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Record of Proceedings

San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - May 28, 2025

Planning Commission — Wednesday, May 28, 2025
BodySan Jose, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateWednesday, May 28, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:11

Good evening, everyone.

0:12

My name is Anthony Tordillos, and I am the Chair of the Planning Commission.

0:15

Welcome to this Planning Commission meeting.

0:17

Please remember to turn off your cell phones.

0:19

The parking validation machine for the garage under City Hall is located at the rear of the chambers.

0:24

Following roll call during the summary of hearing procedures, we will review how the public may provide comment during today's session.

0:30

At this time, if you're able, please join me in rising for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:57

Thank you.

0:57

We will now move on to roll call.

0:59

Vice Chair Cantral.

1:02

Here.

1:03

Commissioner Barossio.

1:05

Here.

1:05

Commissioner Bendal.

1:07

Here.

1:08

Commissioner Bickford.

1:09

Here.

1:10

Commissioner Lardenois.

1:12

Commissioner Oliveria.

1:15

Commissioner Rosario.

1:17

Commissioner Young.

1:18

Here.

1:19

Myself here.

1:20

That's six in attendance, so we have quorum.

1:23

All right, we will now move on to summary of hearing procedures.

1:27

If you want to address the commission, please fill out a speaker card located on the table table near the audio visual technician and deposit the completed card in the basket.

1:35

There are also speaker cards in the back of the chambers and at the side entrance.

1:39

The procedure for this hearing is as follows.

1:41

After staff's presentation, applicants and or appellants may make up to a five-minute presentation.

1:46

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.

1:54

As your name is called, line up in front of the microphone at the front of the chamber.

1:57

Generally, each speaker will be given up to two minutes for public testimony, and speakers using a translator will have up to four minutes.

2:04

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.

2:11

Speakers using a translator will have double the time allotted.

2:14

After the public testimony, the applicant andor appellant may make closing remarks for up to an additional five minutes.

2:20

Planning commissioners may ask questions of the speakers.

2:22

Response to commissioner questions will not reduce the speaker's time allowance.

2:26

The public hearing will then be closed, and the planning commission will take action on the item.

2:30

The planning commission may request staff to respond to public testimony, ask staff questions, and discuss the item.

2:36

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.

2:48

The planning commission's actions on rezonings, pre-zonings, general plan amendments, and code amendments is only advisory to the city council.

2:55

The City Council will hold public hearings on these items.

2:58

Section 20.120.400 of the municipal code provides the procedures for legal protests to the City Council on rezonings and pre-zonings.

3:07

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.

3:15

Agendas and all staff reports for this meeting may be accessed on the city's website.

3:19

All right, we'll move on to call to order and orders of the day.

3:22

Before we begin, I want to remind the planning commission members and members of the public to follow our code of conduct at meetings.

3:28

This includes commenting on the specific agenda item only and addressing the full body.

3:33

Public speakers will not engage in a conversation with the commissioners or staff.

3:37

All members of the planning commission, staff, and the public are expected to refrain from abusive language.

3:43

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.

3:51

This meeting of the planning commission will now come to order.

3:55

All right, we will now move on to public comment.

3:58

Now is the time for public comment to the planning commission on non-agendized items.

4:02

Please fill out a speaker's card and give it to the technician.

4:05

Each member of the public may address the commission for up to two minutes.

4:08

The commission cannot take any formal action without the item being properly noticed and placed on an agenda.

4:14

In response to public comment, the planning commission is limited to the following options.

4:18

Responding to statements made or questions posed by members of the public, or requesting staff to report back on a matter at a subsequent meeting, or directing staff to place the item on a future agenda.

4:28

Do we have any members of the public who would like to speak on items not on tonight's agenda?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████36%
Public Comment████████████████████████████28%
Land Use██████████████████████22%
Transportation Demand Management██████████████14%
Summary of Proceedings

San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - May 28, 2025

The San Jose Planning Commission met on May 28, 2025, at 6:52 PM adjournment, with Chair Anthony Tordillos presiding. The meeting covered approval of a consent calendar, a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to streamline downtown housing conversions, and a referral from the City Council.

Consent Calendar

  • The commission unanimously approved two items: (1) the action minutes from the May 14, 2025, meeting, and (2) PDC 21-036, a planned development permit for 16 multifamily residential condominiums on a 0.81-acre site, including removal of three trees and construction of three buildings. Commissioner Bendal inquired about the live-work units in the project, which staff confirmed were developer-proposed and consistent with mixed-use zoning. The motion passed 7-0-2 (Commissioners Oliverio and Rosario absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during the non-agendized public comment period or during the public hearing for the ordinance item.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance PP25-002 – Exemption from Special Use Permit for Downtown Housing Conversions: Staff presented a proposal to amend Title 20 to remove the transportation demand management (TDM) and special use permit requirements for converting existing buildings in the downtown core to residential uses. The change aims to remove a barrier to housing conversions, as downtown housing is inherently low-vehicle-miles-traveled. Commissioner Lardenois supported the change, noting it reevaluates regulations, and asked about alignment with the General Plan’s policy on preserving employment lands. Staff clarified the exemption only applies where housing is already a permitted use. Commissioner Bickford expressed concern about potentially losing employment downtown, but staff noted the city would monitor the situation and that the change does not alter underlying land use. Commissioner Bendal observed the exemption could save approximately six months of permitting time. After discussion, the commission voted 7-0-2 to recommend that the City Council adopt the ordinance.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar approved (7-0-2).
  • PP25-002 recommended for City Council adoption (7-0-2). The commission directed staff to forward a positive recommendation to the council.
  • The City Council (via deputy planning director Manira Sandhir) reported that on May 28, 2025, it unanimously approved the development at 3315 Sierra Road (25 single-family units, rezoning from A to R1-8 PD).
  • The meeting adjourned at 6:52 PM.

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. Thank you. We will now move on to roll call. Vice Chair Cantral. Here. Commissioner Barossio. Here. Commissioner Bendal. Here. Commissioner Bickford. Here. Commissioner Lardenois. Commissioner Oliveria. Commissioner Rosario. Commissioner Young. Here. Myself here. That's six in attendance, 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 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 andor 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 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 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. Public speakers will not engage in a conversation with the commissioners or staff. All members of the planning commission, staff, and the public are expected to refrain from abusive language.

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