Resolution/Open Space Element amendment Page 1 of 3
Rev: 7/27/2023
RESOLUTION NO. 25-9517
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA,
TO APPROVE A GENERAL PLAN TEXT AMENDMENT TO
UPDATE THE CITY’S GENERAL PLAN OPEN SPACE ELEMENT,
CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW
WHEREAS, in 2022 the state adopted Senate Bill 1425, which requires local jurisdictions to update Open Space Elements of their General Plans to include policies that address climate resilience and other co-benefits of open space, consistent with the jurisdiction’s safety element ; WHEREAS, SB 1425 also requires local jurisdictions to address the issue of access to open space for everyone and to preserve, enhance, and expand a network of open spaces ; WHEREAS, the City is currently drafting a Creek Trail Network Expansion Master Plan, and an update to the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan, both of which are relevant to the update of the Open Space Element;
WHEREAS, the City has drafted updates to the General Plan Parks, Recreation and Open Space Diagram (Figure 5.9-1 of the General Plan) to reflect these planning efforts, and proposed edits to Chapter 5.9 of the General Plan to respond to SB 1425; WHEREAS, Santa Clara City Charter Section 1007 requires that the Planning Commission provide input to the City Council on any proposed General Plan amendment; WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65353 requires the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing prior to making a recommendation on the General Plan Amendment; WHEREAS, on October 22, 2025, a notice of the public hearing on the proposed General Plan Amendment was published in the Santa Clara Weekly, for the Planning Commission Hearing to be conducted on November 12, 2025 and for the City council meeting on December 16, 2025; WHEREAS, pursuant to SCCC Section 18.146.020, on October 15, 2025, notices of the public hearings of November 12, 2025 and December 16, 2025, were posted at City Hall, the Central Park Library, the Mission Branch Library, the Northside Branch Library, and on the City’s website; //
Resolution/Open Space Element amendment Page 2 of 3
Rev: 7/27/2023
WHEREAS, on November 12, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Open Space Element Update, at the conclusion of which, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the proposed General Plan Amendment (5 -0-2, Bhatnagar and Cherukuru absent); and
WHEREAS, on December 16, 2025, the City conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Open Space Element Update, at which time all interested persons were given an opportunity to give testimony and provide evidence in support of and in opposition to the proposed amendments.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA AS FOLLOWS:
1. That the City Council hereby finds that the above Recitals are true and correct and by this reference makes them a part hereof.
2. That the City Council hereby finds and determines that the proposed General Plan Amendment is in the interest of the public good for the following reasons:
A. The City’s Open Space Element is consistent with SB 1425 in that the revised Open Space Element addresses climate resilience by incorporating policies from the City’s Climate Action Plan;
B. The revised Open Space policies of the General Plan call out access for all as a goal;
C. The incorporation of proposed trails from the Creek Trail Network Expansion master plan help to create a network of linked open spaces; and D. The proposed General Plan A mendment has been processed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the California Government Code and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in that an Addendum to the City of Santa Clara 2010-2035 General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been prepared. //
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3. That the City Council hereby amends the Open Space Element, as contained in Section
5.9.1 (Parks, Open Space and Recreation Goals and Policies) of the General Plan, by incorporating a revised version of Figure 5.9-1, the Parks Recreation and Open Space Diagram as shown in Attachment 1, and by incorporating the proposed text changes shown in Attachment 2 into Section
5.9.1. 4. Effective date. This resolution shall become effective immediately.
I HEREBY CERTIFY THE FOREGOING TO BE A TRUE COPY OF A RESOLUTION PASSED
AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, AT A REGULAR MEETING THEREOF HELD ON THE 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: COUNCILORS :
NOES: COUNCILORS:
ABSENT: COUNCILORS :
ABSTAINED: COUNCILORS :
Attachments incorporated by reference:
Chahal, Cox, Gonzalez, Hardy, Jain, and Park, and
Mayor Gillmor
None
None
None
ATTEST: ~
NORA PIMENTEL, MMC
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
CITY OF SANTA CLARA
1. Figure 5.9-1, Parks, Recreation and Open Space Diagram
2. Proposed General Plan Open Space Goals and Policies Text Changes Resolution/Open Space Element amendment
Rev: 7/27/2023
SANTA CLARA
GENERAL PLAN
L
ECNER
WA
XE
P
Y
W
EL C AMIN O REAL
C EN T RAL EX PW
ST EV EN S C REEK BLVD
MONTAGUE EXPWY
D
C AL E
R
B ZU
LVD
S
NA
Y
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OT
LAW
REN
Y
WPXE EC
880
280
237
Parks, Recreation and
Open Space (2035)
Figure 5.9-1
10 acres
40 acres
10 / 12
MILES
Source: Metroscan 2007,
City of Santa C lara, 2009;
Dyett & Bhatia 2009.
