1. Introduction

Chapter 1 – Introduction 1. Introduction The Envision San José 2040 General Plan (General Plan) sets forth a vision and a comprehensive road map to guide the City's growth through the year 2040. The General Plan includes land use policies to shape the transformation of strategically located Growth Areas into higher‐density, mixed‐use, urban areas or "Urban Villages." Urban Villages accommodate employment and housing growth to reduce the environmental impacts of development by promoting transit use, bicycle facilities, and walkability. REGIONAL TRANSIT URBAN VILLAGES The Berryessa BART Urban Village is a designated Regional Transit Urban Village in the City's General Plan. Regional Transit Urban Villages are locations within San José with unique access to major transit facilities. The General Plan directs new job and housing growth to Regional Transit Urban Villages in order to support intensification of the station areas as regional employment destinations. Regional Transit Urban Villages have large public investments in transit facilities and are regionally accessible, therefore offering the highest feasible employment and density concentration. The Berryessa BART Urban Village also has the potential to be a City gateway and a destination for a primary public space in San Jose. This Urban Village is the only one with a surface BART station. The Berryessa BART Urban Village (BBUV) Plan focuses on catalyzing development opportunities that accentuate this potential. The Plan will help attract new development capable of shaping a high‐quality environment unique to this Regional Transit Urban Village. PLANNING AREA Within the City of San José, the Berryessa BART Urban Village is generally located between US Highway 101, Interstate 680, and Interstate 880. The actual boundaries of the Urban Village are generally Shore Drive to the north, Lundy Avenue to the east, Coyote Creek to the west, and Mabury Road to the south. The Berryessa BART Urban Village is located in a transition zone from the suburban residential development on the north and east, to the industrial development of the south and west. The residential neighborhoods to the north and east consist of one and two story track houses built in the 1960’s through the 1980’s. Within the urban village the residential development increases in density and consists of townhouses and small multi‐unit buildings developed in the 2000’s and 2010’s. To the south and west of the urban village the land uses consist of low‐intensity industrial uses and one‐story office parks. Within the urban village commercial uses are limited to the San José Flea Market north side, and commercial uses at the intersection of Berryessa Road and Lundy Road, and King and Maybury Road. Access to the Urban Village is currently provided from the east and west by Berryessa Road, Mabury Road, and from the north and south by Lundy Avenue and King Road. Beginning in 2020, BART began service to the Berryessa/North San José BART Station, providing additional access, and is projected to host 25,000 riders daily by 2030. Future highway interchange improvements are also planned to provide direct access from to US‐Highway 101 to the Urban Village. 1 Chapter 1 – Introduction PLANNING PURPOSE The General Plan places emphasis on placemaking, creating complete communities, and protecting commercial uses in San José, especially in the designated Urban Villages. This Urban Village plan translates the goals of the General Plan to on‐the‐ground policies for the Berryessa/BART Urban Village. This Plan creates a transit node that supports job creation, compact urban design, and housing options. It’s envisioned that this Urban Village will enhance the City’s employment opportunities and be a desirable location to both live and work. Community Engagement The creation of the Berryessa BART Urban Village plan started in Winter 2018 and ended in Fall 2020. The planning process had three key milestones: two community workshops and one open house. The process started with the first community workshop in November 2018, which was held at the Berryessa Community Center. During this workshop the community shared ideas about development in this area and identified values to integrate into the Urban Village Plan. An online engagement portal was also launched at the time of the first workshop to start collecting additional public input. A summary of Opportunities and Constraints was identified early in the planning process (see below). In May 2019, the community provided feedback on key aspects of the Conceptual Plan. The online engagement portal also served to collect input for the second workshop. The final community open house was in November 2020 when the final draft of the Urban Village plan was presented to the public. After final input was received, the City presented the plan to the Planning Commission and City Council in March and April 2021, respectively. OPPORTUNITIES CONSTRAINTS TOD to transform the site into Automobile‐dependent development vibrant Live‐ Work environment at pattern. appropriate density Berryessa and Mabury Road as barriers Enhance existing and planned retail for pedestrian and cyclists. nodes. No access to Coyote Creek and Improve street connections to Penitencia Creek. multiple nearby freeway interchanges. Flooding: Most of urban village area are under flood risk. Propose trails in the Coyote Creek and Penitencia Creek open spaces. Berryessa BART station as a Promote cycling and new temporary end‐of‐the line station. pedestrian connections for a walkable neighborhood. Lack of clear entry‐point access via a freeway interchange. Improve and expand open space resources. BART track line as a physical barrier bisecting the central part of the Generate job and housing Urban Village. opportunities for the area. 2 Chapter 1 – Introduction Technical Advisory Committee This committee included representative from various City departments, the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority (VTA) and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). The group met monthly to coordinate on various urban village planning matters, share information, and make decisions as a group. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PLANS AND POLICIES The Berryessa BART Urban Village Plan must be consistent with the policies and vision of the General Plan. The General Plan is one of many documents that provide direction to create this vibrant urban village. Other city policies and relevant documents include: . Complete Streets Design Standards & Guidelines The Complete Streets Design Standards & Guidelines were developed comprehensively to guide how the City builds and retrofits streets. The design principles of this document work towards making every street in San José people‐oriented, connected, and resilient. San José Citywide Design Standards and Guidelines The City updated and consolidated its residential, commercial, and industrial design guidelines as one document, entitled “San José Citywide Design Standards and Guidelines” (Citywide DSG), adopted by City Council in February 2021. The Citywide DSG work in conjunction with other City documents and regulations to ensure that buildings throughout San José have high‐quality design and are appropriate for their site, function, and neighborhood. Compliance with the Citywide DSG will be mandatory in the design review process for all applicable developments. Greenprint The Greenprint is a long‐term plan that sets goals and strategies for how San José's parks, trails and community centers will change over the next 20 years. City staff and policy makers use the Greenprint as a guide as they explore the ways the parks system can help people in San José be healthier and happier. Cultural Connection and Public Art San José’s Cultural Plan and Public Art Plan calls for developments to integrate high impact public art and urban design throughout the community. Climate Smart San José Climate Smart San José, approved by the City Council in February 2018, is a plan to reduce carbon emissions, save water, and create a stronger and healthier community. It is a successor to Green Vision, which was adopted in 2007. Climate Smart San José uses the Envision San José 2040 General Plan as a foundation and identifies nine strategies to reduce emissions in San José to reach the State’s target of 80% greenhouse gas emissions reduction below 1990 levels by 2050, as well as achievement the Paris Climate Agreement goals. 3 Chapter 1 – Introduction . Transportation Analysis Policy As of March 2018, thresholds for transportation impacts are measured with Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) instead of intersection Level of Service (LOS). City Council Policy 5‐1 (Transportation Analysis Policy) seeks to reduce VMT by bringing uses in closer proximity and reducing the number of single‐ occupant vehicle trips. 4 Chapter 2 – Vision & Principles 2. Vision & Principles Vision This is year 2040, the Berryessa Urban Village is … A transit‐oriented neighborhood in San Jose, attractive for people and business innovation, with many green spaces and recreational opportunities along the creeks, interconnected network of pedestrian paths, pleasant to bike around, with easy access to public transit. This neighborhood provides much needed housing and jobs near transit, while protecting existing residential areas. People live and work closely together in a vibrant place with placemaking elements designed to foster a sense of community. Principles Six principles help implement the vision for the Berryessa BART Urban Village plan (BBUV) Plan. These principles inform the formulation of

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