Looks Like 21 More Homes To Be Built in Campbell

Campbell City Council members moved closer to approving a residential subdivision in a spot that now occupies  an office building.

The commercial office building, located on Gale Drive near San Tomas Expressway, is slated for demolition. Forty protected trees would also be removed from the property in order to accommodate the new homes.

Any tree in Campbell that is more than a foot tall is considered protected in a commercial zone.

“Trees are important in Campbell; we try to limit their removal and, as we did with this project, require new trees be planted when removal is necessary,” said Mayor Jason Baker.

According to Campbell Associate Planner Steve Prosser, the plan by Valley Oak Partners to develop the 1.98 acres of land into residential units passed the application process. The next step is to amend the city's general plan, and that ordinance will go through two readings and then a 30-day waiting period before the project goes before the council again.

“There were no comments from the public during the Feb. 15 council meeting about the development, and we only heard in favor of the project from someone during the planning commission meeting,” Prosser said.

The amendment has three elements:  

• Change the zoning from “professional office” to “low-medium density residential.”
• Obtain a "planned development permit" to construct 21 small lot residences.
• Create a subdivision map and get a tree removal permit to remove 40 protected trees.

The city planner said he estimates the demolition of the  58,000-square-foot office building won’t take place right away.

“It could be more than six months; it could be less,” said Prosser.

The planning commission recommended the development to the council.

“The commercial zoning seems to be an inappropriate use for the land,” said Prosser. “It’s not surviving as an office building.” 

Baker weighed in on the parking debacle with new developments during the meeting. 

“I’ve heard complaints recently from residents near other developments that some owners are charging for parking," he said. "My concern is that when a development with relatively limited parking starts charging for parking, this has an impact on nearby neighborhoods.”

Baker added that overflow parking also created an unfair burden on nearby neighbors.