[{"_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",6479634,"mediaKeyId","5693226-66b31662f68f8c8321d62712a8d9d949","parentId",5693226,"title","VTA presents transit‑oriented development options for portion of Caltrain lot; task force presses to preserve view to historic depot","audioSeconds",84,"startMs",476000,"endMs",560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693226-66b31662f68f8c8321d62712a8d9d949&start=476&end=560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693226-66b31662f68f8c8321d62712a8d9d949/thumbnail_476000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479634/Santa-Clara/Santa-Clara-County/California/VTA-presents-transitoriented-development-options-for-portion-of-Caltrain-lot-task-force-presses-to-preserve-view-to-historic-depot","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479634-4ba28207bab86d66d76a2a02af6627c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054032&Signature=mHk~Zk7zHwlPhaw5-iDRKib-IWGAR2hPTrCKX39jBHWXG35008tAVVfkUwF9bzxy1UAJ6N8pn1b6YhBYD~JtNuTJdnT~u0nVdH9FLMiRilICwFhqAU5J448ORZCWOOuua5g5vEctTNxNbhjeX5kJmkkVgwEiRLXaY-dzK6IsDs5HtrXStl7nrwPvDNhEXVd5~QvZkndBgQVa17rDGn~sBVnF1QraDmi7GJE821eYfK4-VVnECK60TgaJSW45OTi4Q7wSvnnqSiWJ4Ru57tIm7bm~kF9LF9EQVS-50~BhCmKrFGmVYVmujIGQeqiRQhwDJBYwEXAZ-QOIN8hY3J7LSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Santa Clara","date","2025-08-28T22:14:59Z","article","The Santa Clara Station Area Task Force heard preliminary transit‑oriented development (TOD) concepts from the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for a portion of the Caltrain parking lot on Aug. 21, 2025, prompting detailed questions from members and residents about the design's effects on the historic depot and on transit circulation.

VTA transit‑oriented communities manager Melissa Sterezzo told the task force that VTA staff and consultants were sharing “initial thoughts and reactions” about how a portion of the Caltrain lot VTA owns could be redeveloped. “VTA is really proud to be a partner in this planning effort,” Sterezzo said, adding the agency’s work is “grounded in VTA’s board‑adopted policies on transit‑oriented communities” and related design guidance for the county.

Task force members and consultants described two schematic approaches presented by SiteLab Urban Studio: a “central crossing” that tightens the plaza and opens a direct approach to the depot from El Camino Real, and a “Franklin Corridor” alternative that concentrates development away from the station approach and steps buildings down toward the depot. Hugo Erasturis of SiteLab said the central concept reduces plaza size to create more building frontage and “provide a special entry moment at the corner of El Camino Real and Benton Street,” while the Franklin Corridor version “sets back a little bit” and aligns the plaza with Franklin Street.

Community members argued the current concepts risk diminishing the depot’s presence. A resident who spoke as Dan, showing photos, urged the task force to treat the depot as a civic focal point: “This is the station area. This should be paid homage to,” he said, noting the depot’s age and the nearby historic tower. Afsha Hamid, the city’s community development director, told the task force the concepts are useful and asked staff to engage more stakeholders, including city commissions, before the plan is finalized.

VTA and city staff clarified ownership, uses and process. VTA staff said the agency owns roughly 30% of the Caltrain lot and the city owns the remainder; city staff later said the city’s portion is about two acres. VTA staff said the lot currently contains 179 parking spaces and that usage counts taken since the pandemic showed relatively low occupancy — “in the 15 to 20% usage” range — though task force members and others noted weekend and seasonal events can raise demand.

Christina Knape, VTA’s TOD program lead, outlined how VTA would move a site toward development: market sounding with developers, early community engagement to shape an RFP, then a developer selection and entitlement process that can take a year to 18 months to identify a developer and an initial concept. “If we don’t get a positive response from the developer community, we’re not going to release an RFP,” Knape said, describing the agency’s staged approach.

Task force members pressed staff on circulation and transit impacts. VTA planners said most existing bus routes serving the station would continue to use the transit loop, but that an undercrossing or crossing at Benton‑Brokaw could allow some routes to run more directly. Rob Swirk, a VTA planner, said the agency sees an opportunity to enhance passenger amenities around the plaza — “transparent” shelters, lighting and other features — and to refine bus routing depending on future track crossings.

