[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6102681,"mediaKeyId","2803665-f135454f5034c52abc41939c15d5742c","parentId",2803665,"title","Commission approves Southridge Baptist Church project in unincorporated San Jose after CEQA MND and conditions change","audioSeconds",6441,"startMs",3556000,"endMs",9997000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2803665-f135454f5034c52abc41939c15d5742c&start=3556&end=9997","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2803665-f135454f5034c52abc41939c15d5742c/thumbnail_3556000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6102681/Santa-Clara-County/California/Commission-approves-Southridge-Baptist-Church-project-in-unincorporated-San-Jose-after-CEQA-MND-and-conditions-change","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6102681-0383932d78eaacc138cdeda7d2a29e82/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137195&Signature=aoxQi70jl82eKCn5ZGx4G9HXY3emp2oYoFgggH1WA6fNsFoxSEUHvJA~1z-FHW6KFUebAXxA5EH-HtH4Kwrp9pphWorQ72LNuFzwSZVpFwp6WIoPKvj-7LiJbsEgbGMnm4D3sKNpAs6lO7uGKar-AmfxTmnopVQbGb2k2taZ7xg3qsHoYK1IS6GL5HFliEcQZ48P~0meHd5rbv7faUcMigEKbgMLxTh66~~Kx6QLA-Vu4fMwhAcZzUw97KhhLdLHXtHJSusTfV3dH3uj2waN1hUi1WVkW3hp4MLeNPvQtbbFOFwyHxwrb2WG-mKAdRO0sHDkLbEspyelpFYKDvhqJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Santa Clara County CA","date","2025-03-28T04:03:58.917Z","article","The Santa Clara County Planning Commission on March 27 adopted a mitigated negative declaration under CEQA and approved a use permit with architecture and site approval and grading approval for a proposed Southridge Baptist Church campus on Piercy Road in unincorporated San Jose.

Staff presentation and CEQA: Laura Tran, a planner with the Department of Planning and Development, told commissioners the 5.84‑acre site lies east of Piercy Road and is zoned HSD‑1 (Hillside) with a general plan “Hillside” designation. The applicant proposed an 8,894‑square‑foot church building, a 12,058‑square‑foot multi‑purpose building, a 174‑space parking lot (including seven accessible spaces), a new septic system, a detention basin/bio‑retention area and landscaping. Staff concluded the project would not result in significant environmental impacts after mitigation in five areas (air quality, biology, greenhouse gas emissions, noise and wildfire) and recommended adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), the mitigation monitoring and reporting program, the local‑serving finding and approval of the concurrent land‑use permits subject to conditions.

Key technical issues and corrections during hearing: Commissioners and staff discussed hillside zoning, design‑review applicability, drainage, and traffic. Rob Salisbury, the county zoning administrator and principal planner, said the zoning ordinance allows religious institutions in the Hillside district; staff had exempted the project from a separate design‑review application because architecture‑and‑site‑approval findings overlap with design‑review findings and the site visibility is limited.

On hydrology staff and the project team identified a typographical error in the initial study: a number shown as 10,579 square feet of impervious surface should read 104,579 square feet. County engineers and the project engineer explained the site will route stormwater to bio‑retention/detention basins that treat and infiltrate runoff and meter excess flows into San Jose’s storm system; staff said the project meets county drainage requirements.

Traffic, parking and operations: Staff said most project traffic occurs on weekends and is not coincident with weekday AM/PM commuter peaks; the applicant proposed multiple services and staggered times to limit peak arrivals. The plan includes 174 parking spaces; staff clarified that parking shown on civil/architectural plans establishes the supply and that the count exceeds minimum zoning requirements. Commissioners raised questions about off‑site queuing during large events; the applicant said they would pursue off‑site parking agreements and shuttle options when needed.

Conditions and changes adopted: During deliberations commissioners edited conditions. Staff offered revised wording to a vegetation/mowing condition (condition 64.d) to clarify annual mowing or herbicide treatment to a four‑inch height and to require additional mowing or treatment if rains cause regrowth after mowing. Commissioners also accepted staff clarifications that electric vehicle charging requirements are included in the conditions (identified as condition 23 in staff’s numbering) and left parking requirements tied to the approved plan set. Commissioner Belska requested and staff confirmed two edits to the CEQA documents: replacing the typographical imprefection of “10,579” with “104,579” square feet in the initial study and deleting a phrase on page 60 that referenced weekend operations; staff committed to updating the record.

Operating hours: Vice Chair Rausser proposed modified operational hours as part of his motion: Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 9 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.–9 p.m.; special events must fall within those hours. The applicant indicated those hours would accommodate weddings and other occasional events while preserving noise protections for neighbors. Commissioners discussed cleanup and event‑conclusion language; staff agreed to clarify that events and services must end by the stated hour and that cleanup activity is limited.

