San José planning commission approves 108‑unit builder’s‑remedy housing project amid neighborhood safety, field and tree concerns

The San José Planning Commission voted to approve staff recommendations for a 108‑unit condominium development at the northeast corner of Camden Avenue and Single Tree Way, a project submitted under the state’s builder’s‑remedy provisions. The motion passed with nine commissioners voting yes, one abstention and one absence.

Commission staff and the project team told the commission the proposal would demolish the existing Little League baseball fields on the former Cinnabar Elementary site, remove 41 trees (including 23 ordinance‑size trees), and provide garages and 243 vehicle parking spaces plus 40 bicycle spaces. Staff said the developer allocated at least 7% of units for households with extremely low incomes under the H11 Builder’s Remedy option and that the project requires a Statement of Overriding Considerations because the final EIR found significant and unavoidable impacts for vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse‑gas emissions.

“Es un proceso de tres años, con mucha gente muy inteligente de la ciudad de San José,” project manager Jason Lee told the commission during the presentation.

During the public comment period, nearby homeowners and residents urged the commission to reject or trim the project, raising construction noise and dust, the loss of neighborhood recreation space and safety concerns on narrow Single Tree Way. Richard Bennett, who said he owns a home on Blossom Hill Road adjacent to the site, said, “Me opongo al proyecto. A mis inquilinos no les gustará el ruido y el polvo que genere la construcción.” Thomas James Hislop, a long‑time Park Almaden resident, urged the commission to prefer the EIR’s smaller alternative: “La alternativa ambientalmente superior actual del EIR, que es de 87 unidades, no de 108.”

School‑district and applicant representatives told the commission the Little League fields would be relocated to Dartmouth Middle School as part of coordinated work there; a district adviser estimated the combined projects could yield roughly $1.6 million per year across projects in ongoing revenue. The district’s representative also said Phase II soil testing would be required before demolition or grading permits, and standard Bay Area air‑district dust‑control practices would be included as mitigation.

Staff and commissioners reviewed transportation analyses and mitigation measures. Transportation staff said the project is expected to add about 300 average daily vehicle trips to Single Tree Way (current counts roughly 805 ADT), and that improvements in the project include a new signalized intersection at Camden and Blossom Hill and bus stop relocation. Staff noted that even a reduced 87‑unit alternative would still yield significant VMT and GHG impacts under CEQA.

Several commissioners said the project presented a difficult tradeoff between state housing law constraints and neighborhood impacts. Commissioner Young argued the project would help address the city’s housing shortage and provide revenue and housing for the local school district, while Commissioner Escobar and others pressed staff to ensure enforceable mitigation and coordination with schools and emergency‑services agencies.

The motion approved by the commission directs staff to finalize the project resolution and conditions of approval and forwards the commission’s recommendation to the City Council for its consideration, consistent with the public process required for builder’s‑remedy projects.

The commission’s vote record was nine yes, one abstention (Barocio, who stated a conflict due to a family connection with the district) and one absence. The commission also noted the permit will require a limited Phase II soil investigation prior to demolition or grading permits and multiple construction‑phase mitigation measures for air quality, hazardous materials and traffic management.

Next steps: staff will finalize the draft resolution and conditions required for the council hearing and return the item to the City Council as the project’s decision‑maker under the city’s process for builder’s‑remedy submittals.