SAN MARTIN PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETS AFTER BRIEF HIATUS

The San Martin Planning Advisory Committee (SMPAC) met on Wednesday, July 30th. The agenda usually includes a review of pending development applications for land use permits as well as informative presentations by the Planning Department that are [pertinent to the Committee's work. As there were no pending applications before the Committee at this time, they reviewed a number of outstanding Planning items and elected a new Chair and Vice Chair. 

San Martin residents can listen to the SMPAC meeting audio, available soon on the County of Santa Clara's website. It will provide you with information on how the meeting issues are discussed. The whole meeting is recorded and should be available to the public for review. 2025/07/30 06:00 PM San Martin Planning Advisory Committee Regular Meeting - Web Outline - The County of Santa Clara, California

A brief summary

1. Introduction of  the new Code Enforcement Manager - Darrell Revell (darrell.revier@pln.sccgov.org )  He has a current staff of five with one vacancy still to be filled. Mr. Revell is tasked with building a more community-friendly culture within the department- one that focuses on education to encourage code compliance. 

The Code Enforcement Team responds to reported complaints regarding safe living conditions, protecting the environment, and upholding the quality of life in the unincorporated area of Santa Clara County. Officers work with County residents and communities to mitigate code violations and assign corrective actions. 

2. The Committee discussed and voted to extend the pilot program that seeks to ensure that projects are reviewed more efficiently. The Committee is mandated to review projects the day before projects are presented to the Planning Commission. The Pilot Program would allow an additional review, earlier in the process. This will allow the Committee to make recommendations to an application prior to it being deemed complete by the Planning Department, this giving the developer time to potentially incorporate the recommendations without a financial penalty This creates a more fair and informed process to all involved.  This pilot program will ensure projects are reviewed 30 days after application submission and again the night before going to the Planning Commission. This pilot does not change the Early Notification process where community residents have an opportunity to provide input.

3. We also received a report on the process for Rural Zoning Amendments. The County of Santa Clara is in process of updating the Zoning Ordinance to standardize agricultural uses, replace “local serving” provisions, and establish standards to address farmland loss. The four main components of this update include replacing “local serving” provisions with objective standards, simplifying and standardizing agricultural uses, limiting uses in the A zone to those that support long-term agricultural viability, and adopting standards for agricultural impacts. The process is available for public review at https://plandev.santaclaracounty.gov/programs-and-studies/planning-studies/rural-zoning-amendments?mc_cid=724dc2328b&mc_eid=8408fe254f

4. The SMPAC Workplan for 2024- 2025 was reviewed and approved and items for 2025- 2026 were discussed. Of note here:  The SMNA  Board is continuing to meet with Supervisor Arenas' team to advocate for expanded scope for SMPAC, as only the Board of Supervisors has the authority to make changes.

5. Though not on the agenda, Director of Planning & Development Ms. Onciano mentioned that she is working on behalf of the County, with the State and Department of Social Services to address the influx For-Profit Mental Health Facilities in San Martin.

For three years, the community has been asking for such assistance due to issues such as frequent emergency services visits, break-ins, harassment, and safety concerns. Residents requested reports on all licensed mental health facilities in San Martin. The community has been advocating for transparency and follow-through, and with recent efforts by Senator Cortese and Supervisor Arenas we are hopeful that there will be progress. This issue should be on the SMPAC agenda soon. 

6. Finally, SMPAC Board Elections were held, and Liz Paredes Bahnsen was voted in as Chair, with Sharon Luna taking the role of Vice Chair.

7. Two letters from community members addressing potential large scale development in San Martin were received and may be discussed in future meetings. 

 Our governing body for San Martin is not a Mayor or a City Council, it is the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.  Supervisor Arenas and her team are our advocates for San Martin. SMPAC is an advisory body to them. So, it is important that your voice is heard. You can email: District1@bos.sccgov.org