council by Commissioner Young, seconded by Commissioner Oliverio; passed 9-0.
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General Plan Hearing Item 2: Burbank 45 (Path Villas) – A privately initiated annexation of five unincorporated lots (0.56 acres) from Santa Clara County into San Jose, accompanied by a general plan amendment (Mixed Use Commercial to Urban Village), prezoning, and a site development permit for a seven-story, 94-unit 100% affordable housing building (plus manager's unit) with 1,800 sq ft of commercial space at 1921 West San Carlos Street. The project includes density bonus concessions and waivers. Public speakers from Silicon Valley at Home and Catalyze SV supported the project, noting large family units and supportive housing. The applicant described community engagement and design features. Motion to approve staff recommendation by Commissioner Oliverio, seconded by Commissioner Lardinois; passed 9-0.
Key Outcomes
- The commission unanimously (9-0) approved Item 4B (Silverado memory care facility).
- The commission unanimously (9-0) approved the data center project (Microsoft).
- The commission unanimously (9-0) denied the appeal of the Gateway Tower affordable housing project and upheld the planning director's approval.
- The commission unanimously (9-0) recommended City Council approval of the Coleman Avenue general plan amendment and rezoning.
- The commission unanimously (9-0) recommended City Council approval of the Burbank 45 annexation, general plan amendment, prezoning, site development permit, and tentative map.
- The meeting was adjourned at 9:27 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Please remember to turn off your cell phones. The parking validation machine for the garage in front uh 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. First up is Vice Chair Cantral. Here. Commissioner Barrosio. Commissioner Bandal. Here. Commissioner Bickford. Here. Commissioner Lardnois. Here. Commissioner Oliverio. Commissioner Rosario? Here. Commissioner Young. Here. Myself here. That's seven 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 Commissioners' 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 protest to the city council on rezonings and prezonings. 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. We'll now move on to call to order and orders of the day. Repeated failure to comply with the code of conduct, which will disturb, disrupt, or impede the orderly conduct of this meeting may result in removal from the meeting. This meeting of the planning commission will now come to order. All right, first up, we will have public comment. Now is the time for public comment to the planning commission on non-agendized items. Please fill out a speaker's card and give it to the technician.
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