Planning and Land Use

Planning and Land Use with the related Traffic, Traffic Calming and Transportation issues are of major importance and interest to neighborhood associations based the amount of time neighborhood association leaders spend on these issues, member surveys, and many neighborhood associations were specifically formed to address these concerns and issues in their neighborhood.

United Neighborhoods provides numerous workshops to educate our member association leaders and members and as part of our outreach mission other neighborhood and community organizations about the major planning and land use issues, the complexities and terminology, best practices to address the issues and concerns and "how to" discussions of successfully working with developers, other neighborhood groups, planning departments and elected officials.

It takes significant consistent neighborhood volunteer effort and time commitment to achieve a reasonable understanding of the basic terminology, general / specific plan and zoning process, procedures, policies both written and unwritten, what policies that are actually guidelines and the political process that heavily influences the outcome of any proposed development project  for a neighborhood association to be effective

We have found that those neighborhood associations who have been successful in influencing the Planning and Land Use process to address their neighborhood concerns have done most if not all of the following:

1) Organized a Planning and Land Use Committee to focus the neighbors volunteer efforts of those who have an interest, can work together, educate themselves about the issues, develop and discuss politically reasonable solutions

2) Have leaders and members who regularly attend Planning and Land Use workshops, Planning Commission and City Council meetings and are known to and meet with elected officials and city staff

3)Work together in multiple neighborhood association groups with community groups organized to address large projects or city policy proposals where they develop position papers or comprehensive proposals that are not "one size fits all" but address each neighborhood's specific needs and the different types of neighborhoods - urban core, suburban and transit corridor since each has different conditions, concerns and priorities

4) Clearly express support for other neighborhood associations and their viewpoints and positions in public meetings and as necessary develop a neighborhood multiple part position solution rather than have 3-4 different neighborhood opinions and positions that conflict and that allows elected officials to pick an inappropriate "one size fits" all public policy and the neighborhood associations where the policy does not fit feel that the other neighborhoods undercut their valid concerns and position.

5) Have an web site that contains a list of current proposed development projects, educational information and references and an active email list to alert other neighbors about upcoming important public meetings with developers, Planning Commission and City Council  and to have an in depth factual based discussion with politically reasonable alternative proposals. 

The typical neighborhood association who has not been unsuccessful or is inconsistent do few of the above recommendation or wait until a major proposal occurs, then emotionally reacts with poorly written objections that are easily dismissed by city staff or elected officials who only know them as the groups who always shows up angry with angry with inappropriate or unreasonable objections

If it was easy everyone would have quickly done it a long time ago.  The significant neighborhood volunteer effort to organize and advocate your and other neighborhoods concerns and positions on planning and land use issues is worth the effort to preserve, enhance and improve your neighborhood  quality of life.  

The work that you and many of your neighbors do will also protect for you and your family your single largest single investment their home by insisting on great development and not accept poor or inappropriate development proposals or policies that will result in future neighborhood and city problems and infrastructure expenses.

Consistent well organized educated volunteer efforts utilizing web sites and email as your primary communication tools since these do not require attendance at multiple meeting when you or your family have other priorities are the keys to successful Planning and Land Use organization and advocacy for neighborhood associations

1) San Jose Email notification - Planning and Development activity http://www.sjpermits.org/permits/permits/general/emailform.asp
Sign up for email subscription notification service by City Council District or SNI neighborhood for San Jose proposed planning, general plan changes and development activity.

2) San Jose Pending Projects http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/dev_review/pending.htm
Monthly Pending Projects List is published by San Jose Council District. You will have to look up and add the last 1-4 weeks of Recently Submitted Projects depending on the publication date of the monthly Pending Projects List for a complete list. Write down or print out information for use in looking up permit / property information with Permits Online

4) San Jose City - Permits Online - City of San Jose Planning Department OnLine Permits   http://156.39.1.20/permits/permits/
Look up Permits by Address, Assessors Parcel Number (APN), City Council District, Permit number, SNI Neighborhood or general planning information /
Permits Online Questions - Call 408-277-4000
Building Permits Questions - Call 408-277-4541
Planning Permits - Call 408-277-4576
Email OnlinePermits@sanjoseca.gov
On Line Customer Help Formhttp://156.39.1.20/permits/permits/help/contact.asp

5) OnLine Permit Reports √ City of San Jose Planning Department √ OnLine Permit Reports  - http://156.39.1.20/permits/permits/general/reportdata.asp
New Construction Activity Report, Chronology Permit Activity Report and Permit Data file are listings of all permits issued.  Questions Call 408-277-4000
Email OnlinePermits@sanjoseca.gov
On Line Customer Help Form http://156.39.1.20/permits/permits/help/contact.asp

Look up City of San Jose Capital improvement projects by Council District

2) Planning in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Jose</st1:place></st1:City>: A Community Guide
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/pdf/Planning%20in%20San%20Jose%2009-30.pdf

City by city comparison of Development fees in Santa Clara shows San Josehaving many fees below the average fees compared to many other cities Santa Clara Counties cities. Individual city fees and development taxes ( city development / zoning plan review)  impact ( street, sewer repairs / capacity additions etc ) and capacity fees (park, library, street trees and sewage fees) and many city departments.

5) San Jose City Council District Maps http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/data/council_dist/default.asp

1) Single Family (Residential) Design Guidelines
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/pdf/sfhp_gdlns.pdf

5)  San Jose Flag Residential) Policy
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/counter/policies/pol_flaglot.pdf