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Record of Proceedings

Planning Director Hearing on Wireless Facility at Villages Golf and Country Club - October 23, 2026

Planning Commission — Friday, October 23, 2026
BodySan Jose, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateFriday, October 23, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 29:53

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:05

Good morning.

0:07

We are calling to order the planning director hearing of October 21st, 2026.

Unassigned speaker

0:13

My

Speaker 1

0:13

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

0:24

This meeting is being held via Zoom conference call.

0:27

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

0:33

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

Unassigned speaker

0:38

so.

Speaker 1

0:39

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

0:48

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.

0:55

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

1:02

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

Unassigned speaker

1:23

on.

Speaker 1

1:24

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

1:30

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

1:34

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

1:40

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

1:45

Please note the following.

Unassigned speaker

1:47

The

Speaker 1

1:48

hearing procedure and order of input will be as follows.

1:51

I will identify each project as described on the agenda.

1:55

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

2:01

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

2:06

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

2:12

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

2:18

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.

2:27

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.

2:39

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

2:44

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

2:50

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.

2:59

I will then take action on the item.

3:02

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.

Unassigned speaker

3:15

The

Speaker 1

3:16

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

Unassigned speaker

3:25

The

Speaker 1

3:26

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

3:34

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.

3:46

Environmental clearance.

3:48

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

3:53

This includes commenting on the specific agenda item only.

3:58

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

4:03

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

4:08

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.

4:18

This meeting of the director will now come to order.

4:24

We will begin today's meeting with deferrals.

4:27

Any items scheduled for hearing this morning for which a 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.

4:36

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

4:40

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

4:52

There are no deferrals today.

4:54

Staff, are there any additional comments?

5:03

No, we do

Unassigned speaker

5:04

not.

Speaker 1

5:05

Thank you.

5:06

The matter of deferrals is now closed.

5:08

We will move on to item three on the agenda, which is a consent calendar.

5:13

There will be no separate discussion of individual consent calendar items as they're 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.

5:25

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

5:32

If you wish to speak

Unassigned speaker

5:34

on

Speaker 1

5:34

one of these items, please use a raise hand feature in Zoom or click star nine.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████31%
Technology and Innovation████████████████████████████28%
Public Safety█████████████████████████25%
Land Use█████████████13%
Environmental Regulation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Planning Director Hearing on Wireless Facility at Villages Golf and Country Club - October 23, 2026

This is a summary of the Planning Director Hearing held on October 23, 2026, conducted via Zoom by Hearing Officer Ruth Gueto on behalf of the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement. The sole agenda item was a proposed wireless facility at 8790 Village View Drive, including an 80-foot monopine tower, antennas, generator, and equipment. The hearing officer approved the project after considering public testimony and staff recommendations.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Bob Dando (Villages homeowner, representing homeowners committee): Expressed support for the ATT tower project but opposed the proposed location. Requested alternative sites such as Corporation Yard, upper gardens, or behind the water tank. Cited concerns about direct sight lines from 15 Valvista residents, a narrow one-lane road, traffic mitigation issues, and a high-fire-risk area. Stated a gap exists between trees, giving residents a full view of the tower.
  • Robert Costa (directly affected homeowner): Opposed the chosen site, arguing the city's fact sheet misleadingly claimed views were considered. Noted 15 homes face the tower and urged relocation 80 feet west. Highlighted that the site is in a Cal Fire high-fire-hazard zone (fire insurance doubled) and near a seasonal creek bed with a riparian zone, for which exemptions should not apply. Stated residents are not against the tower but want a more appropriate location.

Discussion Items

  • Staff (Jacqueline Guerrero) presented the project: the 80-foot monopine tower, antennas, generator, and cabinets on a 90-acre site. The project is in the R1PD zone; a planned development permit is required. Setbacks comply with R1 standards (nearest residence 230 feet). Height is allowed under Section 20.8530 due to the monopine design. A NEPA report found no direct effects on a nearby riverine wetland (within 70 feet) given existing development. The project is CEQA-exempt under Section 15303. Staff recommended approval.
  • Applicant representative (Mike McLaughlin, Western Fire Chiefs Association, for Public Safety Tower Company): Emphasized the critical need for FirstNet public safety broadband coverage, noting over 80% of 911 calls come from wireless devices and 80.2% of homes are wireless-only. The monopine design minimizes visual impact. Alternative sites (water tower, parks, etc.) were evaluated but did not meet coverage objectives. Addressed fire safety by stating wireless infrastructure is essential for first responders and cell tower fires are extremely rare (one reported worldwide in 2025).
  • Hearing Officer Ruth Gueto acknowledged community impacts but found that staff and applicant had worked on the project for over a year, examined alternative locations, and designed the tower to blend in. The 230-foot setback was deemed sufficient to limit visual impact. Regarding the riparian corridor, policy allows exceptions, which staff cited.

Key Outcomes

  • Decision: The hearing officer considered the CEQA exemption (Section 15303) and approved the planned development permit (PD-25-004 and ER25-042) for the wireless facility.
  • The action is final upon signing and mailing the permit, subject to appeal under Title 20 (zoning) and Title 21 (CEQA) of the San Jose Municipal Code.
  • Conditions include obtaining required grading permits from Public Works and complying with NEPA report recommendations (e.g., protection for salamanders).

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. We are calling to order the planning director hearing of October 21st, 2026. My name is Ruth Gueto, and I'm 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 nine on their phone. Remember to keep your raised hand feature on until planning support staff identify your turn to speak. During the um the other way you is to um call 408-535-8517 or email planning support staff at San Jose CA.gov and identify your name that is listed on Zoom, the 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 a 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 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 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 a 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 Muni Code, the 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. Environmental clearance. 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 removal from the meeting. This meeting of the director will now come to order. We will begin today's meeting with deferrals. Any items scheduled for hearing this morning for which a 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 for comments from the audience. If you want to change any of the deferral dates or speak to the question about deferring any of these items, please use a raised hand feature in Zoom or click star nine to raise a hand to speak. There are no deferrals today. Staff, are there any additional comments?

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