OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Jose Planning Commission Meeting – August 27, 2025

Planning Commission — Wednesday, August 27, 2025
BodySan Jose, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateWednesday, August 27, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:00:11

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

Good evening, everyone.

0:11

My name is Carlos Rosario.

0:13

I'm the chair of the Planning Commission.

0:15

Welcome to this evening's Planning Commission meeting.

0:18

Please remember to turn off your cell phones.

0:21

The parking validation machine is for the garage underneath City Hall is located at the rear of the chamber.

0:27

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

0:35

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

1:05

We can go through everything and see if somebody comes through.

1:10

All right, we'll now move on to roll call.

1:12

My name is Carlos Rosario and I am here.

1:15

Uh Commissioner Bickford.

1:17

Here.

1:19

Commissioner Barroso.

1:22

Absent.

1:23

Commissioner Bondal.

1:24

Here.

1:25

Commissioner Cantrell.

1:29

Commissioner Casey.

1:30

Here.

1:32

Commissioner Nguyen.

1:33

Here.

1:35

Commissioner Olivario.

1:40

Commissioner Young.

1:44

Is not here.

1:45

So we have one, two, three, four, five in attendance, which is not quorum.

1:51

Is that correct?

1:53

Correct.

1:54

We have less than a quorum, but we can still move forward with deferrals.

1:59

But once we get to taking action on consent calendars and general plan early consideration, we will not be able to take action.

2:08

Okay.

2:08

And it's my understanding that one of the commissioners will be 15 minutes late to the meeting, so hopefully they're here by then.

2:15

Um I want to uh remind the planning commission members and members of the public to follow our code of conduct at meetings.

2:21

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

2:26

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

2:30

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

2:35

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.

2:43

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

2:46

First, I would like to note that there will be a small change in tonight's planning commission meeting.

2:51

I was notified that agenda item number seven on tonight's agenda.

2:55

Close the general plan calendar is not needed at the end of any early consideration items.

3:01

Therefore, after the two general plan items are presented and voted on, we will move straight to agenda item number eight, referrals for the city council, boards, commissions, or other agencies.

3:12

All right, now for the summary of hearing procedures.

3:14

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

3:23

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

3:28

The procedure for this meeting is as follows.

3:30

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

3:35

During the public comment period, the chair will call out the names on submitted speaker cards and the order received for those members of the public who attend in person.

3:43

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

3:47

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

3:54

At the discretion of the chair, the time allotted for each speaker may change depending on the number of items on the agenda, the number of speakers, and other factors.

4:02

Speakers using a translator will have double the time allotted.

4:05

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

4:12

Planning commissioners may ask questions of the speakers.

4:14

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

4:19

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

4:22

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

4:28

If you choose to challenge these land use decisions in court, you may be limited to only raising 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.

4:41

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

4:48

The city council will hold public hearings on these items.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Public Comment████████████12%
Historic Preservation██████6%
Community Engagement██████6%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Housing███3%
Parking██2%
Municipal Finance█1%
Summary of Proceedings

San Jose Planning Commission Meeting – August 27, 2025

The San Jose Planning Commission met on August 27, 2025, at 2:45 PM (start time noted in agenda). The meeting initially lacked a quorum (five commissioners present) but achieved quorum after Commissioner Barroso arrived. The commission considered two privately initiated general plan amendments, a deferral, and routine consent calendar items. Both general plan amendments were recommended for approval to the City Council, despite staff recommendations to deny.

Consent Calendar

  • The commission approved the action minutes from August 13, 2025, by a unanimous vote of 7-0 (two absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Non-agendized items: No public comments were made.
  • Item 6A (Emory Street & The Alameda): Multiple neighbors, business owners, and representatives of the Odd Fellows Lodge spoke in support. Speakers cited the lot's 60-year vacancy, blight (dumping, camping), and the need for housing. One speaker (Jeffrey Bedola) remained neutral, requesting written submission of contextual points. Another speaker (Todd Perea) expressed concern about parking and traffic but supported the project with proper planning.
  • Item 6B (McKendry Street): One speaker (Elizabeth Monley) expressed support for townhouses that fit the historic neighborhood character but opposed high-density or commercial development.

