OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - January 28, 2026

Planning Commission — Wednesday, January 28, 2026
BodySan Jose, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateWednesday, January 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 26:20
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Planning Commission this evening.

0:18

My name is Lisa Bickford, and I'm the Vice Chair for the Planning Commission.

0:23

The parking validation machine, in case you need it, is located at the rear of the chamber,

0:29

You can walk up the stairs and get that.

0:32

If you would all join me in saluting the flag.

0:39

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

0:43

and to the republic for which it stands,

0:46

one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

0:59

I'm afraid of the gavel.

1:03

Okay, now I would like to proceed with roll call.

1:08

Commissioner Rosario is not here this evening.

1:11

I am the vice chair.

1:13

Melissa Bickford, I am here.

1:15

Commissioner Borossio?

1:16

Here.

1:18

Commissioner Bandal?

1:21

No, not here.

1:24

Commissioner Cantrell?

1:26

Here.

1:27

Commissioner Cowell?

1:28

Here.

1:29

Commissioner Casey here

1:32

Commissioner Escobar here

1:35

Commissioner Nguyen here

1:39

Commissioner Oliveria here and Commissioner Young

1:43

here

1:44

Thank you very much

1:47

So now I'd like to

1:52

officially call this meeting to order and

1:56

and talk about the order of the day.

1:59

Before we begin, I'd like to remind the Planning Commission members and members of the public

2:04

to follow our Code of Conduct at meetings.

2:07

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

2:13

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

2:18

All members of the Planning Commission, staff, and the public are expected to refrain from

2:22

abusive language.

2:24

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.

2:33

This meeting of the Planning Commission will now come to order.

2:36

I just want to make one note that we had originally posted that Commissioner Oliverio would be remote for this evening via teleconference due to whether his plans were canceled and he is actually physically here.

2:51

Thank you for being here.

2:54

I'd like to read the summary of hearing procedures.

2:59

If you want to address the commission, please fill out a speaker card located on the table

3:03

near the audio-visual technician and deposit the completed card in the basket.

3:09

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

3:13

The procedure for this hearing is as follows.

3:16

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

3:21

presentation.

3:23

During the public comment period, the Chair will call out names on the submitted speaker

3:27

cards in the order received for those members of the public who attend in person.

3:32

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

3:36

chamber here.

3:38

Generally, each speaker will be given up to two minutes for public testimony, and speakers

3:43

using a translator will have twice that time, or four minutes.

3:48

At the discretion of the Chair, the time allotted to each speaker may be changed depending on

3:52

the number of items on the agenda, the number of speakers, and other factors.

3:57

Speakers using a translator will have double whatever that allotted time is.

4:01

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

4:10

Planning commissioners may ask questions of the speakers.

4:13

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

4:18

The public hearing will then be closed, and the Planning Commission will take action on the item.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Procedural████████████████████████████34%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████9%
Municipal Finance██2%
Summary of Proceedings

San Jose Planning Commission Meeting - January 28, 2026

The Planning Commission convened on January 28, 2026, at 2:30 PM under Vice Chair Lisa Bickford. The meeting covered a deferral, consent calendar approvals, council reports, and scheduling of future study sessions. No public hearing items or public comments on non-agendized items were presented.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the action minutes from the January 14, 2026 meeting by unanimous vote.
  • Approved CP25-011 and ER25-096, a conditional use permit for a new potable water pump station, unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Deferral: CP25-001 and ER25-007 (utility facility at 0 Skyview Drive, San Jose Water Company) were unanimously deferred to the February 11, 2026 meeting, with renotification due to a newly added variance application.
  • City Council Reports: Deputy Director Manira Sandir reported on council actions: January 13, 2026 – Habitat Plan amendments (moving forward with environmental analysis) and mega-ordinance amendments (state law housing changes) approved; January 27, 2026 – Council provided direction on SB 79 implementation (exempting industrial hubs like North San Jose and Edenvale, one-mile walking path properties, evaluating historic resources, and exploring minimum densities downtown). Upcoming appeals: February 10, 2026 – appeal of the denied After Bar & Grill late-night permit; February 24, 2026 – appeals related to PayPal Park concerts and an industrial use on London Avenue.
  • Commissioner Casey raised concerns about the Fay development foreclosure (50% occupancy, lack of parking cited) and requested post-occupancy success metrics for approved developments. Staff noted market conditions and parking dependence on financing, and agreed to investigate.
  • Commissioner Cantrell emphasized evaluating the cost of capital for the Fay project.
  • General Plan Update: Staff noted the next meeting of the Planning Commission as task force on March 4, 2026, focusing on small multifamily and missing middle housing, with open houses expected after consultants are contracted.

Key Outcomes

  • Deferral and Consent Calendar: Both approved unanimously.
  • No formal actions on other agenda items.
  • Scheduled Study Sessions: February 11, 2026 (SB 79, 5:30 PM) and February 25, 2026 (joint with Housing Commission on Housing Catalyst Work Plan, 5:30-7:00 PM, Room 118-120).
  • Staff directed to explore post-occupancy metrics for development performance.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Planning Commission this evening. My name is Lisa Bickford, and I'm the Vice Chair for the Planning Commission. The parking validation machine, in case you need it, is located at the rear of the chamber, You can walk up the stairs and get that. If you would all join me in saluting the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I'm afraid of the gavel. Okay, now I would like to proceed with roll call. Commissioner Rosario is not here this evening. I am the vice chair. Melissa Bickford, I am here. Commissioner Borossio? Here. Commissioner Bandal? No, not here. Commissioner Cantrell? Here. Commissioner Cowell? Here. Commissioner Casey here Commissioner Escobar here Commissioner Nguyen here Commissioner Oliveria here and Commissioner Young here Thank you very much So now I'd like to officially call this meeting to order and and talk about the order of the day. Before we begin, I'd like 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. 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. I just want to make one note that we had originally posted that Commissioner Oliverio would be remote for this evening via teleconference due to whether his plans were canceled and he is actually physically here. Thank you for being here. I'd like to read the summary of hearing procedures. 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 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, please line up in front of the microphone at the front of the

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