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FW: URGENT: Subject: Second Reading - 650 Harry Road (former IBM Almaden Research Center) From City Clerk <[email protected]>
Date Wed 9/2/2026 7:14 AM
To Agendadesk <[email protected]>
~ 2 attachments (469 KB)
PD 85 06 49.pdf; IBM ARC PD permanent open spaceJpg;
From: Dave Poeschel
Sent: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 11:22 PM
To: The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan <[email protected]>; Districtl <[email protected]> ; District2 <[email protected]>; District3 <[email protected]>; District4 <[email protected]>; Districts <[email protected]>; District 6 <[email protected]>; District7 <[email protected]>; District8 <[email protected]>; District9 <[email protected]>; District 10 <[email protected]> Cc: Andrea Mackenzie ; Marc Landgraf
>; Tu, John <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]>; Burton, Chris <[email protected]>; Keyon, David <[email protected]>; Sandhir, Manira <[email protected]>; Lena Eyen
Subject: URGENT: Subject: Second Reading- 650 Harry Road (former IBM Almaden Research Center) [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn morel Dear Mayor Mahan and Members of the City Council,
As you consider final adoption of Ordinance No. 31345 to immediately rezone this property, please respect the mitigation requirements set forth in the original commitment to the citizens of the City of San Jose.
Environmental Findings, PD 82-12-79, PDC 80-6-165, page 2 of 3 includes: ... "5. a. IMPACT: The project will commit approximately 36+ acres to urbanized uses, thereby foreclosing future development options on that portion of the site. b. MITIGATION: The designation of 540 acres of the project site and potential designation of the 285 acre Joyce Bernal property as permanent open space and park use will preserve the vast majority of the site in its existing hillside environment." See attached image of mitigation and original document.
Sincerely,
David W. Poeschel
, San Jose, CA 95120
b. HITIGA TION:
s. a. IHPA::T:
b. HlTIGA T 10/1:
6. a. IMPACT:
b. ►!ITIGA TIO!i:
Subsequent archaeological investigations have
detemined i111~acted si tes and specific mitig~~ing
ll'easures. Proposed grading poses oily Vfr-y ::-:incr
i111pact to resources as long as it c:ies nc,t er.croach beyond boundaries indicated on gra~ing plan. Any
ll'Qre extens ive encroach:::ent to this site sha 11 be subject to further archaeological invest igations .
The project wi 11 ca:::ii t approx irr.ctcly 36• ac..-es to urbanized uses, thereby forecl csing futurt develoJment options on that portion of the s ite . •
The desi gnation of 540 acres of the project site and
the po €enbal 2es1 gnabon of the 2!!5-acre Jo~ ce
property as penr.anent op e11 s~a c ~ lnd park use wi 11 preserve the v!sl C11Jor 1ty o t e site in its existing hi 11 side environment.
Portions of the buildi ng site. service roads and
utili ty structures wi ll be visible , in varyin -; degrees, fro;.; the ~l:r.cc!en Valley. The pro;:i, ec J: ic1: a :ce, s roac woul d he visib le fr:::, the Ecer. ,a ie/5,r. t: ~eresa area.
The buil ding desi gr. an:: height sta ~c!ards, ea:-th
ben::i ng, corto1.:r gr,~' :-ig and lani!~~•,);n g pro;;-:;ed as a part of tr.e er,;<::: ;~rfor.-.;•: <:? s!a,:~:-::: wi 11 1titi:;~~e th~ vi si.:ai i:-:~ ~~: of thi: : -..:i 1dir:;s.
The visibil ity of utility hr.cs, ant! struct .;:-i;:. can be mitigated by a co~~r.ation of ltndscapin; a~~
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I
ENVIR~NTAL FINDINGS
PO 82-12-?'9
P DC Sl-6- 165
The Director of Planning finds that the subject project has undersone environr.iental review with the cor::pletion of an Environr.o.?nta l Iir.pact P.e;:ort for the Planned Oevelop1:1ent zoning of the subject property {PD 82-12-~~}:
The project was found to have the following significant adverse environ i::ental impacts:
1. 2.
a. IMPACT:
b. MITIGATION:
a. 11'.PACT:
b. M[TIGA Tiali:
0 ()
Traffic generated by full deve 1 opment of the project
will impact several intersections in the surrounding
area which are currently functioning or projected to
function at or below Level-of-Service •r•. The project
will also have an effect on the regional transportation goah and pol ides for Santa Clara County.
ihe cor..bination of funded City Capita 1 lmproverrent
Projects and street improvement~ agreed to as part of
the project by the developer will raise all the
affected Level-of-Service "E" intersections to a
"O" or better Level-of-Service.
ir.e priJje~t i: pr:~osei:! in an area swbje~t tc i;~·:Jlos;i:
impacts ir.:l:;din:; slope ir.stability. erosion and
sedime:rta~f~!;.
