|
The San Jose Planning Department has prepared numerous documents which guide the physical development of the City. Below are brief descriptions of the major documents which have and continue to shape community development in San Jose. To obtain copies of the documents listed below or to get more information, please call the Planning Department at (408) 535-3555.
Urban Development Policy (1970): This landmark document initiated the City of San Jose's growth management program through the establishment of the Urban Service Area concept. Equally significant, the City and the County of Santa Clara developed a policy stating that urban development would only be permitted within the Urban Service Area. This policy is still in force today.
General Plan '75 (1976): This document was the first "modern" General Plan for the City of San Jose. It integrated the State mandated elements into a cohesive, internally consistent document. The Land Use/Transportation Diagram was based upon and reflected the goals and policies of the Plan. In addition, this Plan introduced minimum densities, infill development within the Urban Service Area, Non-Urban Hillside designation, designated agricultural lands, economic development of downtown, strategic locations for industrial development to reduce commutes (North San Jose and Edenvale), and the critical linking of land use planning with planned transportation facilities.
Horizon 2000 General Plan (1984): The Horizon 2000 Plan built upon General Plan '75 by going a step further with the identification of five Major Strategies to tie the Plan together. These Strategies were Growth Management, Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development, Urban Conservation/Preservation, and Greenline. In addition, Horizon 2000 established the Coyote and Almaden Valley Urban Reserves.
San Jose 2020 General Plan (1994): Building further on the very successful prior General Plans, San Jose 2020 was a comprehensive update which used a detailed fiscal analysis to make difficult decisions regarding the location and intensity of future growth. Based on the fiscal analysis, the City Council adopted a Plan which reduced opportunities for urban growth at the City's edge, committed to higher intensity infill development along identified intensification corridors (generally along existing and planned light rail corridors), and added the Housing and Sustainable City Major Strategies.
Housing Initiative (1991): The Housing Initiative Study explored opportunities for high density residential and mixed use development along the majority of the Guadalupe Light Rail Corridor, within the Downtown Frame Area, and two major arterials with frequent bus service. The Study concluded that there was a land supply for 10,000 new high density units in the short term; a market demand for up to 9,500 such units; and that most projects would be financially feasible. To date, nearly 2,420 units have been built, an additional 4,000 units have been approved, and 1,730 units are going through the development review process.
Evergreen Specific Plan (1991): The City's first specific plan, the Evergreen Specific Plan is an award-winning plan for a community of 3,000 housing units and various community facilities on an 865-acre infill site. This site seemed destined to support little development due to severe traffic capacity constraints. The specific planning process resolved the traffic issue while creating the template for an innovative new community which incorporates rotary and radial streets with defining uses occurring in key locations, mixed residential densities, a "village" center, a network of bicycle and pedestrian routes, parks, schools, and community identity. Approvals for approximately half of the residential area are complete and construction is proceeding apace. Another 500 units have been filed for review. Some community amenities have been built and others are in the design phase. Developer interest has been enthusiastic in spite of the high cost of building community amenities and required roadway improvements.
Communication Hill Specific Plan (1992): The Communications Hill Specific Plan, winner of numerous regional, state, and national awards, has excited much interest in its vision for a very urban, high density community atop a very visible hill rising from the valley floor a couple of miles south of downtown. The Plan provides for a grid street pattern to accentuate the hill and maximize high density residential development and community facilities on the top and lower sides of the hill while leaving substantial amounts of the grassy hillsides as open space.
Jackson-Taylor Residential Strategy (1992): Similar to a specific plan, the Strategy guides the transition of an older industrial area into an exciting mixed use and pedestrian friendly community. Located close to Civic Center and downtown, Jackson-Taylor is surrounded by existing neighborhoods, business districts, and industrial areas. The Strategy carefully weaves land uses and outlines development standards to ensure compatible interfaces between the existing and planned developments.
Midtown Specific Plan (1992): Like Jackson-Taylor, the Midtown Plan directs the conversion of an aging industrial area to a vibrant mixed use community oriented to transit and the pedestrian. Located just west of downtown and south of the San Jose Arena, this 210-acre area is planned for close to 3,000 high density housing units, parks, employment opportunities, neighborhood-serving commercial uses, some industrial activities, and close community ties with the San Jose Diridon Caltrain/Amtrak station and planned light rail stations.
Tamien Station Area Specific Plan (1995): This Plan directs the development of vacant and underutilized sites in close proximity to the Tamien Multi-Modal Station. The Plan identifies a number of high density housing sites adjacent to existing neighborhoods consisting of aged single family housing and large, relatively new condominium and apartment projects. Careful attention is given to station area housing, a park, small scale commercial uses and a recently completed child care center.
Alviso Master Plan: A Specific Plan for the Alviso Community (in progress): Located adjacent to the San Francisco Bay, Alviso has a unique blend of community activism and maverick proclivities. Working closely with the community, the City is preparing a Plan which will retain Alviso's small town character while preserving the historic resources, enhancing infrastructure and services, and providing modest development opportunities.
Riparian Corridor Policy Study (1994): This Study analyzed numerous streams and riparian corridors found within San Jose and addressed in great detail how development of all types should be designed to protect and preserve riparian corridors. These guidelines are being used in the development review process resulting in 50- to 100-foot setbacks from corridors for new development as well as other techniques to protect water quality and fish and wildlife habitat.
