Santa Clara County Planning Commission upholds incompleteness finding for Covello Glen housing project

The Santa Clara County Planning Commission on Aug. 28 upheld the Department of Planning and Development etermination that the Covello Glen housing application was incomplete as of June 26, 2025, denying an appeal from the project applicant.

The vote, taken after about 100 minutes of staff presentations, applicant argument, and more than a dozen public commenters, was 4 in favor and 3 opposed. Commissioners Hederle, Cohen, Levy and Chair Amy Escobar voted to deny the appeal; Commissioners Belska, O'Donoghue and Vice Chair Mark Rausser voted against denying the appeal.

The Covello Glen project, proposed on about 49.7 acres in unincorporated county near the San Jose urban limit, would consist of 173 homes (135 single-family and 38 duet homes) and related amenities. The applicant submitted a preliminary application on Nov. 19, 2024, and a formal application on Feb. 12, 2025. County staff issued an initial incompleteness letter on March 13, 2025 listing 38 items; the applicant resubmitted on May 29, 2025. Staff issued a second incompleteness letter on June 26, 2025 identifying two outstanding items tied to the Almaden Expressway official plan line (OPL). The applicant appealed that June 26 determination on July 10, 2025.

Charu Aluwalia, senior planner for the Department of Planning and Development, told…