Santa Clara holds EIR scoping meeting for proposed 451 El Camino Real redevelopment

City staff and project consultants held a scoping meeting June 4 to begin the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process for a proposed redevelopment at 451 El Camino Real that would replace four office buildings and two parking garages with housing near the Santa Clara Station.

The project team described the site as containing about 216,000 square feet of office space and two parking garages that would be demolished. The proposal would build a five‑story apartment building with 297 units on the Santa Clara side, 98 townhomes to the northeast and 13 townhomes on the San Jose side, across a roughly 4.95‑acre site. The developer is pursuing annexation from the city of San Jose to the city of Santa Clara, with potential detachment noted in the presentation.

Nick Fuller, project manager with AHA Powers and Associates, said the Notice of Preparation (NOP) for the EIR began circulation on May 23 and will remain open for 30 days, with the comment period ending June 23. "The NOP, for this project started circulation on May 23," Fuller said. He outlined the EIR schedule the team presented: draft EIR circulation is currently estimated for the fall, with a final EIR and public hearings in early spring of next year. Fuller also said the EIR will analyze about 20 resource areas, include technical appendices, and present a range of alternatives to avoid or reduce potentially significant impacts.

Community speakers focused on transportation, safety and construction impacts. One resident said traffic near the site already poses hazards near nearby intersections and that "we have over 5,000 students a day making trips across street," urging study of pedestrian safety as the project adds density. Another speaker, who identified themselves as an occupant of a classroom building at 455 El Camino Real, asked about construction noise; Fuller replied that "there is going to be a noise vibration assessment prepared for the project that'll look at potential impacts during full construction and operation of the project, surrounding receptors."

A resident identified as Betsy raised concerns about the project’s density near a major transit hub and asked whether transportation demand management (TDM) work has been done. Fuller said a transportation demand management plan will be prepared in conjunction with the transportation analysis and "it'll be available to the public at the same time the draft EIR is available." Fuller and another consultant emphasized that the EIR’s traffic study will analyze project‑generated effects on operations of nearby roadways but will not be a vehicle for addressing unrelated preexisting roadway issues.

Michael Stockwell, chairman of the board of the South Bay Historical Railroad Society, asked whether the project falls within the station area plan and whether it is subject to the task force’s developing height recommendations. Meeting staff said the site is within the station plan area and that the project remains subject to current zoning and the general plan while it proceeds through the approval process.

Staff and consultants outlined how to participate: written comments can be submitted during the NOP circulation period and will be compiled and included in the draft EIR appendices; comments on scope may be addressed in the draft EIR text. Fuller said agencies and individuals commenting on the draft EIR will be notified of the final EIR's availability at least 10 days before the public hearing. The presentation included a contact for written submissions and an email address shown on the project materials (not specified in the meeting transcript). The project recording and presentation will be posted on the project website.