Poco Way Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy (1994): This type of plan goes beyond land use and urban design to uncover the causes of severe deterioration of housing conditions, high crime, speeding, broken infrastructure, and other problems. Working closely with other City departments, the Plan provides a set of realistic actions to turn around the neighborhood. The Poco Way Strategy is now fully implemented, resulting in the rehabilitation of 150 units, new construction of 64 family apartments, creation of usable open space and recreation areas, undergrounding of utilities, street closure, and improvements to the playfields of the nearby Arbuckle Elementary School.
Santee Neighborhood Revitalization Plan (1996): Like Poco Way, the Santee Plan directs the revitalization of a very troubled neighborhood. Adopted recommendations include the institution of professional common property management in the fourplex areas, concentrated code enforcement, development of a new park and swimming pool, and participation of property owners in the revitalization effort.
Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy (1997): The Strategy seeks to coordinate the delivery of selected services to neighborhoods requiring special assistance to improve their living environments. The fundamental concept is to target comprehensive packages of City services into selected neighborhoods to achieve real and visible results as opposed to the typical practice of delivering individual services independently and often without visible or long term results. One of the services is the preparation of a Neighborhood Revitalization Plan as the vehicle to determine services needed to guide the overall long term improvement of a neighborhood.
Washington Neighborhood Revitalization Plan (1998): As one of the three target areas coming out of the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy, the Washington Plan process brings community members together to identify issues and evaluate potential solutions for this troubled neighborhood south of downtown.
South Campus Neighborhood Revitalization Plan (in progress): This is the second of three target areas of the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy. Located around the San Jose State University campus, this Plan is also working with the community to examine issues and solutions, and develop a plan for action.
Residential Design Guidelines (1986, revised 1997): Responding to a growing public dissatisfaction with the appearance of new housing, the Guidelines contain residential design standards intended to spur new residential development toward more traditional and pleasant forms, with an emphasis on street presence, and in some cases, more urban forms. The recent revision tightened standards relating to private and common open space requirements and other issues. The results include more attractive housing and a more efficient development review process.
Commercial Design Guidelines (1989): While commercial design standards in San Jose have typically been satisfactory and have never been an issue, the Guidelines are useful statements of the City's expectations and help to expedite the development review process.
Industrial Design Guidelines (1994): Industrial project design has historically been fraught with difficulties; topics addressed in these Guidelines range from basic minimums for heavy industrial applications to some of the finer points of creating handsome industrial campuses.
Business Climate Study (1992): The Business Climate Study was launched as a response to concerns about the length of project review processes and the quality of City responses to issues. Drawing on the expertise of the development community as well as City staff, the Study examined all aspects of the development review process and identified policies and procedures to make each of them as timely, efficient, and responsive as possible. Most of the recommendations of the Business Climate Study Final Report have been implemented across several City departments.
School Facility Availability Policy and Ordinance (1995): A task force of school district officials and developers explored ways to compensate cash-strapped school districts for the impacts of new development. Using a variety of resources, including a survey of the actual student population generated in new housing (projects up to five years old), the task force developed a policy and ordinance requiring residential developers to pay an additional school impact fee to support those districts requiring additional assistance.
Emergency Homeless Shelter Criteria (1995): These Criteria provide guidance regarding the size, location, and performance parameters required of any new emergency homeless shelter proposed in San Jose. The Criteria are designed to avoid the over concentration of emergency homeless shelters in any one area of the City while still providing sufficient opportunities for locating these shelters in San Jose.
Urban Growth Boundary/Greenline Initiative (in progress): This program intends to permanently limit urbanization in San Jose to areas already developed and/or already planned for urban development. To implement the Initiative, San Jose is working with Santa Clara County to improve upon long established cooperative policies and practices to assure that urban uses occur only inside the Urban Growth Boundary. This effort builds upon existing strategies, goals, and policies of the San Jose 2020 General Plan.
North San Jose Area Development Policy (1988): Due to severe traffic constraints in San Jose's prime industrial area, the North San Jose Policy contains five critical elements to manage traffic to preserve important development opportunities. These elements include: Transportation Demand Management program, capital improvements, a level of service policy, a floor area ratio cap, and the strategic location of housing within the industrial area.
North San Jose Deficiency Plan (1994): A Congestion Management Program was adopted for Santa Clara County as a result of the June 1990 voter approval of the state gas tax increase. Under the Congestion Management Program, the North San Jose Deficiency Plan was the first plan of its kind in Santa Clara County. The Plan identifies innovative, comprehensive strategies for improving the transportation level of service in the congested yet key economic development area of North San Jose to meet Congestion Management Program requirements. To offset the traffic impacts from new development, the Plan specifies improvements to bicycle facilities, completion of additional pedestrian walkways, and other measures to support travel alternatives to the single occupant vehicle.
Evergreen Development Policy (1976, most recently revised in 1995): Severe traffic and flooding constraints required the adoption of the Evergreen Development Policy. Proposed development needs to meet prerequisite criteria pertaining to level of service performance (including specific street system improvements) and one hundred year flood protection prior to obtaining development approvals. This Policy is in effect in the Evergreen Specific Plan Area as well as other lands within the Urban Service Area south of Story Road and east of U.S. 101.
|
