Santa Clara County Local News: Land Use & Development


All Local Land Use & Development News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: The 1965 law known as the Williamson Act has been responsible for keeping about half of California's farmland out of the hands of developers.
The Williamson Act: How the Law That Protects California’s Farmland Works

The Williamson Act, passed in 1965, now keeps more than 16 million acres of farmland out of the hands of developers. Here's how the law puts the brakes on the development of California agricultural properties.

Image caption: Does California’s signature environmental law protect the state’s scenic beauty, or cause more problems than it solves?
CEQA: The Surprising Story of CA’s Key Environmental Law

The California Environmental Quality Act, CEQA, is both the state’s signature environmental legislation, and is also often named as the villain in the state’s housing shortage. But the story may not be that simple.

Image caption: The Baldwin Hills area in South Los Angeles is one region where a state conservancy would keep open land accessible to the public.
California’s 10 State Conservancies: How They Protect Parks and Open Land

How California’s 10 state conservancies buy up open land and shield it from developers to preserve the natural environment for public use.

Image caption: Since 1972, the California Coastal Commission has ruled over the state’s shoreline.
California Coastal Commission: Where It Comes From, What It Does

What is the California Coastal Commission? How one of the state’s most powerful agency protects public access to the state’s scenic coast from Mexico to Oregon.

Image caption: How California reclamation districts turned millions of acres of wetlands into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush.
Reclamation Districts: Turning ‘Swamps’ Into Farmland

California has used reclamation districts to turn millions of acres of unusable swamps into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush. Here’s how it happened.

Image caption: Zoning laws tell you what you can and can't build on the property you own. How does government get away with that?
How Zoning Laws Shape California and Society

Zoning laws determine what can be built and where. These laws have shaped California, but are they really just tools for social engineering? The history of zoning is closely tied to racial segregation, as well as the state's shortage of …

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

02/14/2025
Image for display with article titled San Jose Apartment Project to Reduce Affordable Housing

Plans for a housing development near Japantown have changed, with the number of affordable apartments being significantly reduced.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

02/14/2025
Image for display with article titled Cupertino Hotel Project Pulled Amid Slow Hospitality Sector

A Cupertino hotel that would have provided millions of dollars for the city is no longer in the pipeline, as the hospitality sector continues to struggle post pandemic.

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02/13/2025
Image for display with article titled Historic Los Gatos Hotel Could Be Replaced With 155 Homes

More than 100 homes could displace a longstanding, landmark hotel in Los Gatos.
The Los Gatos Planning Commission unanimously recommended a proposed 155-townhome development Wednesday that would replace the Los Gatos Lodge.

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02/12/2025
Image for display with article titled San Jose Opens Multi-Story Modular Housing Site for Homeless Families

A South San Jose modular housing project for homeless people is finally opening after months of delay due to issues with mold, plumbing and structural safety.

Los Gatan logo From Los Gatan...

02/12/2025
Image for display with article titled Council Enthusiastically Approves 209-Unit Los Gatos Meadows Senior Living Project

In stark contrast with the antipathy shown towards the slew of affordable housing developments that have cropped up in Los Gatos in recent months that seek to bypass local control, the Los Gatos Meadows senior facility has now achieved final approval, winning over not only all the Town Council members, but many of the residents who live in the vicinity, too.

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02/12/2025
Image for display with article titled San Jose to Rezone Land Near Airport for Business Development

San Jose is eyeing patches of vacant land underneath the San Jose Mineta International Airport flight path for commercial use.

California Local Pin Marker From Mountain View Voice...

02/12/2025
Read on to learn more about planned zoning changes in Mountain View to advance housing growth goals, and the concerns about possible adverse effects on small businesses.

California Local Pin Marker From Palo Alto Online...

02/12/2025
The Palo Alto City Council appointed three new commissioners to the influential Planning and Transportation Commission. Read on to learn more about the new commissioners.

California Local Pin Marker From Palo Alto Online...

02/11/2025
The Palo Alto City Council is considering the expansion of the Geng Road "safe parking" site for folks living in RVs. Read on to learn more.

California Local Pin Marker From Los Altos Town Crier...

02/11/2025
Learn more about approval of the planned development of an 8,265-square-foot courtyard project at the Los Altos main library, and why some community members object to the design and concerned about the impact of an adjacent orchard.

California Local Pin Marker From Palo Alto Online...

02/10/2025
In their February 10 meeting, the Palo Alto City Council unanimously approved a teacher housing development on El Camino Real. Read on for more information about the project and why its so controversial.

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02/07/2025
Image for display with article titled San Jose Mayor Sees ADUs as Housing Crisis Quick Fix

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said the Los Angeles wildfires created a rare opportunity for the state to build tens of thousands of new homes for displaced residents while simultaneously tackling the housing crisis.

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02/07/2025
Image for display with article titled Mountain View Looks to Update Its Plan to Tackle Homelessness

For nearly a decade, Mountain View has poured money into programs and services to try and turn the tide of homelessness in the city. But it still has not been enough to stave off housing insecurity for a large number of residents.

California Local Pin Marker From Palo Alto Online...

02/07/2025
Read on for more information about a three-story commercial development proposed for University Avenue in Palo Alto.

California Local Pin Marker From Local News Matters...

02/07/2025
COME VISIT THE SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (usually called SLAC), on the edge of the Stanford University campus, to learn about the inner workings of its 2-mile-long accelerator, which is used to smash atoms and now makes new discoveries about the universe.SLAC’s accelerator is so long that it crosses under Interstate 280.

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02/06/2025
Image for display with article titled Silicon Valley Water Agency Flops on Outreach Ahead of Sweeps

Santa Clara County’s largest water agency has begun banning homeless encampments on its property, reversing a commitment to let nonprofits and advocates do outreach prior to enforcing its new policy.

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02/06/2025
Image for display with article titled Los Gatos Senior Housing Development Back on Track

An older adult community in Los Gatos is on its way toward a major overhaul, providing what officials said are much-needed homes.

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02/06/2025
Image for display with article titled Mountain View Strengthens Rent Control Protections for Mobile Homes

Mountain View’s mobile home park tenants scored a big win Tuesday evening, following a yearslong effort to get the city to offer more rent control protections and cap annual rent increases below the rate of inflation.

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02/06/2025
Image for display with article titled The Next Santana Row? Council Has Big Plans for California Avenue

A new proposal to enhance car-free California Avenue with planters, road improvements and a playful “modern optimism” aesthetic won a warm reception on Monday night from Palo Alto’s elected leaders, whose chief regret was that the work hadn’t been done sooner.

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02/06/2025
Image for display with article titled San Jose Advances Plans for Downtown Music Pavilion

San Jose’s historic St. James Park is one step closer to joining a national nonprofit’s network of outdoor music venues fashioned from neglected public spaces.