Santa Clara council holds study session on Related Santa Clara project; developers propose ‘Scheme C’ land‑use shift

Mayor Lisa Gilmore convened a special study session of the Santa Clara City Council to review the Related Santa Clara mixed‑use redevelopment and a proposed master community plan amendment known as "Scheme C." The session, led by City Manager Jovan Grogan and Assistant City Manager Liz Klotz, updated the council on entitlements, delays, fiscal terms of the disposition and development agreement (DDA) and a draft land‑use change that would add light industrial and some data‑center uses on Parcels 1 and 2 while increasing density in the city‑center parcels (Parcels 4 and 5).

The discussion matters because the project covers a total of 9,160,000 gross square feet across five parcels adjacent to Levi's Stadium and represents a multidecade public‑private partnership with significant city revenues, infrastructure obligations and public‑service impacts. Staff framed the study session as information‑gathering only: council did not take action on Scheme C and no ordinance or plan amendment was approved.

City staff reviewed the project's history and legal framework. Afshan Hamid, community development director, said the master community plan, general plan amendment, rezoning and certified environmental impact report were adopted in 2016, and subsequent development area plans (DAPs) and addenda were approved for early phases. Anna Shimko, outside counsel, explained that the DDA and the related development agreement set detailed schedule‑of‑performance requirements and ground‑lease terms. She reminded the council that Related (the developer) already executed the ground lease for Parcel 5 (phase 1) in December 2022 and the DDA still obligates Related to ground‑lease phase 2 by current deadline 2027‑09‑23 unless excusable delays apply.

Staff and Related presented Scheme C: replace most of the planned office campus on Parcels 1 and 2 with light industrial/advanced manufacturing and allow limited data‑center uses (including…