San José Planning Director Hearing Summary – August 12, 2026: Icon Echo Mixed-Use Project and Western Digital Lot Subdivision
San José Planning Director Hearing Summary – August 12, 2026: Icon Echo Mixed-Use Project and Western Digital Lot Subdivision
The Planning Director Hearing for August 12, 2026, was called to order by Hearing Officer Ruth Gueto, acting on behalf of the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement. The meeting covered two public hearing items: the Icon Echo mixed-use project (including a site development permit and vesting tentative map) and a tentative map to subdivide the Western Digital campus into two lots. A consent calendar item was moved to the public hearing due to public interest.
Consent Calendar
- The consent calendar contained a single item: Tentative Map T26-006 and ER26-014 for a 176.29-acre lot (Western Digital) to be subdivided into two non-residential lots at 5601 Great Oaks Parkway in District 2. Because 11 members of the public raised hands to speak, Hearing Officer Gueto moved the item to the public hearing portion. No items were approved on the consent calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
Item 4A – Icon Echo (H25-041, T25-027, ER25-233)
- Two speakers raised hands: one clarified they intended to comment on the other item; the other, a member of the public named Casey, questioned how removing 29 trees and building on historic land aligns with the city's environmental and public health plans. No opposition was expressed to the project itself.
Item from Consent Calendar – Western Digital Tentative Map (T26-006, ER26-014)
- Over 20 members of the public spoke, nearly all expressing strong opposition to the potential future development of a data center on the subdivided lots. Key concerns included:
- Lack of environmental impact review and transparency regarding the subdivision's purpose.
- Existing noise pollution (humming from Western Digital's substation) and worry that a data center would worsen noise, traffic, water usage, and energy costs.
- Proximity to residential neighborhoods, schools, and parks.
- The city's ongoing process to establish data center regulations (a 2 pm meeting that day and a community listening session scheduled for August 19).
- Several speakers requested that the subdivision not be approved until more analysis and community input are completed.
- The applicant's representative (Jason Victor, landscape architect/master planner) stated that Western Digital seeks to separate the lot to make it available for a future project by another entity, noting that any future development would go through normal public approval processes.
- A few speakers also raised concerns about accessibility and universal design features (Richard Gallo, regarding affordable housing).
Discussion Items
Item 4A – Icon Echo Mixed-Use Project
- Staff (Rena Shah and Nunawne) presented the project: two eight-story buildings with 645 multifamily units (5% very low‑income), 1,320 sq ft of commercial space, demolition of 22,527 sq ft of existing buildings (three non‑contributing structures in the St. James City Landmark District), removal of 29 trees (9 ordinance‑size), and a vesting tentative map to reconfigure four lots into two. CEQA exemption under AB 130 (Section 21080.66) was recommended.
- The applicant, Matt Bernardis (Urban Catalyst), highlighted the project's 70% height reduction from previous high‑rise plans, its compatibility with the St. James Historic District, and direct benefits to the neighboring Town Park Towers (replacing 26 parking spaces with covered secure parking and building a new private courtyard).
- Hearing Officer Gueto acknowledged the design’s sensitivity to the landmark district and the value of adding downtown housing, including the 33 very low‑income units.
Item from Consent Calendar – Western Digital Tentative Map
- Staff (Alec Atianza) explained the tentative map application to subdivide one 176.29‑acre lot into two non‑residential lots (Lot 1: 15.46 acres; Lot 2: approximately 160.94 acres) at 5601 Great Oaks Parkway. The site is zoned IP (Industrial Park) and lies within a planned development district. The map was reviewed for compliance with Title 19 subdivision requirements (lot sizes, access, etc.) and recommended for approval under CEQA Section 15315 (minor land division).
- The applicant’s representative clarified that the subdivision is intended to separate a portion of the Western Digital campus for sale to another entity; any future project would require separate permits and environmental review.
- Deputy Director of Planning Manira Sandir noted the city is actively addressing data center concerns through community outreach sessions and a council policy update expected in December 2026.
- Hearing Officer Gueto reminded the public that the tentative map does not authorize any construction or land use; it is only a lot line adjustment.
Key Outcomes
- Icon Echo project (H25-041, T25-027, ER25-233): Hearing Officer Gueto approved the site development permit, vesting tentative map, and statutory CEQA exemption under AB 130, citing the project’s consistency with downtown design guidelines, its provision of affordable units, and its respectful integration with the St. James Landmark District.
- Western Digital tentative map (T26-006, ER26-014): Hearing Officer Gueto approved the tentative map for subdivision and the CEQA exemption (Section 15315), finding that staff had conducted the appropriate analysis and that the map met all subdivision requirements. The officer emphasized that this action does not authorize any future data center or other project.
- No other items were deferred or discussed.
Note: The city will hold a data center community listening session on August 19, 2026, at City Hall (6–8 pm) and a City Council meeting on August 18 to discuss general plan amendments related to data centers.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. We are calling to order the planning director hearing of August 12, 2026. My name is Ruth Gueto, and I am the plan 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. 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 nine on their phone. Remember to speak. Remember to keep your hand raised hand feature on until planning support staff identify your turn to speak. During the meeting, please call 408-535-8517 or email planning support staff at San JoseCA.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. 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 the public hearing, I will ask staff to provide a brief report. The applicant or their 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 their 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 the 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. The 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 a future meeting date is being requested, will be moved to this portion of the agenda and considered on the matter of deferral. I will identify any items to be deferred and ask staff 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 the raised hand feature in Zoom or click star nine to raise a hand to speak. I now open the public hearing. There are no deferrals today. Staff, are there any additional comments? We have two hands raised. I don't know what item they're for, if they're for deferrals or consent or public hearing. Okay. Can we start with the first one? Um can you guys raise your hands if you are speaking on deferral. Okay. Um I think it will be for another item. Okay.
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