OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Planning Commission Regular Meeting - July 8, 2026

Planning Commission — Wednesday, July 8, 2026
BodySan Jose, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateWednesday, July 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 14:41

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

Alright.

0:11

Just calling the meeting to order.

0:13

This is a regular hearing.

0:14

Welcome everyone.

0:17

Good evening.

0:17

My name is Chuck Cantrell.

0:19

I am the chair of the Planning Commission.

0:22

Welcome to the Planning Commission meeting.

0:24

Please remember to turn off your cell phones.

0:27

The parking validation machine for the garage under City Hall is located at the entrance up at the top of the stairs.

0:37

Please join in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:45

The United States is a requirement to the public religious things.

0:58

All right, thank you.

1:00

Let's uh do a roll call.

1:03

I am Chuck Canchell and I am here.

1:06

Michael Young, he is, I know, on his way up.

1:09

There's no elevator, evidently.

1:13

Um Luis Orgel?

1:16

Present.

1:24

Melissa Bickford.

1:26

Here.

1:27

Daniel Cow.

1:31

Lawrence Casey?

1:33

Here.

1:35

Amy Escobar.

1:37

Here.

1:38

Coy Newen?

1:42

Pier Luigi, Oliver?

1:44

Here.

1:46

And Carlos Rosard.

1:48

Here.

1:49

All right.

1:50

We do have Quorum.

1:53

Oh, we do.

1:56

We'd actually like to welcome our new commissioner.

1:59

Luis.

2:00

Welcome.

2:01

Welcome.

2:01

We're glad to have you.

2:03

Thank you.

2:04

Would you like to say anything?

2:08

Well, not really.

2:09

Excited to be here.

2:10

Looking forward to serving the body.

2:14

And I think everyone, including the chair and my colleagues look forward to learning from each and every single one of you.

2:21

Thank you.

2:23

Welcome.

2:24

All right.

2:24

So, summary of the hearing procedures.

2:26

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.

2:38

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

2:44

The procedure for this hearing is as follows.

2:48

After staff's presentation, applicants and/or appellants may make up to a five-minute presentation during the public comment period.

2:57

The chair will call out names on the submitted speaker cards in the order received.

3:04

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

3:11

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

3:21

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.

3:33

Speakers using a translator will have double the time allotted.

3:37

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

3:50

Planning commissioners may ask questions of the speakers.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████78%
Land Use█████████15%
Technology and Innovation████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Planning Commission Regular Meeting - July 8, 2026

The San Jose Planning Commission held a regular hearing on July 8, 2026, with Chair Chuck Cantrell presiding. The meeting included public comment on a major development proposal, approval of the consent calendar, and a staff report on upcoming City Council items. All commissioners were present, and a new commissioner was welcomed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sherat Lin (representing community and human agenda organizations) spoke in opposition to the PD 25-013 development proposal for the block bounded by San Carlos Street, San Salvador Street, 2nd Street, and 1st Street. He stated that Option B calls for three residential towers (29 to 30 stories) and an eight-story data center that will be almost as tall as the residential towers due to high floor heights. He emphasized that the data center's power consumption is 22 megawatts with 22 one-megawatt backup generators and a cooling complex on the roof. He expressed concern that the 43-foot separation between the data center and the nearest tower is inadequate, citing noise and pollution from generators, and argued that the data center would create an empty, inappropriate area in downtown.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent calendar was adopted by a single motion. After roll call, the chair reported 8 yes votes and 3 absences (the chair did not vote). The motion carried.

Staff Reports / City Council Referrals

  • Manira Sandhir (Deputy Director for Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement) reported that the City Council is on recess in July but will meet on August 11, 2026, to consider two land use items: an appeal of an eight-unit project at Kirtner and Cottle (environmental appeal) and a conforming rezoning from industrial park to combined industrial commercial to convert an office building into a church use. On August 18, 2026, the Council will take up the Planning Commission's recommendation on the General Plan. The commission will resume a regular schedule of two meetings per month.

Key Outcomes

  • The consent calendar was approved (motion carried).
  • No formal action was taken on the public comment regarding PD 25-013; the commission is limited to responding, requesting staff reports, or placing items on a future agenda.
  • Upcoming City Council hearings were noted for August 11 and 18, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Alright. Just calling the meeting to order. This is a regular hearing. Welcome everyone. Good evening. My name is Chuck Cantrell. I am 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 entrance up at the top of the stairs. Please join in the Pledge of Allegiance. The United States is a requirement to the public religious things. All right, thank you. Let's uh do a roll call. I am Chuck Canchell and I am here. Michael Young, he is, I know, on his way up. There's no elevator, evidently. Um Luis Orgel? Present. Melissa Bickford. Here. Daniel Cow. Lawrence Casey? Here. Amy Escobar. Here. Coy Newen? Pier Luigi, Oliver? Here. And Carlos Rosard. Here. All right. We do have Quorum. Oh, we do. We'd actually like to welcome our new commissioner. Luis. Welcome. Welcome. We're glad to have you. Thank you. Would you like to say anything? Well, not really. Excited to be here. Looking forward to serving the body. And I think everyone, including the chair and my colleagues look forward to learning from each and every single one of you. Thank you. Welcome. All right. So, summary of the 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.

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