DIRIDON STATION AREA PLAN Cover Image © Magda Biernat DRAFT | October 2020 DRAFT | October 2020 DRAFT DIRIDON STATION AREA PLAN DRAFT | October 2020 DRAFT DRAFT For The City of San José PREPARED BY Skidmore, Owings & Merrill | SWA Group DRAFT TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION | 7 5. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION | 130 1.1 Executive Summary | 8 5.1 CEQA and Environmental Analysis | 131 1.2 Project Vision | 10 5.2 Key Planning Amendments | 131 1.3 Station Area Profile | 14 5.3 Director Update to Downtown 1.4 Planning for Equity | 16 Design Guidelines and Standards | 132 1.5 Engagament Process and Timeline | 21 5.4 Measuring Progress | 132 1.6 Related Projects | 23 1.7 Report Organization | 24 APPENDICES (not included in October 2020 draft) 2. STATION AREA DEVELOPMENT | 25 Appendix A – Maximum Build-Out 2.1 Framework | 26 (to be included in future drafts) 2.2 Key Principles | 28 A.1 Maximum Build-out Methodology 2.3 Land Uses | 28 and Calculations 2.4 Urban Design | 38 Appendix B – Public Feedback 2.5 Affordable Housing | 52 (to be included in future drafts) 2.6 Infrastructure Capacity and Demand | 56 B.1 Summary of 2019-21 Outreach B.2 Summary of 2018 Outreach 3. OPEN SPACE AND PUBLIC LIFE | 59 Appendix C - Companion Documents 3.1 Framework | 60 (links to be included in future drafts) 3.2 Key Principles | 66 C.1 California Environmental Quality 3.3 Related Projects and Park Assets | 68 Act (CEQA) Environmental 3.4 Parks, Plazas and Community Compliance Document DRAFT DRAFTFacilities | 72 C.2 Diridon Affordable Housing 3.5 Los Gatos Creek and Spur Segments | 78 Implementation Plan 3.6 Public Art | 82 4. MOBILITY | 88 4.1 Framework | 89 4.2 Key Principles | 91 4.3 Related Transportation Projects | 101 4.4 Transportation Network | 107 4.5 Parking and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) | 124 DRAFT 1 | INTRODUCTION 1 | INTRODUCTION DRAFT DRAFT DIRIDON STATION AREA PLAN 7 1 | INTRODUCTION 1.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of San José adopted the Diridon Station Area In 2019, the City initiated amendments to the 2014 Plan in 2014 in anticipation of major transportation Plan to reflect major changes that had occurred since investments and a major league ballpark. The 2014 Plan its adoption. This amended Plan adapts the 2014 Plan set forth a blueprint for development in the 250-acre to current conditions and reflects the City’s goals of area. The 2014 Plan was formulated with numerous advancing equity as development and investment occurs stakeholders, including individuals, businesses, agencies, in the area. Major changes include expanding the 2014 institutions, and many private and public entities over a Plan boundary, adding development capacity, increasing five-year period. building height limits, and updating sections on land use, In 2009, the City Council and Redevelopment Agency urban design, open space, and mobility. In addition, the Board established the Diridon Station Area Good Neighbor City initiated separate, detailed areawide studies and Committee (GNC) to provide a forum for neighbors to work implementation plans on affordable housing and parking, collaboratively in solving problems in the neighborhood which contributed greatly to the development of this Plan arising from development in the Diridon Station Area. The and are summarized in the relevant sections. The City will 31-member committee met 22 times over a 14-month also prepare a separate infrastructure financing study period and achieved its purpose through the creation and following the adoption of this Plan. unanimous adoption of the Diridon Station Framework for The City of San José and the greater Bay Area region Implementation (Framework) in 2011. The Framework have the unique opportunity to build an internationally focused on six interest areas: land use, neighborhood prominent transportation hub and to develop a world-class quality of life, parking and traffic, parks and trails, destination within the area around the Diridon Station. This pedestrian and bicycle connections and connectivity, and Diridon Station Area Plan (referred to in the document as public transportation systems. In addition, three public the Plan) presents an overview, a direction, and critical community workshops and a considerable number of aspects for the successful future of an equitable Diridon community events by related groups contributed to the Station Area. The Plan integrates land uses, urban design, creation of the 2014 Plan. open spaces, and mobility to enhance Downtown San The City convened the Diridon Station Area Advisory José, while respecting existing surroundings. The plan Group (SAAG) in January 2018. It includes 38 member weaves new ideas and new development possibilities organizations appointed by the City Council. The