TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND FROM: Councilmember Pam Foley
CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: September 9, 2022
Approved Date September 9, 2022
SUBJECT: CAMBRIAN NO. 37. ANNEXATION TO THE CITY OF SAN JOSE OF AN APPROXIMATELY 19.92-GROSS ACRE PORTION OF SANTA
CLARA COUNTY TERRITORY CONSISTING OF TWO LOTS,
LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF UNION AVENUE AND
CAMDEN AVENUE AND ADJACENT STREETS INCLUDING 735.44
FEET OF UNION AVENUE AND 948.32 FEET OF CAMDEN AVENUE
ALONG THE PROJECT FRONTAGE
RECOMMENDATION
Approve staff recommendation to adopt a resolution ordering the annexation of the future Cambrian Village site.
BACKGROUND
The Cambrian Park Plaza, situated at the corner of Union Avenue and Camden Avenue, is a large shopping center currently occupied by an over 70-year-old strip mall and sprawling parking lots. The site is in an unincorporated “county pocket” surrounded by City of San José city limits.
On August 9th, 2022, the City Council voted unanimously to certify the Environmental Impact Report, pre-zone the site to Planned Development, and initiate annexation proceedings related to the Cambrian Village project. Cambrian Village is a proposed redevelopment of the Cambrian Park Plaza creating a vibrant mixed-use village with housing, commercial space, senior assisted living, and a publicly accessible park. Approving the staff recommendation and ordering annexation of the Cambrian Village site would be a continuation of the process already approved by City Council in August.
While historically the City of San José has conducted many annexations, today, annexations are rare. Although many annexations are controversial, this one is straightforward. The current Cambrian Park Plaza is entirely commercial land. No already existing residents are being added CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: 09/13/2022
ITEM: 10.2
to the City. The site is within San José’s Urban Service Area, is contiguous with the existing city limits, and the project proposal is consistent with the General Plan. Indeed, annexation into the City of San José is necessary to move forward with the development of this Signature Project located in an Urban Village.
The Cambrian Village is a large and complicated project involving multiple public hearings and approval steps. The ordering of the annexation is the next step in the process after which LAFCO will evaluate and certify the annexation. After LAFCO certifies the annexation the Development Permit and Vesting Tentative Map will then be heard at a Planning Directors Hearing.