On parking, VTA staff said they defer to city land‑use and parking rules; however, they indicated the development options could finance structured parking or provide shared public parking as part of a redevelopment. “If the city says x number of parking spaces per square feet or per unit, any development pursuing entitlements would have to abide by those policies,” Christina Knape said. VTA staff added that where the TOD parcel increases development density it could make underground parking or other amenities economically feasible.

City staff and VTA agreed to take the task force feedback back to consultant teams. City staff asked VTA and consultants to study the road‑alignment ideas the task force raised — including shifting the transit loop slightly farther from the depot or retucking the loop to create a larger, more human‑scaled plaza directly in front of the historic building.

The task force did not take any formal land‑use action during the meeting; staff said the comments would inform the specific plan and the development standards the city will draft.

Ending: City and VTA staff said they would work with WRT and SiteLab to incorporate feedback and return to the task force with refined concepts. The task force will next meet Sept. 18, 2025, and the city plans to pause in October to allow WRT time to draft the plan language.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","08 21 25 Station Area Task Force Meeting | Aug. 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","VTA and consultants presented preliminary transit‑oriented development concepts for VTA‑owned land in the Caltrain parking lot and the task force pressed for design changes to preserve the historic depot’s approach and view corridors.","taxTitle","Santa Clara , Santa Clara County, California","taxId",2859,"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},6479625,"Station Area Task Force approves consent calendar, excuses absent member and elects Plaine as vice chair",4972,73000,5045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693226-66b31662f68f8c8321d62712a8d9d949&start=73&end=5045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693226-66b31662f68f8c8321d62712a8d9d949/thumbnail_73000.jpg","/articles/6479625/Santa-Clara/Santa-Clara-County/California/Station-Area-Task-Force-approves-consent-calendar-excuses-absent-member-and-elects-Plaine-as-vice-chair","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479625-0ec95bc16568b1d8b397601e9eb8f79b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054032&Signature=knOuF0jFdHGhX-o758UCeBbJX1A7C2XETDVqmhj3xlup9-8593Yt2cBakuJGdVuHRA836NaFDfUbi13oEqj~DiVXbwcafRv12YrTm40HVwsb37lAm~P6dn7I-xGTBV6XIEiEe1rDVwrrdXJglibdVdSbppFMaVqvyHq0M8BZGyyi614l9ROBiNKQQZ0a0-6om-yWYmRysggkg5Gb8ls18uyBpF2h7UVt~WTZHbYiXI9K0~Hd~DA8DGF4Q0EkozlVN6ZzapLVJWdJzfFCHiN6~q4jBXj0HJ742siHTmEL2s2Yiy9otQ1xg0KPDH-bmg8PZ-jKo7mmrchs0bxAB-YhiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Aug. 21, 2025 meeting of the Santa Clara Station Area Task Force the body completed routine business by approving the consent calendar, excusing an absent member, and electing a new vice chair.

The task force took a roll‑call vote to excuse Member Mayer from the meeting; the motion passed with unanimous support and one absence recorded. The consent calendar — which included the task force minutes of July 17, 2025 — was approved by roll call; the motion passed unanimously with one absence after staff noted typographical errors in the draft minutes that will be corrected.

For the vacant vice chair post the task force accepted a nomination for Member Plaine; no other nominations were made. The task force conducted a roll‑call confirmation vote and elected Member Plaine as vice chair by unanimous vote with one absence recorded.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to excuse Member Mayer: outcome — approved (unanimous; 1 absence). Vote called by roll call; members recorded as voting aye during roll call included Member Garg, Member Collins (present virtually), Member Evans, Member Sher, Member Hall, Member Hoyne, Member Andrasek, Member Plaine, Member Stockwell and Chair Leung.
- Motion to approve consent calendar (minutes of 07/17/2025): outcome — approved (unanimous; 1 absence). Roll call recorded ayes on the motion.
- Election — Vice Chair: nomination of Member Plaine; outcome — elected (unanimous; 1 absence).