primary within existing city fabric and strong neighborhoods. Large purpose of the SAAG is to provide input to the City proposals, such as the Diridon Integrated Station Concept Administration on land use, development, transportation, Plan (DISC) and Google’s Downtown West Mixed Use Plan, and construction plans affecting the Diridon Station Area. are reflected in the Plan. In addition, proposals are made DRAFTto strengthen existing features of the area, such as Los In 2018, the City held a community engagement Gatos Creek, and enhance connectivity to surrounding process that centered on the SAAG and culminated in a neighborhoods. comprehensive Diridon Station Area Civic Engagement Report (2018). From 2018 to 2021, the SAAG continued The Plan proposes ideas for twenty years or more into to meet to review and provide input on transportation, the future for the Diridon Station Area. It establishes a planning and affordable housing in the Diridon Station bold framework for development, while also being flexible Area, as well as community benefits associated with for change within that framework. The Plan sets major Google, Inc.’s Downtown West Mixed-Use Plan. policies and large physical realities while acknowledging 1 https://www.diridonsj.org/s/FINAL-DiridonStationAreaCivEngagementReport10312018.pdf 8 1 | INTRODUCTION that is it impossible to predict the future with assurance. Development actions will occur in different forms as markets and other circumstances evolve over the coming decades. The Plan proposes the largest ideas for the Diridon Station Area and outlines many policies and physical design concepts for the future. Beginning with the project vision, the Plan describes the many objectives of the area, as well as the planning process and schedule. Station Area Development follows, which is a tool to guide the future implementation of the Plan by public and private development. The Plan then describes the areas open space and public life, and mobility. Finally, the Plan discusses the next steps in the planning implementation process, including environmental analysis and actions for implementation. The Plan has several companion documents. Related documents are referenced in the Appendices and when printed, are separate reports. The related documents include: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Environmental Compliance Document Affordable Housing Implementation Study San José is poised to create a model urban transportation hub within an exciting and livable downtown environment. This Plan is a vital step on the way toward the creation of an equitable and innovative urban place, a place which has the potential to serve as a model for the United States and the world. DRAFT DRAFT DIRIDON STATION AREA PLAN 9 1 | INTRODUCTION 1.2 PROJECT VISION INTRODUCTION In November 2008, California voters approved Proposition This amended Plan establishes new General Plan 1A to fund the initial stages of developing a High Speed designations and allowable building heights to support Rail (HSR) system linking Northern and Southern the preferred development framework, along with design California. Diridon Station in San José was identified standards and guidelines that build on the Downtown as one of the stations along the route, thus eventually Design Guidelines and Standards adopted in 2019 to establishing this location as one of the best connected assist the City with subsequent development review and multi-modal transit hubs in the Western United States. implementation. In 2014, the City adopted the Diridon Station Area Plan This Plan analyzes the expansion of the 2014 Diridon to guide development in an approximately 250-acre Station Area and the development of land uses within area around Diridon Station. The DSAP envisions the the amended 262-acre project boundary surrounding the transformation of the station area—an area which station. The Plan boundary is illustrated in Figure 1-2-1. has been dominated by parking lots and old industrial The goal is to develop a sustainable and equitable Plan buildings—into a dynamic mixed-use urban neighborhood around Diridon Station that capitalizes on an anticipated anchored by a world-class transportation hub and the possible build-out of new transit-oriented development SAP Center. to allow for more urban vitality and economic activity, to The City began the process of amending the 2014 Plan in act as a catalyst for similar development in surrounding November 2019, informed by an extensive public outreach neighborhoods, and to obtain environmental clearance process for the broader Diridon Station Area that began in under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). early 2018. DRAFT 10 1 | INTRODUCTION AUTUMN ST ST SJAMES ST CINNABAR ST STOCKTON AVE W JULIAN ST GUADALUPE 87 RIVER PARK W SANTA CLARA ST SAN JOSE