Public comment and applicant testimony: Two applicant representatives spoke in favor: Makai Ermler described the congregation’s history and community work; lead applicant Amanda Musi Verdel described project design, stormwater bio‑retention, and parking/traffic handling. One member of the public, Angel Casillas, spoke in support, describing the church’s community outreach.

Vote and appeal: Vice Chair Rausser moved to adopt the MND, adopt the mitigation monitoring and reporting program, make CEQA findings, and grant the concurrent land‑use approvals subject to the revised conditions (including the amended operating hours and the clarified mowing language). Commissioner O'Donoghue seconded. The roll call vote was: Commissioner Heatherly — no; Commissioner Cohen — yes; Commissioner Belska — yes; Commissioner O'Donoghue — yes; Commissioner Levy — yes; Vice Chair Rausser — yes; Chair Escobar — yes. The motion carried 6‑1. Staff read the 15‑calendar‑day appeal period instructions to the record.

The commission’s approval includes conditions of approval as amended on the record (stormwater treatment and detention basins, 174 parking spaces shown on the plans, EV charging requirement in conditions, clarified vegetation/mowing requirement, and operating hours as modified). The approved CEQA document will be corrected to reflect the staff‑noted typographical errors.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County of Santa Clara Planning Commission March 27, 2025 6:00 p.m.","oneSentenceSummary","The Santa Clara County Planning Commission adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration and approved a use permit, architecture and site approval and grading approval for Southridge Baptist Church on Piercy Road in unincorporated San Jose, subject to revised conditions including a clarified mowing requirement and modified operating hours.","taxTitle","Santa Clara County, California","taxId",2855,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6102684,"Planning commission OKs 2-year extension for South Valley Islamic Center project in San Martin",1089,2197000,3286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2803665-f135454f5034c52abc41939c15d5742c&start=2197&end=3286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2803665-f135454f5034c52abc41939c15d5742c/thumbnail_2197000.jpg","/articles/6102684/Santa-Clara-County/California/Planning-commission-OKs-2-year-extension-for-South-Valley-Islamic-Center-project-in-San-Martin","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6102684-9ebd098106142644869b68dc2f8f92e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137195&Signature=KdxsxAsArKCuOsn3v6vElHWvg9ume~FRLKcJxy7jXIMTVM-ae8PcP2yKoQMgFvSlyclEPQkmVgohagyEzJG61oIBZ3emhKW8eTAkfO5~epo8a7gm6hB4J-pMUnik2tWOibTN73dBPUJ7KYHqk6UjalM9wvuxf1uhPU45ijZq93oum~NwdhbFUQNsd1diUE0WPbEMv6SSIPjDspe8Y-dD3PPmeNCI3-zL52iXmjoUrQNgqtdvMizZc8o0tLDCJvcASxItRSlW3U94GMzsQlnZCFsrUkbsMR9iKpenTCXY2~d2xi1BjVAcyr3ksqFupxOefpp7FvokR8~64M9SQiFJAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Clara County Planning Commission on March 27 approved a two-year extension for a set of concurrent land-use permits previously granted to the South Valley Islamic Center for property at 14045 Monterey Road in San Martin.

The extension covers a use permit, cemetery permit, architectural and site approval, design review, building-site approval and grading approval tied to an environmental impact report certified by the Board of Supervisors on March 24, 2020. Staff said the applicant filed the extension request in writing on Jan. 15, 2025, paid required fees and provided an explanation of circumstances under county ordinance section 5.21.80, which allows a single extension of up to two years when requested before the permit expiration date.

Samuel Gutierrez, principal planner with the Department of Planning and Development, summarized the project for commissioners: a worship hall, a multi‑use building, a maintenance building, a caretaker residence, a roughly 3.55‑acre cemetery, a youth camp with tent platforms, an orchard, plaza and parking. Gutierrez told the commission the extension request proposes no changes to the previously approved project or to its conditions and that no additional SEQA/CEQA analysis was needed because the item is a pure time extension.

Sharon Luna, chair of the San Martin Planning Advisory Committee, told the commission the advisory committee reviewed the extension at its March 26 meeting and issued a favorable recommendation by a 6‑0 vote with one member absent. Luna also told commissioners that residents remain concerned about other development pressures in San Martin, including several large “builder’s remedy” projects in preliminary stages.

Applicant representative Veil Actor said the project team delayed several submittals because of COVID‑era staffing and consultant shortages and later resubmission cycles. Actor told the commission the team has already completed non‑permit items such as surveys and habitat studies, established an agricultural well with permits and installed perimeter plantings. He asked the commission to grant the two‑year extension so grading and the remaining permitting sequence could proceed.

Vice Chair Rausser disclosed driving by the property daily and an ex parte contact with the applicant. No members of the public spoke on the item at the commission hearing.

