City staff presented the following four points at the October 1, 2009 meeting. If you could not attend the meeting, feel free to view the presentation at your convenience and give us your input on these four points:
- Using 1955 (rather than the previously proposed date of 1945) as a cutoff date for requiring review of proposed demolitions of single-family homes built before that date because 1955 represents a significant change in the growth rate of San Jose.
- Revising the term “Demolition” in the Zoning Code to be more stringent and reflect the front of the house. This definition would be applied to homes built prior to 1955 or homes listed on the Historic Resources Inventory.
- Streamlining the process for designation of a Conservation Area rather than creating a new entity called a Conservation Study Area.
- Requiring a pre-designation protection for properties located within an area proposed to be designated as a Conservation Area while the application is being processed.
Background
In the 2008/2009 fiscal year budget the City Council Rules Committee approved funding for the development of a “Distinctive Neighborhood Program” that would add further protection and enhancement to unique residential neighborhoods in San Jose. The Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement was directed to develop this program, and have a recommendation for City Council by June 2009.
City staff developed four potential policy options to establish the Distinctive Neighborhood Program. These options were presented to the City Council on June 2, 2009. The Council unanimously accepted the findings of all four policy options.
Staff Report on policy options presented to the City Council and the Neighborhood Services and Education (NSE) Committee
Council Presentation
Council’s discussion on June 2, 2009 (item #5.5)
NSE discussion on May 14, 2009 (item #3.4)
This round of outreach was conducted between April and June of 2009. One community meeting and four meetings with stakeholder focus groups including the Neighborhood, Developer and Construction Roundtables, and the Planning Commission were held. For a list of all meetings please click here.
Spring 2009 outreach presentation
This round of outreach was conducted between October and December of 2008. Eleven public meetings were held including five community workshops at various locations throughout the city and six meetings with stakeholder focus groups including the Neighborhood, Developer and Construction Roundtables, the Historic Landmarks Commission, and the Planning Commission. For a list of all meetings please click here.
Fall 2008 outreach presentation
A report on the Outreach results was presented to the City Council on February 3, 2009.
City Council Presentation
City Council memo
Video Session of City Council meeting
In 2000, the City Council amended part 9 of the Zoning Code to include design review of proposed modifications to existing single-family houses in certain instances. A Single-Family House Permit is required if:
- The new construction exceeds 30 feet or 2 stories in height, or
- The floor area ratio (F.A.R.) of the house exceeds 0.45.
Planning staff uses design guidelines entitled Single-Family Design Guidelines (approved by City Council in 1999). These guidelines are intended to help maintain the high quality of San Jose’s neighborhoods by providing guidance for the design of new houses, additions and/or remodels in existing neighborhoods. Or,
- The house or site is a historic resource, listed on the City's Historic Resources
Inventory or is located within a Historic Conservation Area.
Physical changes to historic homes and neighborhoods listed on the Inventory are regulated by the City through the Historic Single-Family House or Historic Preservation Permit process, as applicable. The Permit process intends to ensure that the distinctive qualities of historic homes and neighborhoods remain intact. Planning staff evaluate their applications using historic design guidelines entitled "Your Old House: Guide for Preserving San Jose Homes"(approved by the City Council in 2003). These guidelines are not intended as a rigid set of rules; however, they do establish a general framework for various appropriate ways to address the restoration or rehabilitation of older/historic homes.
If no Planning Permit is required, the property owner may proceed to the Building Division for building permits.
The City's Municipal Code allows physical changes including demolition to facilitate new construction that can substantially alter homes and, over time through the cumulative effect of many individual demolitions and remodels, alter the character of entire neighborhoods. The Distinctive Neighborhood Program intends to explore options to provide further protection to San Jose's distinctive residential neighborhoods. |