The soils ~nc ge:.lo;ic study includ~d in the EIP.
d~'~nes t~~ s;,t.::ific ~itiJ::tion r:-:e:!o;~res avai1atile fo~ a11 ;:i::i:er,'.ial g'?::1:isic i:.~art~. Th~ proj~! pr::J•Jsal inc!:r:!es ~~-e c:::-.-i:.re··t, by the r:;;1 icc1r;:, t,: fo~1o·"" ~11 the a;~ro~r-i~~e tttitigation rr:e;!~ures in t~~ finc1 desic;r. of the project. The project will cor.;;:1y ~ith the City's Unifc~ Building Code.
Construction activities, including grading cf roac-.. ay; and buildinc Di!C'..i. will re,ul t in el imindtion of t'le natura 1 veqeta tion i11 Uiose areas and destruction
and/or disrupt 1 on of wildlife habitats e~isting on
the site.
The U.ami1ton Th~-;tle, a rare or enC:!ngered phr.t
specifies, exists o:-i the site anc could be affect;?d
b:,r a1 te,r~:~O!"!.$ tc i;~curi: wdter 1Eve1: c1~soc~c.:.~~ w~~h gr~•~in; c;,e..-a~ior.s.
T~l? use o' r.:!t.'ive Cr!d n::t!J:-al ized ;:•1 ant s~ie'l ir. :-e·-1e·-:;e:-!:;,:.-cd- : ... : 1:~::f ;;J.r"!~a~ r.: :_1gc:ior. t:; t~,-:
irr:;;acts o~ 1Jss cf ,,_,eg~tc.ti:::,n.
it':~~':'~':"'.~;~: ~'.'""'"::a:~s t: ~hf ~Jr.-:~~ ~c~. T~istie t~e rr:~i--;:;~ec ~y t!"':e ~ac~ tr.~: t~e""e ·t1~ 11 b~ no i;r.;~in; or c::~:~:"":;:t':,r-: =~~1vl~!es ir. .:n::~s hhete &is p~a!"lt ty~e oc::,·s. S-::;Jld G::l::~11 Ec;1e r.e~tir:-; ;p·e•!! b-:
id~r:i fle~, th-2~ p .. :~~ntia: effect~ t.o Golder. E.agle nesting areas car. be mitigated by avoidance of these
areas with roa=-,;;1 and trail aligr.;.:ent~.
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EPtYIRONKtKTAL FlPtOINGS
PO 82-12-79
PDC 00-6-165
Pag~ 2
4. a. IMPACT:
\I-'
b. MlTIGA TION:
5. a. !MPA:::T:
b. MITIGATION:
6. a. IMPl'-CT:
b. ►HTIGATIQri:
7. a. IMPACT:
E. a .. lM?~CT:
ill I.
Several areas of historic and prehistoric cultural
significance, existing on the prtiject site and
adjacent Joice property. could be impacted by project
construction activities and the results of o::c:..pancy of the project site.
Subsequent archaeologi ca 1 investigations have
determined impacted sites and specific mitig::ting
aieasures. Proposed grading poses c~1y very ::::incr
impact to resources as long as it does not er.croach
beyond boundaries indicated on gracing plan. Any
rrore extensive enc:roach::-.ent to thi, site sha 11 be subject to further archaeological investigations.
The project will c:or:::iit approximately 36• acres to
urbanized uses, thereby forecl csir.g futurE develoJment options on that portion of the site. •
The designation of 540 acres of the project site and
the potential designation of the 235-acre Jo-; ce
property as permanent o;ien space and park use will
preserve the vast l!lljority of the site in its existing hi 11 side environment.
Portions of the building site. service roads ar,d
utility structures will be visible, in varyin; degr-ees, from the Al:r.aden Valley. The pra;:i,ed J:ice a :ce'.is roac would be visible fro:, the. Eder.,a ie/Scr:t.:: 7eresa area.
The building design an~ height sta~dards, ea:--t.l,
benr.ing, corto1,;r grac" :ig and 1 an~z2.;::ing pro;-::;ed ts a part of t~e pr:~'?:~ ;erfor7Jr-•:e sta'i~i::r=: will rr:1ti:;cte th~ vis;.;ai 1.-::::!: of th~ :~ildir:;s _
The visibility of util 1 ty lir.cs, and strucL:l"e: can be mi ti gated by a coo~ r.ation of lu1dscapin; a~c
careful placement on t.he site.
