REPORT TO DEVELOPMENT REVIEW HEARING
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Action on an Architectural Review (PLN26-00182) for the Demolition of an Existing Structure for the Construction of a 2,225 Square Foot Four-Bedroom, Three-and-a-Half-Bathroom Two-Story Single-Family Residence with an Attached 489 Square Foot Garage and a 798 Square Foot Attached Accessory Dwelling Unit on a 5,942 Square Foot Lot at 2331 Castro Place. CEQA Status: Exempt from CEQA per Section 15332.
Report
File No.: PLN26-00182
Location: 2331 Castro Place
Applicant: Moe Jalili
Owner(s): Jensen Hsu
Request: Architectural Review for the demolition of an existing structure for the construction of a 2,225 square foot four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom two-story single-family residence with an attached 489 square foot garage and a 798 square foot attached accessory dwelling unit.
PROJECT DATA
The Project Data and Compliance Table is included as Attachment 2.
POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION
• The proposed project is in a predominantly single-story residential tract as shown in the Vicinity Map on Attachment 1.
• The site consists of a single-story three-bedroom one-bathroom patio-style residence built in 1954.
• There are no significant historical features in the existing residence other than the structure’s age, therefore is not eligible to be designated a Historical Resource under Santa Clara City Code (“SCCC”) 18.130.030.
• Per the SCCC 18.120.020.D.7, the demolition of an existing structure requires Architectural Review approval through a Development Review Hearing (“DRH”).
• The proposal will result in a 2,225 square foot four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom two-story residence with a 489 square foot garage and a 798 square foot-attached accessory dwelling unit.
• The proposed 798 square foot attached accessory dwelling unit meets all the objective standards under SCCC 18.60.020.E.3 and will be approved ministerially under SCCC 18.60.020.A.
• The applicant proposes a modern California vernacular style residence with minimalistic massing and architectural features like simple vertical wood siding wall planes, and low-sloped gable roof.
• The proposed construction materials include faux wood siding, a multi-panel garage door, soft white stucco, and black asphalt shingle roof.
• The project as conditioned is consistent with the City’s Single-Family & Duplex Residential Design Guidelines (“Residential Guidelines”) (2014):
o The building height and bulk is appropriate relative to the neighborhood as the proposed roof is low sloped with a second story element setback approximately six feet from the first-floor walls.
o The proposed architectural features of the structure are appropriate to the neighborhood as they are derived from architectural features commonly found in the residential tract like perpendicular oriented overhanging eaves.
o The roof materials, building materials, and finishes work in conjunction with one another, are consistent with the architectural style of the building as they are typical materials found in other modern California vernacular style residences.
• The design went through one round of revisions and is being conditioned to ensure compliance with the SCCC and the Residential Guidelines. The roof pitched of the second floor was lowered to be below the height limit, the interior floor plan was reorganized so the guest bedroom’s window is on the front elevation instead of a bathroom window, the front door was center to the entry feature, and the proposed pillars were widened to create a more prominent architectural feature.
• The project is being conditioned (“Condition P2”) to redesign their entry feature to blend with the orientation of the rest of the eaves on the first floor’s front elevation as currently the proposed entry feature’s roof is oriented perpendicular to the rest of the first floor’s roof.
• The proposed project meets the required findings set forth in SCCC 18.120.
• There are no active City code enforcement cases for this property.
• A neighborhood notice was distributed within a 300-foot radius of the subject site for this project review.
FINDINGS SUPPORTING STAFF’S RECOMMEDATION
Granting the Architectural Review approval requires the following findings consistent with City Code Section 18.120.020(F):
1) That any off-street parking area, screening strips, and other facilities and improvements necessary to secure the purpose and intent of this title and the general plan of the City area a part of the proposed development, in that:
• The proposal is consistent with SCCC 18.38.060.D as the garage’s interior dimensions exceed the 20’ by 20’ minimum interior dimensions.
• The existing parking spaces are not located in the required front yard or side yard landscaped area as they are in the existing garage.
• The parking spaces are in an all-weather material surfaced area.
2) That the design and location of the proposed development and its relation to neighboring developments and traffic is such that it will not impair the desirability of investment or occupation in the neighborhood, will not unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of neighboring developments, and will not create traffic congestion or hazard, in that:
• The proposed construction would not create any traffic congestion or hazards.
• The public streets are adequate in size to accommodate a single-family residence of this size.
• The proposed design matches nearby residence in scale and would not impair the desirability of the neighborhood.
3) That the design and location of the proposed development is such that it is in keeping with the character of the neighborhood and is such as not to be detrimental to the harmonious development contemplated by this title and the general plan of the City, in that:
• Building height and bulk are appropriate relative to the neighborhood.
• Roof materials, building materials, and finishes work in conjunction with one another and are consistent with the proposed architectural style of the building.
• Architectural features of the proposed design are true to the architectural form and are appropriate for the neighborhood.
4) That the granting of such approval will not, under the circumstances of the particular case, materially affect adversely the health, comfort or general welfare of persons residing or working in the neighborhood of said development, and will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injuries to property or improvements in said neighborhood, in that:
• The project is subject to the California Building Code & City Code requirements. Which serves to regulate new construction to protect public health, safety, and general welfare.
5) That the proposed development, as set forth in the plans and drawings, are consistent with the set of more detailed policies and criteria for architectural review as approved and updated from time to time by the City Council, which set shall be maintained in the planning division office. The policies and criteria so approved shall be fully effective and operative to the same extent as if written into and made a part of this title, in that:
• The proposed construction is consistent with the Residential Guidelines as conditioned:
o The project will create a house design that is compatible in scale and character with the housing types that are typical in the neighborhood as the proposed design will have similar massing to the adjacent properties.
• The proposed construction complies with the R1-6L Zoning District development standards.
• The proposed construction complies with the intent of the Santa Clara General Plan and all its policies.
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Conditions of approval are proposed for the project and are contained in Attachment 3.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 (Class 32 - Infill Development Projects), in that
the project site is less than five acres, served by utilities, and complies with the General Plan.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Development Review Hearing agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
An early project notification notice was mailed out to 81 property owners/ tenants within 300-foot radius of the project site to inform them of the proposal. No public comments were received.
A public hearing notice was mailed to 81 property owners/tenants within a 300-foot radius of the project site on June 25, 2026. As of the writing of this report, planning staff has not received public comments for this application.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Based on the project’s consistency with the Zoning Code, Santa Clara City Code and the Single Family Design Guidelines, staff recommends the Development Review Officer approve the project as follows:
1. Determine the project to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) formal pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 (Class 32 - Infill Development Projects), and
2. Approve the Architectural Review for the demolition of an existing structure for the construction of a 2,225 square foot four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom two-story single-family residence with an attached 489 square foot garage and a 798 square foot attached accessory dwelling unit at 2331 Castro Place, subject to the conditions of approval.
Staff
Prepared by: Alex Tellez, Associate Planner, Community Development Department
Review by: Nimisha Agrawal, Senior Planner, Community Development Department
Approved by: Sheldon S. Ah Sing, Development Review Officer, Community Development Department
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity Map
2. Project Data and Compliance Table
3. Conditions of Approval
4. Development Plans