Santa Clara County Planning Commission approves 2025–26 work plan, adds workshops on shoreline adaptation and code enforcement

The Santa Clara County Planning Commission on April 24 approved its work plan for fiscal year 2025–26 and accepted three amendments to add a new policy-projects section, a briefing on regional shoreline adaptation by the Bay Conservation and Development Commission or the Office of Sustainability, and a workshop on code enforcement.

The work plan, which the commission will forward to the county Board of Supervisors through the Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation Committee, also records the commission’s accomplishments for fiscal year 2024–25 and lists anticipated trainings and project reviews for the coming year.

Commission staff told the commission that routine trainings planned for the year include updates on the California Environmental Quality Act, the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA), the Brown Act, Robert’s Rules of Order and periodic state legislative updates. The work plan also lists county general-plan updates the commission is expected to review, including the safety element and the health and environmental justice element.

Commissioner Levy said the draft combined workshop items with items the commission will formally review and asked staff to separate ‘‘policy projects under the purview of the planning commission’’ from standalone workshops. Staff agreed and the commission approved a new heading to list general-plan and other policy-review items.

Commissioner Levy moved to add a BCDC and/or Office of Sustainability briefing on the regional shoreline adaptation plan and the county’s coordination role; Vice Chair Rausser moved to add code enforcement as a topic. Both amendments were accepted and incorporated. Commissioners discussed Vice Chair Rausser’s request that staff follow up on a longstanding set of permit conditions for a development at 40 East San Martin Avenue and consider a revocation or modification hearing if code enforcement finds unresolved violations; staff agreed to log the request as a future agenda item and to coordinate with code enforcement.

Chairperson Amy Escobar made the main motion to approve the work plan with the three amendments; Commissioner Belska seconded. The roll-call vote was unanimous (Commissioner Donahue/Aye; Commissioner Belska/Yes; Commissioner Heatherly/Yes; Commissioner Levy/Yes; Vice Chairperson Rausser/Yes; Chairperson Escobar/Yes). The motion carried.

Commission staff said the timing for the annual work-plan process is: the commission adopts the work plan in April, the Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation Committee reviews it in May, and the Board of Supervisors reviews it in June for final approval. Staff also listed several anticipated projects and trainings the commission heard in 2023 and may see again, including the county’s ongoing general-plan element updates and the Stevens Creek reclamation plan.

The commission did not receive any public speakers on the work-plan item.

Votes at a glance

- Consent calendar: Approved (motion by Commissioner Belska; second Commissioner Donahue). Roll call: Donahue/Aye; Belska/Yes; Heatherly/Yes; Levy/Yes; Rausser/Yes; Escobar/Yes. Motion carries.

- Planning commission work plan (Item 6): Approved with three accepted amendments (add new policy-projects heading; add BCDC/Office of Sustainability briefing on regional shoreline adaptation; add code-enforcement workshop). Motion made by Chairperson Amy Escobar; seconded by Commissioner Belska. Roll call as above.

Looking ahead, staff will submit the approved work plan and the commission’s recorded accomplishments to the clerk of the board by April 30 for subsequent review by the board committee and the Board of Supervisors.