TO: HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY
COUNCIL, AND PLANNING
COMMISSION
FROM: Christopher Burton
SUBJECT: General Plan and Land
Use Overview Study
Session
DATE: September 11, 2025
Approved
Date:
9/12/2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT: Citywide
PURPOSE AND OUTCOME
Provide the City Council and the Planning Commission with an overview of the history of land use in San José from the early 1990s through today, covering emerging issues and current City Council direction.
The City Council and the Planning Commission will have a better understanding of the context surrounding the development of the City’s General Plan and current land use issues prior to beginning the General Plan 4-Year Review process.
BACKGROUND
The Planning Division within the Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Department is preparing for the third General Plan 4-Year Review Process for the City’s Envision 2040 General Plan, with the Planning Commission serving as the task force. Pursuant to General Plan Policy IP-2.4, the City is required to conduct a review of the General Plan every four years. The purpose of the General Plan 4-Year Review is to evaluate significant changes in the planning context and achievement of key General Plan goals, provide community and stakeholder engagement in reviewing and evaluating the implementation of the General Plan, and recommend any mid-course actions needed to achieve its goals.
In anticipation of this effort, and to foster community information and engagement, this Joint City Council and Planning Commission Study Session will provide an overview of the history of land use in San José from the early 1990s through today, covering emerging issues and challenges, complex land use and market dynamics, and current City Council direction.
JOINT CC AND PC STUDY SESSION: 9/18/2025
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
September 11, 2025
Subject: General Plan and Land Use Overview Study Session
The Study Session presentation will broadly cover the following topics:
• General Plan 101
• Pathway to the Current General Plan: Context and Current Status • Key Land Use Challenges and Emerging Issues
• Where We’re Headed
• Review and Questions
ANALYSIS
This Joint City Council and Planning Commission Study Session is an informational meeting to inform the General Plan 4-Year Review Process.
Following the Study Session, the General Plan 4-Year Review Process will commence with Task Force study sessions and additional community outreach. The Planning Commission, as the Task Force for this cycle, will conduct several study sessions between October 2025 and June 2026 on the four major focus areas that will be evaluated in the General Plan 4-Year Review – Housing Capacity, Missing Middle Housing, Jobs/Employed Residents Ratio, and Urban Villages. These meetings will be open to the public to facilitate dialogue and input.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This memorandum will be posted on the City’s Council Agenda website for the September 18, 2025 Joint City Council and Planning Commission Study Session. The information was also posted on the City’s website and shared with the development community, former task force members, and City Council Offices.
/s/
Christopher Burton
Director, Planning, Building, and Code
Enforcement Department
For questions, please contact Manira Sandhir, Deputy Director, Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Department, at [email protected] and (408) 535-7900.
ATTACHMENT
Presentation