Discussion Items

  • Deferral of Item PP25-004 (Temporary Uses Ordinance): The item was deferred from August 27 to September 24, 2025, at staff's request. Commissioner Bickford moved to defer to the meeting after September 10 (September 24) due to a scheduling conflict. The motion passed 5-0 (with two absent).
  • Item 6A (GP25-002 – Emory Street & The Alameda): A privately initiated general plan amendment to change 0.99 acres from Neighborhood Community Commercial to Mixed Use Neighborhood to allow up to 30 dwelling units (18 townhomes proposed). Staff recommended denial, citing inconsistency with the Focused Growth and Economic Development policies and suggesting the site be evaluated in the upcoming General Plan Four-Year Review. The applicant (Dan Moncier) argued that the site has been vacant for 60 years, commercial uses are not feasible, and townhomes are compatible with the historic Alameda district. After public comment, Commissioner Bickford moved to recommend approval, seconded by Commissioner Bandal. The motion passed 6-0 (two absent).
  • Item 6B (GP25-005 – McKendry Street): A privately initiated general plan amendment to change two parcels (0.46 acres total) from Neighborhood Community Commercial and Residential Neighborhood to Mixed Use Neighborhood to allow 12 townhomes. Staff recommended denial for similar inconsistency reasons. The applicant noted the property is currently a parking lot, and previous attempts to develop were stymied by zoning changes. After discussion, Commissioner Bickford moved to recommend approval, seconded by Commissioner Bandal. The motion passed 7-0 (two absent).

Key Outcomes

  • Deferral: Item PP25-004 (Temporary Uses Ordinance) deferred to September 24, 2025.
  • Consent Calendar: Minutes of August 13, 2025, approved 7-0.
  • Item 6A (GP25-002): The Planning Commission recommended (6-0) that the City Council approve the general plan amendment to change the land use designation to Mixed Use Neighborhood. The item will proceed to City Council for an early consideration hearing.
  • Item 6B (GP25-005): The Planning Commission recommended (7-0) that the City Council approve the general plan amendment to change the land use designation to Mixed Use Neighborhood. The item will proceed to City Council for an early consideration hearing.
  • Upcoming Meetings: A study session on the General Plan Four-Year Review is scheduled for September 18, 2025 (1:00 PM – 4:35 PM). The September 10, 2025 regular meeting is cancelled due to the deferral.
  • Other: The commission noted the introduction of interpretation services in multiple languages for meetings.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. My name is Carlos Rosario. I'm the chair of the Planning Commission. Welcome to this evening's Planning Commission meeting. Please remember to turn off your cell phones. The parking validation machine is for the garage underneath City Hall is located at the rear of the chamber. Following roll call, during the summary of the 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 for the Pledge of Allegiance. We can go through everything and see if somebody comes through. All right, we'll now move on to roll call. My name is Carlos Rosario and I am here. Uh Commissioner Bickford. Here. Commissioner Barroso. Absent. Commissioner Bondal. Here. Commissioner Cantrell. Commissioner Casey. Here. Commissioner Nguyen. Here. Commissioner Olivario. Commissioner Young. Is not here. So we have one, two, three, four, five in attendance, which is not quorum. Is that correct? Correct. We have less than a quorum, but we can still move forward with deferrals. But once we get to taking action on consent calendars and general plan early consideration, we will not be able to take action. Okay. And it's my understanding that one of the commissioners will be 15 minutes late to the meeting, so hopefully they're here by then. Um I want to uh 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 may 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. This meeting of the planning commission will now come to order. First, I would like to note that there will be a small change in tonight's planning commission meeting. I was notified that agenda item number seven on tonight's agenda. Close the general plan calendar is not needed at the end of any early consideration items. Therefore, after the two general plan items are presented and voted on, we will move straight to agenda item number eight, referrals for the city council, boards, commissions, or other agencies. All right, now for the summary of hearing procedures. If you want to address the commission, please fill out a speaker card located at 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 on 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.

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