IBM Research Center in San Jose might land updated city-crafted zoning
The San Jose City Council is set to consider updated zoning for the 687-acre former IBM Almaden Research Center site. The proposed changes would designate portions for industrial park use, potentially opening the door for various developments, including data centers. Local residents have raised concerns about the rezoning being on the consent calendar and are requesting a more thorough public discussion.
The San Jose City Council is scheduled to review updated zoning designations for the 687-acre IBM Almaden Research Center site at its upcoming August 18 meeting. The former research hub, currently designated as a Planned Development Zoning District, would be split into an Industrial Park Zoning District for approximately 35 acres, including the existing buildings, and an Open Space Zoning District for the remaining 652 acres. The San Jose Planning Department states that the Industrial Park designation is intended for a variety of industrial users, including research and development, manufacturing, and offices, with Cushman & Wakefield's marketing materials specifically mentioning data centers as a potential use.
The proposed rezoning, which does not by itself approve specific redevelopment projects, has been placed on the City Council's consent calendar, allowing for expedited votes with limited public debate. However, San Jose residents, including Jessica Vernon and Abby Simons, have written to city leaders expressing concerns about the rezoning's complexity and requesting that the item be removed from the consent calendar to allow for more open discussion among the community. Erik Schoennauer, a land-use consultant representing a potential investment group, described the rezoning as a conforming update to an antiquated 1980 zoning designation.