1-Acre Park
W
ASHINGTON S
T
M
G E BL D
EL CAM
INO REAL
BEN TO N ST
CALTRAIN
N
PACIFIC
CALTRAIN
Great
America
Norman Y. Mineta
San Jose
International Airport
Santa
Clara
University
Santa
Clara
Golf &
Tennis
Club
SANTA CLARA VTA LIGHT RAIL
HOMESTEAD RD
LAFAYETTE ST
BOW
ERS AVE
MONROE ST
SC OTT BLV
Fairway Glen
Park
Ulistac
Natural
Area
Lick Mill
Park
Fuller
Street
Park
Agnews
Park
Agnews
Historic Park,
Mansion &
Auditorium
Live Oak
Park
Thamien
Park
Montague
Park
Bracher
Park
Bowers
Park
Warburton
Park & Swim
Center
Walter E. Schmidt
Youth Activity Center
& Teen Center
Steve
Carli
Park
Earl R.
Carmichael
Park
Westwood
Oaks
Park
Jenny
Strand
Park
Maywood
Park
Homeridge
Park
Mary
Gomez
Park &
Pool
Henry
Schmidt
Park
Pruneridge
Golf
Course
Parkway
Park
Everett
Alvarez
Park
City
Plaza
Park
Senior
Center
Fremont
Park Townsend
Field
Elmer Johnson
Field
War Memorial
Playground
Larry J.
Marsalli
Park
Reed
Street
Dog Park
Memorial
Cross
Park
Rotary
Park
Sesquicentennial
Park
Machado
Park
Civic
Center
Park
Skate
Park
Montague
Swim Center
Gymnastics
Center
Santa Clara
P.A.L. BMX
Track
Washington
Park
Santa Clara
Golf &Tennis
Club
James Lick
Mansion
BEN TO N ST
MO
NROE ST
LAFAYETTE ST
SC
DVLB TTO
PRUN ERIDG E AVE
HO MEST EAD RD
TASMAN DR
C ABRILLO AVE
AVE
NEW H ALL ST
PO
MEROY AVE
AGNEW RD
LICK MILL BLVD
MARKET ST
HOPE DR
SARATOGA AVE
LINCO
LN ST
DE LA CRUZ BLVD
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* Size of Symbol is not
commensurate with
projected acreage.
Actual location and size
will be determined in
planning process.
Future Open Space*
Community Park
Neighborhood Park
Mini Park/Plaza
Open Space
Recreation Facility
Regional and/or Private Facilities
Prefered Location for New Community Park
Rail & Light Rail
Stations
City Limits
Creek
Trail
Proposed Trail
Existing Parks, Recreation and Open Space
** Central Park includes
Central Park Library, the
Santa Clara Community
Recreation Center, George
F. Haines International
Swim Center, Lawn
Bowling Green, and
Veterans Memorial. Lou Vierra
Baseball
Field
KIELY
BLVD
CALABAZAS BLVD
Central
Park**
anta Clara
outh Soccer
Park
49ers
Training
Center
CALABAZAS CREEK TRAILProposed Trail (2025)
HETCH-HETCHY TRAIL
SARATOGA CREEK TRAIL
Attachment 2
(Proposed changes are shown as underlined)
New and Updated Open Space Goals and Policies
Goals
5.9.1-G2 Parks, trails and open space that are accessible to everyone by being located within a ten-minute walk to residential neighborhoods and employment centers.
5.9.1-G4 A comprehensive network of park, trail and open space facilities that are accessible to everyone and provide connections to destination points and activity centers within the City.
Policies
5.9.1-P3 Provide a network of trails along creeks and other rights-of-way to link parks, open spaces, bicycle facilities and transit services with residential neighborhoods and employment centers.
5.9.1-P6 Support construction of a network of trails within the City of Santa Clara that connect to the Bay Trail, the Saratoga/San Tomas Aquino Creek and the Guadalupe River trails.
5.9.1-P22 Carbon farming on open space lands. Partner with resource conservation districts to increase carbon farming, creek restoration, wetland restoration, and local offset opportunities in open space lands within the city limits of Santa Clara.
5.9.1-P23 Sustainable planting guide. Support local organizations in developing a planting guide that prioritizes increasing available soil, carbon sequestration, resilience, and other equitably distributed co-benefits.