NewWed, Jun 17, 2026·San Jose, California·Planning Commission

Planning Director Hearing – June 17, 2026

0:04

Good morning.

0:06

We are calling to order the planning director hearing of June 17th, 2026.

0:12

My name is Ruth Gueto, and I am the hearing officer for today's agenda on behalf of and delegated by the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, Christopher Burton.

0:23

This meeting is being held via Zoom conference call.

0:26

Members of the public may participate by following the instructions listed on page two of the agenda.

0:32

If you would like to provide public comment, you have two methods to do so.

0:37

The first is for participants who joined electronically and have audio input available on their computer or smartphone.

0:44

They can use the raised hand feature in Zoom during the agenda item they would like to speak to, or click star 9 on their phone.

0:52

Remember to keep your raise hand feature on until planning support staff identify your turn to speak.

0:59

The second way is during the meeting, please call 408-535-8517 or email planning support staff at San Jose CA.gov and identify your name that is listed on Zoom, phone number that you'll call into Zoom with, and what item or items you would like to comment on.

1:25

All members of the public will remain on mute until the individual identifies they would like to speak and they are unmuted.

1:32

Planning support staff will identify you by name when it is your turn to speak.

1:37

At that time, you will be unmuted and can provide comment for the allotted time.

1:42

If you exceed your allotted time, you may be muted so we can move on to the next speaker.

1:48

Please note the following.

1:49

The hearing procedure and order of input will be as follows.

1:53

I will identify each project as described on the agenda.

1:57

For those items on the consent calendar, I will ask if anyone wishes to speak on the item.

2:02

If a separate discussion is warranted, I will move the item to the public hearing portion of the agenda.

2:08

If a separate discussion is not needed, the item will remain on the consent calendar for approval.

2:15

For those items listed under public hearing, I will ask staff to provide a brief report.

2:20

The applicant or the representative who wishes to speak on the item will have up to five minutes to speak and should identify themselves by stating their name for the record.

2:30

After the applicant or the representative has spoken, any member of the public who wishes to speak on the item may provide testimony up to two minutes per speaker, either for or against the project.

2:42

All members of the public should identify their name for the record, although it is not required.

2:48

Following comments from the public, the applicant may make additional remarks for up to five minutes.

2:54

I will then close a public hearing and I may ask staff to answer questions, respond to comments made by the applicant or the public, or further discuss the item.

3:03

I will then take action on the item.

3:06

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.

3:20

The planning director's actions on agenda items will be final when the permit is signed and mailed, unless the permit or the environmental clearance determination is appealed.

3:32

The planning director's actions on the permits are appealable in accordance with the requirements of Title 20 of the Municipal Code zoning ordinance.

3:40

The planning director's actions on the environmental review for the permits under the California Environmental Quality Act CEQA are separately appealable in accordance with the requirements of Title 21 of the Municipal Code, the Environmental Clearance Code.

3:57

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

4:02

This includes commenting on the specific agenda item only.

4:06

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

4:11

The hearing officer, staff, and the public are expected to refrain from abusive language.

4:17

Repeated failure to comply with the code of conduct, which will disturb, disrupt, or impede the orderly conduct of this meeting, may result in the removal from the meeting.

4:27

This meeting of the director hearing will now come to order.

4:34

We will begin today's meeting with deferrals.

4:37

Any item scheduled for hearing this morning for which deferral to future meeting date is being requested will be removed, moved to this portion of the agenda and considered on the matter of deferral.

4:47

I will identify any items to be deferred and ask for comments from the audience.

4:52

If you want to change any of the deferral dates or speak to the question of deferring these or any other items, please use a raised hand feature in Zoom or click star 9 to raise a hand to speak.

5:04

We have no items proposed for deferral today.

5:07

Anyone wish to speak on that?

5:14

Seeing none, the matter of deferrals is now closed, and we will move on to item three on the agenda, the consent calendar.

5:24

There will be no separate discussion of individual consent calendar items as they are considered to be routine and will be considered in one action unless an item is moved to the public hearing calendar for separate discussion by the hearing officer.

5:36

The public may comment on the entire consent calendar and any items removed from the consent calendar by the hearing officer.

5:44

If you wish to speak on any one of these items, please use the raised hand feature in Zoom or click star 9 to raise a hand to speak.

5:54

There is one item on the consent calendar, and it is item A, SP26-009, and ER26-048.

6:08

A special use permit to allow the construction of retaining walls up to four feet in height in the side and rear yard of a single family property located at 847 Foothill Court in Council District 10.

6:21

With a SQL exemption pursuant to SQL guidelines section 15303 for new construction or conversion of small structures.

6:29

The staff recommendation is to consider the exemption in accordance with CEQA and approve a special use permit.

