San José Rezoning of Former IBM Almaden Research Center Site Draws Criticism
A letter to the editor criticizes San José's proposed rezoning of the former IBM Almaden Research Center, warning it could enable major development without full environmental review. The author urges the City Council to reconsider the plan and ensure promised open space protection. Data centers are highlighted as a key driver for commercial real estate development in the area.
The East Bay Times published a letter to the editor criticizing San José's proposed rezoning of the former IBM Almaden Research Center site, arguing it is anything but routine. The letter highlights historical context, noting that in 1999, the City Council rejected a General Plan change for the site and directed staff to pursue legally binding permanent protection for 540 acres of open space, a directive whose outcome is not addressed in current staff reports. The author expresses concern that the proposed elimination of Planned Development zoning and rezoning of 35 acres to Industrial Park could, in conjunction with state law SB 131, exempt advanced-manufacturing projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), thereby allowing major development without adequate environmental review. The letter urges the City Council to investigate the open space protection and reconsider the zoning and General Plan designations before taking action.
Separately, another letter within the same publication offers broader context on San José's urban development, observing that "Outside of data centers, commercial real estate is just not happening. Data centers need space and fewer on-site workers." This statement underscores the potential influence of the data center industry on local land use and rezoning decisions in the region.