Proposed Fiscal Year 2026/2027
Planning Commission Workplan
Background
On May 20, 2026 the Planning Commission reviewed the upcoming FY2026/2027 workplan and proposes to work on the following list of items.
Conferences and Trainings: To maintain a high level of expertise, Commissioners will continue to participate in relevant training opportunities.
Study Sessions: Conduct a series of study sessions throughout the fiscal year to inform policy recommendations.
Land Use Priorities for Council Consideration: Identify policy areas for potential Council direction and bring forward recommendations on these topics as part of the City’s broader priority-setting process Current Membership
Name
Appointed
Re-Appointed
Term Ends
Yashraj Bhatnagar
*appointed to a serve a partial term
05/27/21 (23)
05/09/23 (27)
2027
Priya Cherukuru
05/21/19 (23)
05/09/23 (27)
2027
Eric Crutchlow
*appointed to a serve a partial and full term
06/13/23 (24)
02/06/24 (28)
2028
Lance Saleme
*appointed to a serve a partial and full term
11/07/17 (20)
06/23/20 (24)
03/00/24 (24)
2028
Qian Huang
*appointed to a serve a partial and full term
01/12/21 (21)
03/10/21 (25)
03/11/25 (29)
2029
Vacant
2030
Mario Bouza
08/16/22 (26)
02/24/26(30)
2030
Purpose, Role and Duties of Planning Commission
Based on the Charter, the Planning Commission is a quasi-judicial body which acts in an advisory capacity to the City Council in all matters pertaining to the physical development of the City and consists of seven commissioners that are volunteers and are appointed by the City Council and who meet once a month, except in the month of July.
As prescribed by Ordinance, after a public hearing, the Commission makes a recommendation to the City Council on:
General Plan Amendments
Zoning of Real Property
Changes to the Zoning Code
Land Subdivisions
And, after a public hearing, the Commission takes final action, except in the event of an appeal, for the granting of any:
Conditional Use Permit
Variances
Appeals of Director’s Decision’s for Single-Family residential projects, Minor Modifications, and CEQA determinations.
Per the City Code, when making decisions, the Planning Commission must find that a project is:
consistent with the General Plan
any applicable Specific Plan
the subject zone
applicable provisions of the Zoning Code and the City Code that the design, location, size, and operating characteristics of the proposed use are compatible with the allowed uses that the operation of the use at the location would not be detrimental to the harmonious and orderly growth of the City or constitute hazard to the public convenience, health, interest, safety, or general welfare that the site is physically suitable for the project/use in terms of design, location, operating characteristics, shape, size, topography, and the provision of public and emergency vehicle access and public services and utilities that the site is served by highways and streets adequate in width and improvement to carry the type and quantity of traffic the proposed use would likely generate To make informed decisions, the Commission seeks trainings on topics relevant to their decision making by attending conferences and procuring study sessions on relevant topics. These items are reflected in their workplan. In addition, during the course of its work, the Planning Commission has also identified a list of land use priorities for City Council to consider during its priority setting process, which is also reflected in the workplan.
Workplan
Conferences and Trainings
Organization
Timeline
Notes
Budget
Website
Joint Venture Silicon Valley
State of the Valley
Yearly
Approx. $100 per ticket
https://jointventure.org/events/state-of-the-valley
League of California Cities (LCC)
September 23, 2026 - Friday, September 25, 2026 (Anaheim, CA) Yearly
March 10, 2027 (Monterey, CA)
Annual Conference and Expo
Planning Commissioner Academy
Approx. $660 per ticket
https://www.calcities.org/education-and-events
APA National Conference
Yearly
April/May 2027
Online: approx. $350 (member), approx. $400 (non-member) In-Person: approx. $785 (member),
Approx. $1,225 (non-member)
https://www.planning.org/
APA California Conference
Yearly
October 3-6, 2026 (Los Angeles, CA)
Member: approx. $782.50
Non-member: approx. $966.25 (early-bird rate $100 off)
https://www.apacalifornia.org/
Institute for Local Government (ILG)
No upcoming – Monitor
Webinars and Trainings
https://www.ca-ilg.org/post/upcoming-ilg-webinars
Silicon Valley Business Journal
No upcoming for next FY – Monitor
Events:
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/event
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) Webinars There is a list of topics to purchase webinars from
https://www.califaep.org/webinars.php
Study Sessions
Topic
Timeline
Notes
Budget
Yearly Housing Legislation Enacted by the State Legislature January 2027
Presented by Assistant CAO
No Cost
Infrastructure Planning to Support Future Growth
VTA Transit Planning
How does VTA decide/plan for routes?
Code Enforcement: Rights & Obligations (enforcement of COA’s) Real Estate and Development Market Conditions
What can the City do to be more successful in attracting lower cost housing? California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) updates
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Environmental and General Plan Consistency Review Autonomous Vehicles
Invite an industry expert.
How will the City absorb the added vehicles?
Data Centers
Land Use Priorities for Council Consideration
Topic
Timeline
Notes
Data Center Development Standards and Location Requirements Should the City meter out the allowance for data centers? Based on power availability? Anything over 1 MW? Is there a maximum? Moratorium?
What other high energy users are there in the City?
Entertainment District
Supportive Housing Solutions – Tiny Homes; Moveable Homes Sustainability and Climate-Related Policies
Vacant & Blighted Building Ordinance
Would it include vacant office buildings?
Skilled Labor Policy
Look at what other cities have adopted polices. Why not Santa Clara? Citizen Commission Overseeing SVP
Policy - Wireless Facilities Master Plan