North San José is defined as the area north and west of Interstate 880 and south of State Route 237.

The growth and development of North San José is guided by the Envision San José 2040 General Plan. Additionally there are policy documents that have guided development in the area, including:

• North San José Area Development Policy
• North San José Traffic Impact Fee
• North San Jose Area Design Guidelines
• North San José Neighborhoods Plan

NORTH SAN JOSE AREA DEVELOPMENT POLICY

The North San José Area Development Policy (NSJADP), created in 2005, supported the implementation of a unique vision for North San José. Land uses, including development capacity goals envisioned under the NSJADP, were incorporated into the Envision San José 2040 General Plan, as amended.  

On May 17, 2022 the San José City Council approved a series of amendments to the NSJADP that effectively retired the 2005 plan with respect to future development, while still requiring past entitled projects to fulfill their requirements including mitigation and payment of traffic impact fees under the policy.

NORTH SAN JOSÉ AREA TRAFFIC IMPACT FEE

As a result of the above-mentioned City Council action in May 2022, the North San José Traffic Impact Fee no longer applies to future development in North San José. 

Traffic impacts associated with future projects will be evaluated using VMT (vehicle miles travelled) analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) on a project-specific basis. Any remaining traffic impact fees due for entitled but not yet built projects must still be paid under the terms of the project entitlements if still valid, and as defined in the project’s conditions of approval.

NORTH SAN JOSÉ NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN

In the 2000s, the City Council convened a task force of North San José residents, business owners, and property owners to assist with planning for the development of new neighborhoods and neighborhood services as part of the implementation of the North San José Area Development Policy. At its final meeting on March 6, 2008, the North San José Neighborhoods Planning Task Force unanimously adopted a set of guiding principles for development activity in the area, and these were formally accepted by the City Council on April 22, 2008.

The North San José Neighborhoods Plan combines these Guiding Principles with additional policy to describe the community’s desired outcomes related to parks, education facilities, libraries, and retail. The contents of the Neighborhoods Plan were developed by the North San José Neighborhoods Planning Task Force. These policies were initially included within a document entitled “North San José Implementation Strategy” in combination with other staff developed policies, but are now within the Neighborhoods Plan. 

NORTH SAN JOSÉ AREA DESIGN GUIDELINES

The North San José Area Design Guidelines (NSJADG) set forth guidelines for new private and public development within the North San José area in order to strengthen the City’s unique urban design vision for North San José. The guidelines address new commercial, industrial, and residential private development projects, the design of public streets, parks, trails and open space, and other public facilities. The NSJADG were amended by the City Council on November 18, 2014.

It should be noted that San Jose’s Citywide Design Standards and Guidelines adopted in 2021 will supersede the NSJADG for residential development in the event the two either conflict or if the NSJADG lacks objective criteria as required under current State Law.

Environmental Documents

The North San Jose Final Environmental Impact Report was certified on June 21, 2005 under Resolution Number 72768 (SCH # 2004102067). This report and other North San José Area Environmental Documents are available are publicly available.  

Contact

For questions regarding the North San José policies, please contact Planning Deputy Director Michael Brilliot at (408) 535-7831 or michael.brilliot@sanjoseca.gov.