The City of San José has quietly but significantly hit reset on environmental review for the next chapter of Santana Row, reopening a key public comment window on plans that could reshape the high-profile mixed-use district across from Valley Fair.
Yesterday, the city released a revised Notice of Preparation for an Environmental Impact Report for the Santana Row Master Plan Update. The new notice launches a new scoping period from Feb. 23 through March 25 and sets a virtual scoping meeting for March 11 at 6 PM. In plain terms, the environmental review is restarting, and the clock is ticking for neighbors and businesses to weigh in.
According to the City of San José, the updated plan would allow approximately 2,780,000 square feet of office and commercial space, set new maximum building heights, and accommodate about 2,147 new parking spaces across an approximately 42.53-acre site. The notice also states the proposal would add roughly a 0.54-acre parcel and remove about 22 street parking spaces on Dudley Avenue in order to widen the sidewalk on both sides.
What Is Being Rezoned
The project would rezone the Santana Row parcels from an A(PD) planned development zoning district to a PD planned development district, covering property at the southeast corner of Winchester Boulevard and Stevens Creek Boulevard. The state CEQA record on CEQAnet lists the project under SCH number 2022110177 and notes that the original Notice of Preparation was received on Nov. 9, 2022. Within the city’s system, the proposal is filed under PDC22‑004 and ER22‑107.
How To Weigh In
The public can review the revised notice and related documents on the City of San José website and must submit comments to Environmental Project Manager Charlotte Yuen by 5:00 PM on March 25. A joint community and EIR scoping meeting is scheduled for March 11 at 6:00 PM via Zoom, and the project web page includes the revised notice along with instructions on how to join.
Why Neighbors Will Be Watching
On paper, some revisions may look minor. In practice, details like removing about 22 on street parking spaces on Dudley Avenue to widen sidewalks could loom large for nearby residents and small businesses that depend on curb parking for daily operations. The Environmental Impact Report is expected to spell out transportation, noise and air quality impacts and to propose mitigation measures, as indicated in the state CEQA record on CEQAnet.
Background: Santana Row’s Role In The City
Santana Row has long been treated as San José’s unofficial second downtown, and planning work in the area reflects that status. City planners and consultants have envisioned denser, more pedestrian oriented development with stronger links to transit and public spaces. The Urban Master Plan framework that guides this direction is outlined by planning firm Dyett & Bhatia, which helps explain why taller buildings and large office allocations are firmly on the table…