Council approves annexation and entitlements for 94-unit all‑affordable development on West San Carlos

The San Jose City Council voted unanimously May 6 to approve actions needed to allow construction of a 94‑unit fully affordable housing project on West San Carlos Street, including annexation of five contiguous parcels, pre‑zoning to an Urban Village zoning district, a general-plan land-use amendment from Mixed-Use Commercial to Urban Village, and related entitlement approvals.

Path Ventures presented the proposal, titled Path Villas on the Row, and said the project will provide 94 affordable units — including family-sized two‑ and three‑bedroom units — with one manager’s unit, about 1,800 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, on-site amenities and supportive services offices. The applicant and supporters said the design emphasizes resident wellness, active Ground Floor frontage and neighborhood context. Path Ventures said a portion of the units will be set aside as permanent supportive housing and that the project will serve households at 30–60% of area median income (AMI).

Planning staff reported the site is currently outside city boundaries and lies within areas served by special districts; the annexation would detach the site from special districts and pre-zone it Urban Village. Staff said the Urban Village designation allows greater density than the existing Mixed-Use Commercial designation (the proposed project density is about 68 dwelling units per acre compared with a 50‑du/acre cap under the existing designation). The proposal relies on state density‑bonus provisions and SB 330 incentives to achieve feasibility and requests concessions and waivers under density-bonus law.

An initial study identified potentially significant impacts requiring mitigation for construction‑period air quality and noise, hazards and tribal cultural resources; staff released a mitigated negative declaration after public review and published responses to comments. Staff said the annexation will proceed to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for certification after council action and completion of conditions of approval.

Developers, affordable‑housing advocates and community organizations spoke in support at the meeting. Councilmembers noted the project’s contribution to deeply affordable and family-sized units in the West San Carlos area and moved to approve the necessary entitlements; the motion passed unanimously. If approvals remain in place and funding is secured, staff said the applicant will proceed to building permits and construction.