REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on the Water Supply Assessment Related to Preparation of a Specific Plan for the El Camino Real Focus Area
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote and Enhance Economic, Housing and Transportation Development
BACKGROUND
The City’s 2010 General Plan establishes a Land Use goal and policy for redefining El Camino Real as a vital, pedestrian-oriented corridor, with a greater diversity of uses. The El Camino Real Specific Plan carries out the General Plan to establish fine-grained land use designations and a more detailed land use policy than what is currently in the General Plan, as well as provide objective design standards to regulate new development projects in the Plan Area. After a series of meetings in 2021 and 2022 that considered a higher density proposal, on March 7, 2023, the City Council directed staff to prepare a new version of the El Camino Real Specific Plan with a reduced density. Adoption of the Specific Plan that is currently under preparation would allow up to 4,392 residential units, 524,467 square feet of retail space, and 162,891 square feet of irrigable landscape along the corridor.
In June 2025, staff conducted a study session with Council to provide an update and obtain feedback on the draft Specific Plan. As a part of the next steps for the development of a Specific Plan for the El Camino Real Focus Area, the City conducted a Water Supply Assessment for inclusion in the environmental review process. Senate Bill 610 (2001), codified at Water Code Section 10910 et seq, requires detailed information on water supply availability for certain projects, for which the El Camino Real Specific Plan is one. This item requests Council approval of this assessment. Staff will bring the Specific Plan itself back to Council in the near future for Council consideration and action.
DISCUSSION
The City Council is being asked to take action on the Water Supply Assessment related to preparation of a Specific Plan for the El Camino Real Focus Area.
City staff has prepared a Water Supply Assessment for the El Camino Real Specific Plan. An Assessment is required to analyze the utility’s current and future water supplies as well as the current and projected water demands in the utility’s service area. The Assessment must include a determination as to whether additional water supplies are necessary or if sufficient water supplies exist for the proposed development. The law also requires that the water utility’s governing body approve water supply assessments. The City Council is the governing body for the City’s Water Utility.
Based on the analysis in the Assessment, the City of Santa Clara Water Utility has determined that supplies would be sufficient to provide service for the development contemplated by the Specific Plan. The Assessment provides a detailed analysis of the amount of water necessary to meet the needs of the proposed development and the City’s ability to supply that amount of water based on the projections identified in the City’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP), as well as water supply assessments prepared after the City’s Urban Water Management Plan was approved. This Assessment analyzed the impacts of changes in contractual limitations on water supply, proposed development projects, and other additional factors that have occurred since the original 2020 UWMP was developed and adopted. The Assessment found that the City’s water utility has sufficient water supplies to meet the projected water demand of this development during normal, single dry year, and multiple dry year scenarios.
The City Council’s approval of the Assessment (see attached resolution) is necessary for the El Camino Real Specific Plan to be approved. However, the City Council’s action on this item for approval, denial, conditional approval or any act on this Assessment does not guarantee that the Specific Plan will be approved and does not obligate the City to approve, deny, conditionally approve, take any action, or make any decision on the Specific Plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The preparation of a water supply assessment is a part of the environmental review process for the Project and is a prerequisite to the adoption of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under Section 15155(b) of the CEQA Guidelines.
FISCAL IMPACT
The adoption of the resolution to approve this Assessment does not have a fiscal impact other than administrative staff time.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council 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 at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. 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 or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution approving the El Camino Real Specific Plan Water Supply Assessment in the form presented.
Staff
Reviewed by: Afshan Hamid, Director, Community Development Department
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft El Camino Real Specific Plan Water Supply Assessment
2. WSA Adoption Resolution