CITY COUNCIL: 10/20/2026
FILE: 26-1079
ITEM: 8.1
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Councilmember Candelas
Councilmember Casey
Councilmember Ortiz
Councilmember Cohen
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: October 16, 2026
Approved: Date: 10/16/26
SUBJECT: Citywide Planning Work Plan Prioritization
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve the memorandum from Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Foley, and Councilmembers Campos, Tordillos, and Mulcahy with the following addition to recommendation 3(a):
a. Include consideration of densities at current levels for Residential Neighborhood (RN) designated sites with limited access to transit.
BACKGROUND
We appreciate the work of Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Foley, and Councilmembers Campos, Tordillos, and Mulcahy that advances the current workplan prioritization, and especially protects the Vape Shop Zoning Changes and policy work around Child Care. We also support their direction to evaluate a tiered approach to housing density that considers access to transit. We recognize the Planning Department’s challenging workload and responsibility to address State requirements alongside local priorities. We also support housing development and the role of missing middle housing in expanding options for our residents.
However, some areas of San José lack meaningful transit options, leaving residents dependent on personal vehicles to reach work, school, services, and other daily needs. A tiered approach must account for these conditions by considering whether maintaining current residential densities is CITY COUNCIL: 10/20/2026
FILE: 26-1079
ITEM: 8.1
appropriate in areas with limited or no transit access. That evaluation should consider public safety response times, traffic congestion, and overall quality of life.
These decisions directly affect our residents and the future of their neighborhoods. Development pressures and State requirements must be met with thoughtful planning that reflects local conditions. Our addition ensures that maintaining current densities on Residential Neighborhood designated sites with limited transit access remains an option within the analysis.
The signers of this memorandum have not had, and will not have, any private conversation with any other member of the City Council, or that member’s staff, concerning any action discussed in the memorandum, and that each signer’s staff members have not had, and have been instructed not to have, any such conversation with any other member of the City Council or that member's staff.