Planning commission recommends five-year extension for Pruneyard master use permit

The Campbell Planning Commission on Aug. 25 voted to recommend that the city council grant a five-year extension of the Pruneyard master use permit (MUP) and related tentative parcel map, moving the expiration date to Dec. 31, 2031.

Senior planner Daniel Fava told commissioners the Pruneyard MUP covers a 27-acre shopping center split across three parcels and that phases 3 and 4—planned to include a five‑story office building, parking expansion, a fitness building and two retail pads—remain incomplete. Fava said the developer completed phases 1 and 2, contributed $100,000 toward a trail connection and submitted the broader MUP amendment now under review; based on those factors staff recommended the extension. "Based on an affirmative determination of the required findings, staff does recommend that the planning commission adopt resolutions recommending to the city council that they grant an extension for five years, till 12/31/2031," Fava said.

Eric Foraker, president of the Pruneyard Center Association and the applicant's representative, described investments in building repairs and tenant improvements and credited rising occupancy for making new construction plausible. "We think by the end of this year ... we'll have the project ... at around 80% occupancy, and as we get into '27, we feel pretty darn confident that we'll be pushing up toward 90%," Foraker said.

A nearby resident urged stricter parking enforcement and raised pedestrian-safety concerns, saying employee parking often blocks retail access; the resident told commissioners that those problems informed his plan to vote against the extension. Commissioner Ollie said the condition and enforcement issues at the center were the reason he planned to vote no. Commissioners who supported the extension cited difficult market conditions for office construction and the value of preserving approved entitlements rather than forcing a re‑entitlement under current standards.

Commissioner (speaker 4) moved the recommendation; a second was recorded and the commission adopted the motion on a roll call vote. The commission recorded the motion as passing 5–1. The commission's recommendation will go to the city council and is appealable to the city clerk within 10 calendar days.