Ending: Staff will correct the typographical errors in the July minutes and incorporate the roll‑call records into the official meeting record. Member Plaine will assume vice‑chair duties when needed.","The task force approved the July minutes and consent calendar, voted to excuse Member Mayer from the Aug. 21 meeting and elected Member Plaine as vice chair in a roll‑call vote. All three procedural actions passed unanimously with one absence recorded.",{"_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},6479629,"WRT and Arup outline draft development standards, street types and green infrastructure for Santa Clara station area",4055,545000,4600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693226-66b31662f68f8c8321d62712a8d9d949&start=545&end=4600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693226-66b31662f68f8c8321d62712a8d9d949/thumbnail_545000.jpg","/articles/6479629/Santa-Clara/Santa-Clara-County/California/WRT-and-Arup-outline-draft-development-standards-street-types-and-green-infrastructure-for-Santa-Clara-station-area","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479629-62b3c250f91caeb61fb0a29f0954bfef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054033&Signature=mqHWRcoTEwHF2QcDAtlod8swiW0lVS0AhtkpIONuIAnVPXwWQNFyKJhsgLf8o5EUAFF7GP6F8bdQEqybWwOPnKkvEFRoU-A13deBh-sTvsm2T1yTd4qb5TEv2RwPQbLd0aX3uyr3G8cmNcRZlE7yHCMPJd~uEPP-BR9Lx64hEwrEFFrgLTE7kNl4JrHJJNdoVD1DgnPU7x0Q3OMcdzQOB66aAbgMc~y58rDYduVlJNEKLC11zwWRfYTlDVqxlcZvYxU8LLsrdHM3D~oYCceFdgLJNlLx5YOLkUUHlH7p2JGchLpid97uKDRK6h7oVInSfswpV4-Uwfp75M0OVKauVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","WRT and engineering consultant Arup presented draft development standards and a green‑infrastructure menu for the Santa Clara station area at the Aug. 21 Station Area Task Force meeting, and task force members provided detailed feedback on street cross sections, building heights and stormwater strategies.

WRT principal Jim Stickley said the standards exercise will define the street hierarchy, mobility elements, sidewalk design, building heights and green infrastructure that will guide the specific plan. “These are some of the key elements that are really gonna shape the district,” Stickley said, and he walked the task force through typical cross sections for regional thoroughfares (El Camino Real/Coleman), community connectors (Benton/Franklin), major internal streets and pedestrian paseos.

WRT’s drawings show a Brokaw corridor with “flex zones” — 8.5‑foot curbside spaces that can be used for short‑term parking, bike‑share, deliveries or pickup/drop‑off — plus protected bike lanes and wide sidewalks where retail is expected. In bus‑stop areas, the flex zone would instead be a transit island with an enlarged shelter. The diagrams are conceptual; Stickley said circulation analysis will be required to confirm bus and vehicle operations when configurations change, for example if a Benton‑Brokaw undercrossing is built.

On heights, WRT proposed a mid‑rise character for much of the station area with selective locations where towers could be allowed. The consultants asked whether the plan should allow full airport‑zone height elsewhere while imposing a limit on the number of tower buildings so the district does not become a continuous “wall” of high‑rise structures. Several task force members supported the idea of allowing towers but capping their quantity and requiring stepbacks to preserve pedestrian scale along retail streets.

Arup’s Eunice (green infrastructure lead) summarized stormwater guidance oriented to the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP). Arup presented a menu of measures — bioretention, tree wells, flow‑through planters, permeable pavement and rainwater harvesting — and recommended locating larger detention or bioretention measures where historic drainage maps show pooling risk (Parcels 1, 3 and 11 in the consultant figures). Eunice said green roofs and rainwater harvesting can both be valuable but noted a trade‑off: roof area used for rainwater storage generally cannot also be green roof area.

Task force members made technical suggestions. One member asked to restore Alameda to the street hierarchy map (it had been omitted in the slide set). Members asked WRT to more clearly show buses in transit‑oriented cross sections and to explore how a BRT or enhanced bus treatment might fit on the Brokaw extension. Members also urged a clearer approach to tower placement, minimum separation and stepbacks so tall buildings do not overwhelm human‑scale streets.

City staff said WRT will take the task force comments and continue drafting standards; the consultants will return with more detailed sections and the draft specific plan. The task force scheduled its next meeting for Sept. 18, and city staff said WRT will use October to draft the plan.

Ending: Consultants will revise cross sections, clarify bus/BRT options, and refine height rules and green infrastructure placement based on task force direction. The draft specific plan will be prepared for review with an anticipated check‑in at the September meeting.","Consultants from WRT and Arup presented draft development standards for street typologies, building heights and green infrastructure. The task force asked for clarifications on street names, bus integration, tower limits and stormwater options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

VTA presents transit‑oriented development options for portion of Caltrain lot; task force presses to preserve view to historic depot

Station Area Task Force approves consent calendar, excuses absent member and elects Plaine as vice chair

WRT and Arup outline draft development standards, street types and green infrastructure for Santa Clara station area