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Council approves 108-unit builder’s-remedy development at former Camden school site; neighbors raise field and health concerns
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Summary
Council approved a vesting tentative map, EIR certification and site permit for 108 condominiums at 5670 Camden Avenue under the state's builder's-remedy provisions; staff said the project includes eight extremely low-income units and traffic/mitigation commitments, while neighbors raised concerns about losing baseball fields and soil/health impacts.
The San Jose City Council voted April 30 to approve a vesting tentative map, certify an environmental impact report with a statement of overriding considerations, and grant a site development permit for a 108-unit residential project at 5670 Camden Avenue under California's "builder's remedy" provisions.
Planning staff presented the project as a subdivision of a former school site that would leave school buildings in place while converting the rear parcel to residential development consisting of 32 three‑story buildings and 108 condominiums; eight units would be reserved for extremely low‑income households. Staff said the applicant will construct on-site transportation improvements, including a new traffic signal at the Camden Avenue / Singletree Way intersection, in lieu of paying an approximately $2 million VMT offset.
"The project provides community benefits including diverse-income housing options, transportation improvements and a 100% electric project," said planning staff during the presentation.
Mana Investments, the applicant, and its president Orville Power described a multi-year outreach effort and the school-district exchange that would generate recurring revenue for the district. "The school district is exchanging the land into an income-producing asset which will produce over $1,000,000 a year for the school," the applicant said.
Several neighbors and community members urged the council to reconsider or require additional protections. Thomas Hislop and Susan Sefel said the baseball fields are an essential community amenity and raised questions about soil and EIR analysis. "These are very important fields to the community," one speaker said, urging the council to ensure proper mitigation and transparency on soils and construction impacts.
Union School District President Vicki Brown urged approval, saying the district needs revenue and that new fields will be provided as part of the bond-funded Dartmouth Middle School refurbishment.
Council deliberations noted that builder’s-remedy law limits denial based on consistency with the general plan and zoning but allows review for objective health and safety standards. The EIR showed a VMT impact that staff proposed to address through on-site transportation improvements and other mitigation measures; fire and emergency-access concerns were addressed with preemption at signals and design changes.
The council approved the planning commission recommendation and certified the EIR; the motion passed unanimously.
Next steps include final map processing, mitigation monitoring and construction permitting per the mitigation monitoring and reporting program.
