San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - August 13, 2025: General Plan Amendment and Study Session
San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - August 13, 2025
On August 13, 2025, the San Jose Planning Commission convened to discuss a general plan text amendment regarding the composition of the four-year review task force and to review proposed changes to staff report and resolution formatting. The meeting also included recognition of former Commissioner Anthony Tordillos and public comments on virtual participation.
Consent Calendar
- Approved: Action minutes from July 9, 2025, and a conditional use permit for a 24-hour fitness center (CP25-008/ER25-068) on Monterey Road. Passed unanimously (8-0, one absent).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Juan Estrada (community volunteer): Expressed concern about replacing the General Plan Task Force with the Planning Commission, urging a one-time change and that the task force delegate its role. Also advocated for restoring virtual public comment, citing disenfranchisement of disabled, immunocompromised, and working residents.
- Alex Shore (Catalyze Silicon Valley): Supported a pro-housing general plan and praised staff’s community engagement tactics (e.g., children’s activities). Encouraged use of the city’s bench of nonprofits and focusing on underrepresented communities.
- Lenor Salazar (SV@Home): Supported the proposed amendment as a one-time change due to the narrow scope and timeline of this review cycle, but stressed the need for robust community engagement with historically marginalized groups.
Discussion Items
- GPT 25-002: City-initiated general plan text amendment to modify Policy IP-2.11, allowing the Planning Commission to serve as the advisory group for the third four-year review instead of reconvening the original task force. Staff clarified the change inserts flexibility, not a default replacement. Commissioner Young assured the public of rigorous deliberation. Commissioner Cantrell requested inclusion of African ancestry organizations in outreach, with staff agreeing to include them in the mini-RFP process. Commissioner Casey sought clarification on scope (limited to council-approved items) and public meeting count (six study sessions plus outreach).
Key Outcomes
- Vote: Motion to recommend adoption of the amended text to City Council passed 8-0 (Commissioner Oliverio moved, Commissioner Bandal seconded). The amendment clarifies that either the original task force or an advisory group (e.g., Planning Commission) may be convened.
Study Session: Resolution and Staff Report Format Changes
- Staff presented proposed structural changes to reduce redundancy and length in hearing documents, moving consistency analysis directly under each finding and creating a condensed staff report. Implementation targeted for October 8, 2025. Commissioners expressed support, with Commissioner Oliverio suggesting city-validated fiscal impact estimates. No action taken.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening everyone. My name is Carlos Rosario, and I'm the chair of the Planning Commission. Welcome to the 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 the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. We will now move on to roll call. Is not here. Commissioner Bandal. Here. Commissioner Cantrell. Here. I'm sorry. Commissioner Barroso. Here. Commissioner Casey. Here. Commissioner Nguyen. Here. Commissioner Oliverio is not here. Commissioner Young. Here. That is seven in attendance. So we have a quorum. So now we will move on to the special meeting and study session, or should we do the summary of proceedings first? Let's do the summary of proceedings first. Okay, summary of proceedings. 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 meeting 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 the names of submitted speaker cards and 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 for 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 public testimony, the applicant and or appellant may make closing remarks for an additional five minutes. Response to the commissioner questions will not reduce the speaker's time allowance. 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 212400 of the municipal code provides the procedures for legal protests to the city council on rezonings and pre-zonings. Agendas and all staff reports for this meeting may be accessed on the city website. Before we begin, I want to remind the planning commission members and the members of the public to follow our code of conduct and meetings. This includes commenting on the specific agenda item only and addressing the full body. Public speakers will not engage in conversation with the commissioners or staff. All members of the planning commission, staff, and the public are expected to refrain from abusive language. 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. So, Chair, there's a request from staff to um defer the special meeting study session until after the public hearing so that in the in respect to those members of the public who've come out so they wouldn't have to sit through our study session about resolutions that we might put that at the end of the meeting.
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