Rose Garden Resident

News

City approves new zoning on Stockton to allow housing, more retail

By Mary Gottschalk

The San Jose City Council has unanimously approved a General Plan amendment to change land-use designations on property at 106 to 139 Stockton Ave. that could bring changes to the streetscape.

The amendment changes the entire 1.7-acre site between The Alameda and Julian Street from combined industrial/commercial to general commercial.

"This is one step in the process to reposition the property so it can be leased for more retail, office and commercial uses and, ultimately, redevelopment with significant residential uses," said Erik Schoennauer, the land use consultant representing the property owners.

The next step, he said, will be a conventional rezoning request to change the property from its current heavy industrial to a commercial designation. Exactly which commercial designation is still under discussion.

Schoennauer said he expects a decision to be made shortly and the request to go before the planning commission and city council within the first two months of 2007.

He stressed that there is no project associated with the request.

Fear of a high-rise residential tower on that site, across from the proposed Whole Foods Market, brought some neighborhood opposition at both a Nov. 6 community meeting and the Nov. 13 hearing before the planning commission.

Bowing to those concerns, the planning commission recommended delaying decisions until the next General Plan review hearing in 2007.

The city council ignored the commission's recommendation in approving the change on Dec. 12.

Under the current zoning, the developers can build a 150-foot high building because of its proximity to the Diridon Station, which is a major transit hub. However, it can not be used for residences unless the zoning is changed.

Schoennauer repeatedly told neighbors at earlier hearings that there are "no proposals to build anything on this site at this time," but following the city council meeting he mentioned possible residential use down the line.