The ul tk.ate project ;:s;;Julation will add apprcdr.iately 200,000 gpd of sanitar-y sewa9e to the e~ist in:; flow
from the Alr..aden Valley. Potential impacts ir,:lude
overbul"denin; the ca;;a=ity of the sewa9e 1 ine sr:rving the Almaden area and further fopa:ting the San Jose/
Santa Clara Ila ter Pol 1 ution Control Plant.
Storr.: draina;e flo·. :re~ the s fte c::~1c irr.;;,;ct the na~u!""'al dra1nag~wcy5 e.xi!ting cri t~-:: 'jite a~.~
affect wate" quality 1~\·e1s cf ~:.c- drain~;~ ..
t~:rov~e!".~l ~~ tr.~:':~~~ \d~ l i~::-~:!~e ~ts. c~::1clty to i~:: ~1~: .:r:·~ lat::~ :.3 1€:, r-'.·~=- 7r.-= 1;s;..::~-:.:.; of bJ: 1 G: n,;- ~t:r-:-i :s ,,;;: :,~ :;.!:-:-~ C"" c ·.:;;le:;~ c~:i·:i Cy in accordar.ce with :;e City's Gro.:~, M.Jna;er-.,-"'.:
Syst~rr: On!ir:.=:-:::e !:) Cj .... :.~01 ;iant i"'"l~!:~s.
Req"Jired c:-~t:ibJ:i:"" =~ c:;1-s~~~:t~:'rc of of~-~~~e sani ta!"'y se:,.er wi11 :--.; ·;;a:e sewer t'":".;ac~ i -:- ai:c:::,;Ca~ce ,,.~~""' tr.E ~~-::::ry st!'ler- 1e·;e1 cf St?'"'·,•i:e PG; icy.
The ~roj~-:t ·..-f ii er:: : .z:: c~ :~'i t~..'.ps, in: :~:: 1 1it and 3 2 080 tr:~3 by i;:-~, to the E'ti~:ing trc~~iC
levels in the Almac~-. Volley. The existing t.-;nsporta tion routes i:, the A1,a:en Corrid:r have varfo;s
circulation deficien~:~s, l'lhich w:,~1d be furti":'?r
iri:pac te~ by project t:-a '~ic.
I
r,
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
PO 82-12-79
PO 80-6-165
Page J
b. MtTIGATION:
9. a. IMPACT:
b. MITIGATION:
JG.
b. MITl!;AT!ON:
r_
Construction traffic will cause temporary ilnpacts
to the transportation routes to and fror., thi! site.
Roadway i~roven-.ents to existing routes or extension
of the Almaden Expressway would provide adequate
capacity to carry the additional traffic senerated
by the project. The construction of the Joice
alternate secondary access rou~e would prc;ice sc::-.c
divers ion (25'1; - 45:) of trips otherwise tra·,el ing through the Almaden Corridor.
The project traffic will generate additional auto
related air pollutants, affecting the areas in
close proximity to the pri::'.ary site access routes.
These emissions will not create a significant
increase in the existing ambient air quality levels
i r. the Almaden Valley.
The initial employee population of the site will
cor.sti tute a re 1 oca tion of em;i 1 oyees fro::: tr.e u:a ir, I BM plant on Cottle Road, thereby not generatir:g
ar:y additional traffic-relatec e-::i;sicns, b~t rather a re-distribution of existing traffic and resulting
emissions. Trip recuction measures, include-:! in
the traffic rritigatioe. section of the ElP. will help
reduce resrJltir.; air ~:liu~io, levEls.
The oroiect traffic will ec~se ir.crease-:l ncise
levels a lono the various access routes to the s; te.
Tnese increases wi11 be only s::-.al1 ir.crl:f;':en21
additic'1s to existir.:; ncise Je,.el; along the:;e
trcl!"S;Jcrtctic~ cor-!"'1C~I""$.
Short-t-2--rr c~r:~~r,J•:~l:;-:-r~lat~:! ~~'.C~ ir.;t?:~: ·ni ii a 1 so occur alor.; site ac:e,~ routes tra·,e.Je: bj
construction equi pr.-.en~.
The projected ncfse in:re3~es wi 11 not eicwi
General Plan-rr.am!ated noise 1eve1s specified for
res i den tia I areas.
Constru-:tio:, t?""af'fic noi~P can be r-itigatei:! by
construction of par!: or all of the access route
im;,rovements required with the project and control
of construction traffic travel times ,rnd rou~es.