6:37

Does anyone from the public wish to speak on it on this item on the consent calendar or staff?

6:53

Okay, hearing no request to speak, or I don't see any hands raised, item number 3A, SP 26 009, and ER26 048 are hereby approved.

7:09

The matter of consent is concluded and we will move to the public hearing.

Discussion Breakdown

Procedural77%

Land Use23%

Summary

Planning Director Hearing – June 17, 2026

The hearing was called to order by Hearing Officer Ruth Gueto, delegated by the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement. The meeting proceeded with no deferrals, a consent calendar with one item, and no separate public hearing items. No public comments were made.

Consent Calendar

SP26-009 and ER26-048 – A special use permit to allow retaining walls up to four feet in height on a single-family property at 847 Foothill Court (Council District 10), with a Class 3 CEQA exemption. Approved without discussion or public testimony.

Key Outcomes

The consent calendar item (SP26-009 and ER26-048) was approved as recommended by staff.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. We are calling to order the planning director hearing of June 17th, 2026. My name is Ruth Gueto, and I am the hearing officer for today's agenda on behalf of and delegated by the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, Christopher Burton. This meeting is being held via Zoom conference call. Members of the public may participate by following the instructions listed on page two of the agenda. If you would like to provide public comment, you have two methods to do so. The first is for participants who joined electronically and have audio input available on their computer or smartphone. They can use the raised hand feature in Zoom during the agenda item they would like to speak to, or click star 9 on their phone. Remember to keep your raise hand feature on until planning support staff identify your turn to speak. The second way is during the meeting, please call 408-535-8517 or email planning support staff at San Jose CA.gov and identify your name that is listed on Zoom, phone number that you'll call into Zoom with, and what item or items you would like to comment on. All members of the public will remain on mute until the individual identifies they would like to speak and they are unmuted. Planning support staff will identify you by name when it is your turn to speak. At that time, you will be unmuted and can provide comment for the allotted time. If you exceed your allotted time, you may be muted so we can move on to the next speaker. Please note the following. The hearing procedure and order of input will be as follows. I will identify each project as described on the agenda. For those items on the consent calendar, I will ask if anyone wishes to speak on the item. If a separate discussion is warranted, I will move the item to the public hearing portion of the agenda. If a separate discussion is not needed, the item will remain on the consent calendar for approval. For those items listed under public hearing, I will ask staff to provide a brief report. The applicant or the representative who wishes to speak on the item will have up to five minutes to speak and should identify themselves by stating their name for the record. After the applicant or the representative has spoken, any member of the public who wishes to speak on the item may provide testimony up to two minutes per speaker, either for or against the project. All members of the public should identify their name for the record, although it is not required. Following comments from the public, the applicant may make additional remarks for up to five minutes. I will then close a public hearing and I may ask staff to answer questions, respond to comments made by the applicant or the public, or further discuss the item. I will then take action on 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 director's actions on agenda items will be final when the permit is signed and mailed, unless the permit or the environmental clearance determination is appealed. The planning director's actions on the permits are appealable in accordance with the requirements of Title 20 of the Municipal Code zoning ordinance. The planning director's actions on the environmental review for the permits under the California Environmental Quality Act CEQA are separately appealable in accordance with the requirements of Title 21 of the Municipal Code, the Environmental Clearance Code. Before we begin, I want to remind members of the public to follow our code of conduct at meetings. This includes commenting on the specific agenda item only. Public speakers will not engage in a conversation with the hearing officer or staff. The hearing officer, 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 the removal from the meeting. This meeting of the director hearing will now come to order. We will begin today's meeting with deferrals. Any item scheduled for hearing this morning for which deferral to future meeting date is being requested will be removed, moved to this portion of the agenda and considered on the matter of deferral. I will identify any items to be deferred and ask for comments from the audience. If you want to change any of the deferral dates or speak to the question of deferring these or any other items, please use a raised hand feature in Zoom or click star 9 to raise a hand to speak. We have no items proposed for deferral today. Anyone wish to speak on that? Seeing none, the matter of deferrals is now closed, and we will move on to item three on the agenda, the consent calendar. There will be no separate discussion of individual consent calendar items as they are considered to be routine and will be considered in one action unless an item is moved to the public hearing calendar for separate discussion by the hearing officer. The public may comment on the entire consent calendar and any items removed from the consent calendar by the hearing officer. If you wish to speak on any one of these items, please use the raised hand feature in Zoom or click star 9 to raise a hand to speak. There is one item on the consent calendar, and it is item A, SP26-009, and ER26-048. A special use permit to allow the construction of retaining walls up to four feet in height in the side and rear yard of a single family property located at 847 Foothill Court in Council District 10. With a SQL exemption pursuant to SQL guidelines section 15303 for new construction or conversion of small structures.