Vice Chair Rausser moved to approve the two‑year extension; Commissioner O'Donoghue seconded. The roll call vote was: Commissioner Heatherly — yes; Commissioner Cohen — yes; Commissioner Belska — yes; Commissioner O'Donoghue — yes; Commissioner Levy — yes; Vice Chair Rausser — yes; Chair Escobar — yes. The motion carried 7‑0.

Staff advised commissioners that, per the county code, the extension is the first and only time extension available under the cited section and runs from the original permit expiration date. Gutierrez told the commission the project’s gating permit is the grading and drainage permit; once that permit is issued the project team can proceed with longer lead building permits. The commission did not add conditions beyond those adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2020.

The decision is subject to the county’s appeal procedures; staff read the appeal‑period instructions at the hearing.","The Santa Clara County Planning Commission on March 27 approved a two-year time extension for the Cordova/South Valley Islamic Center land-use approvals in San Martin, allowing the applicant more time to complete grading and building permits for a project previously approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2020.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6102676,"San Martin residents, advisory committee raise alarm about clustering of mental‑health residential facilities",309,1471000,1780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2803665-f135454f5034c52abc41939c15d5742c&start=1471&end=1780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2803665-f135454f5034c52abc41939c15d5742c/thumbnail_1471000.jpg","/articles/6102676/Santa-Clara-County/California/San-Martin-residents-advisory-committee-raise-alarm-about-clustering-of-mentalhealth-residential-facilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6102676-4b4421e5522555345daf21f0fc73b6d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137195&Signature=MzSYerD7Ij3rZjxENZwwk~em7vP02ZcfQNIx1jGr3jMFvqmt6OtoE44uRFv7dkrPkkX8gYo8dDajc5AMQWWipNTN192oz2~e~zvRwzx56iWO~lWs13~6LaTGzHHGNYovb0sL1cRBBDW0pP3WNQitRKofOZIBUocoNIfpUJBGPnlTMxcHt30GoPHhR1KNqy7VNl0A6j~621Rg8LAzvNKcy~4Gnk-W3b6vRpwZLqNqiVYC2sh4MSU-9-nVPJ8G1LC4cQ9aHdoSf0nEV6-3iOSwIsLH6Eo3Gv939m3PHZUnSiY9fBZF2tqSPOFpc69-W-2XdK8QPvc8JlWUPXj0X7NzlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public comment and an advisory committee report at the Santa Clara County Planning Commission’s March 27 meeting highlighted community concern in San Martin about what speakers described as a rapid increase in for‑profit residential mental‑health facilities.

Sarah Kuitrignelli, who identified herself as a resident of Amari Court in San Martin, told the commission she and neighbors live on a cul‑de‑sac of six homes and that the number of mental‑health residential facilities near her property had grown from two in February 2022 to eight at the time of her remarks. She said six of the facilities were within roughly a mile and a half of her home and described repeated calls to law enforcement and emergency medical services that prompted residents to keep a log of public‑safety responses. Kuitrignelli asked county supervisors and staff to set a numerical definition for “saturation,” require notification by for‑profit operators, and address impacts on law enforcement and EMS resources.

Sharon Luna, chair of the San Martin Planning Advisory Committee (SIMPAC), reported that the advisory committee had heard similar concerns at its March 26 meeting. Luna said SIMPAC voted 6‑0 (with one absent) to provide a favorable advisory recommendation on the Cordova project extension but stressed the committee’s ongoing concern about the proliferation of residential facilities and the broader community impacts of pending “builder’s remedy” housing projects in the area, including proposals totaling more than 600 homes.

Commissioners and staff responded with procedural context. Jacqueline Anciano, director of planning and development, and staff said the county is processing a rules zoning update (previously termed \"local serving\") that will be presented to the Planning Commission and the Board; she noted that the rules update is distinct from builder’s remedy applications. Kuitrignelli and Luna told the commission they have sought help from the county CEO’s office and other agencies but said state and county agencies have different jurisdictional limits — for example, the Department of Health Services focuses on Title 22 compliance — leaving residents uncertain where to direct complaints.

No formal zoning change was proposed or acted on at the March 27 meeting. Commissioners who spoke encouraged continued engagement; staff noted the county is reviewing zoning rules and SIMPAC and residents may provide input as those rule updates proceed.","During public comment and the San Martin Planning Advisory Committee report, residents urged county action on an apparent surge of for‑profit mental‑health residential facilities clustered near homes in San Martin and asked for changes to zoning, notification and saturation limits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves Southridge Baptist Church project in unincorporated San Jose after CEQA MND and conditions change

Planning commission OKs 2-year extension for South Valley Islamic Center project in San Martin

San Martin residents, advisory committee raise alarm about clustering of mental‑health residential facilities