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The City's Role in Environmental Review

The City's Environmental Clearance Ordinance (San José Municipal Code Title 21) specifies how environmental review is carried out in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Typically, City staff prepare the appropriate environmental document — either an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Initial Study (IS), Addendum or Exemption. Environmental impacts studied for most projects include air quality, biological resources, noise, water quality and transportation.

The environmental review process seeks to identify any environmental impacts associated with a proposed project and to provide this information to the public and decision-makers for their consideration and comment. If significant impacts are identified, these must be reduced or mitigated as possible. A number of City policies and procedures provide a basis for determining impacts and a means for insuring that such impacts are mitigated.

Enviromental Review Process

Applications

An Environmental Evaluation scoping section is included in the Development/Use Permit Application. City staff make an initial assessment on a proposed project's environmental review process based on the information disclosed by the property owner or designated representative. 

Please consult the Planning Fee Schedule for the current filing fees.

Processing

During the environmental review process, Planning staff review the potential effects of environmental impacts that could result from a proposed project. Based on the significance of any environmental impacts, staff determine the level of CEQA clearance needed for that project. All projects will require some form of CEQA clearance. The City's Standard Environmental Review Times can be found here.

Scoping Review

Applicants who have projects on private property that require review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) must directly contract with a consultant on the List of City-Approved Environmental Consultants. Read Director Chris Burton's letter to the development community to learn more about this decision. 

Consultants must work with City staff in preparing a scope of work early in the development review process if it has been determined that project will clearly have a significant effect on the environment. Final scope of work must be provided to the City and affirmatively approved prior to the execution of the contract. An application fee based on per hour review must be paid in full within 14 calendar days of the completed scoping review.

Review Process

Visit the City's Environmental Review Documents webpage to view all projects and related documents.

You can see the City's environmental review process in this flowchart.

See the Environmental Review Process Improvements and New Procedures memo for further information.

Contact

David Keyon, Principal Planner, (408) 535-7898
David oversees the Environmental Review team and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP).

Tina Garg, Supervising Environmental Planner, (408) 535-7895
Tina oversees CEQA clearances for the entitlement process, Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan (SCVHP) Coordination, and Geotesting clearance.

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