REPORT TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Tasman East Amendment Bike/Parking Study (Liw)
Report
BACKGROUND
On November 2018, the City Council adopted the Tasman East Specific Plan (TESP) to guide the transition of an underutilized 45-acre industrial neighborhood immediately adjacent to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Lick Mill Light Rail Station into a pedestrian-friendly and transit-oriented development with the addition of 4,500 new residential units near transit and jobs. The Specific Plan incorporates approximately 100,000 square feet of neighborhood-oriented and convenience retail and 10 acres of open space including various outdoor recreational facilities and landscape features, a public plaza, pocket parks and paseos.
In November 2020, the City Council approved various amendments to the TESP including replacing a proposed street extension for Calle Del Sol with a pedestrian and bicycle paseo.
Included in TESP is the future installation of bicycle facilities along portions of the public streets in the TESP. Specifically, new bicycle lanes are planned for Calle de Mundo, the new Lick Mill Boulevard extension, and within a new pedestrian/bicycle paseo on Calle de Luna to Calle del Mundo (Attachment 1, TESP Pedestrian and Bike Network Connectivity and Roadway Cross-Sections).
Since adoption of the TESP, there has been significant developer interest in TESP and several projects have moved forward. Several projects have been completed, and other sites are under construction. As appropriate, new bicycle lanes mentioned above have been installed with the projects.
It is also important to note that do to the significant interest in TESP, that the City is currently in the process of amending the TESP to add approximately 1,500 additional units above the 4,500 already approved in TESP. The draft environmental report for this proposed amendment has been posted to the City’s website <https://www.santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/BusinessDirectory/BusinessDirectory/700/15209?alpha=T>. It is estimated that the amendment will be presented to the City Council for review and approval in early 2027.
Parking Complaints: Beginning in 2023, with the occupancy of one of the first developments in TESP, the City began receiving complaints about parking availability in the area. Most recently, the City received several complaints at City Council meetings regarding the lack of public street parking, limited opportunities for parking on-site, and receiving parking violations from the City. It is important to note that the TESP is designed as Transit-Oriented Community with planned limited public street parking.
Due to the volume and severity of complaints, the City is looking at options on how to potentially restore public street parking in TESP. The City is working with a traffic consultant to evaluate potential alternatives, including removing the planned bicycle lanes and two-way center turn lanes. This parking study with potential options will be presented to the City Council with the proposed TESP amendment mentioned above.
DISCUSSION
As noted above, due to the concern regarding a lack of public street parking, the City is reviewing options to restore public street parking in the long term. To accommodate public street parking on roadways such as Calle de Mundo and the new Lick Mill Boulevard extension, there is the potential for existing and future bicycle lanes (included the TESP) to be removed in the field and in the TESP.
On September 28, 2026, the City held a public outreach meeting with the TESP area to hear resident complaints and concerns regarding parking in TESP. Staff provided background information on the development and approval of the TESP, highlighted concerns raised by residents, and discussed the ongoing parking study to potentially restore public street parking in TESP.
Staff will provide an informational presentation to the BPAC to discuss this ongoing issue and discuss potential options being reviewed.
Staff
Written by: Michael Liw, Assistant Director/City Engineer, Public Works
ATTACHMENTS
1. TESP Pedestrian and Bike Network Connectivity and Roadway Cross-Sections