REPORT TO HISTORICAL AND LANDMARKS COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Recommendation on the Architectural Review of a New 395 Unit Multi-Family Project Located at 451 El Camino Real within 200 Feet of a Historic Resource Inventory Property. CEQA Status: Pending Adoption of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Prepared and Circulated in Accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Report
File No.: PLN24-00279
Location: 451 El Camino Real, a 10.20-acre property 300 feet from the intersection of El Camino Real and Palm Drive; APN: 230-09-020; the property is zoned Mixed-Use Regional Commercial (MU-RC)
Applicant: Leatha Clark
Owner(s): Bixby SPE Finance 11 LLC
Request: Architecture Review for the demolition of 216,000 square feet of existing commercial and parking garage buildings to construct a five-story residential building with 297 units, 98 three-story townhouses, and wrap-around structured garage. The project is within 200 feet of the Historically Designated Santa Clara Railroad Depot.
PROJECT DATA
The Project Data and Compliance Table is included as Attachment 2.
POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION
• The project site is bounded by the railroad track to the north, two-story office building to the south, three-story apartment buildings to the east, and three-story hotel building and one-story retail building to the west.
• The project site is a 10.20-acre property 300 feet from the intersection of El Camino Real and Palm Drive; see Vicinity Map in Attachment 1.
• Currently, there are three two-story office buildings and two parking garages on site.
• The proposal is a demolition of 216,000 square feet of existing office buildings and two parking garages to construct a five-story residential building with 297 units wrapped around a garage structure, and 98 three-story townhomes with attached two-car garage.
• The proposal also includes annexation of the adjoining parcel in the City of San Jose to the east, to construct 13 additional townhomes.
• The project is before the Historical and Landmarks Commission (HLC) in accordance with Historic Preservation Ordinance (Santa Clara City Code 18.130.070), which requires all projects within 200 feet of a Historic Resource Inventory (HRI) property requiring an Architectural Review through a Development Review Hearing to be first referred to the HLC.
o The proposed five-story residential building will be located just over 300 feet from the historic Santa Clara Railroad Depot structure.
o The proposed three-story townhomes would be located approximately 500 feet from the depot structure.
o An existing three-story hotel is situated between the depot structure and the proposed apartment building and townhomes.
o The HLC shall review the project for neighborhood compatibility and consistency with the City’s Design Guidelines and make a recommendation.
• The architectural form and features of the proposed apartment building and townhomes are compatible and appropriate for the neighborhood.
• The proposed project meets the required findings set forth in Santa Clara City Code 18.120.
• There are no active City code enforcement cases for this property.
• A neighborhood notice was distributed within a 1,000-foot radius of the subject site for this project review.
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Conditions of approval are proposed for the project and are contained in Attachment 3.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Environmental consultants, David J. Powers & Associates, Inc., prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements and circulated for public review between April 10, 2026 and May 25, 2026 (45 days).
A Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) was subsequently prepared and was circulated for a 10-day review period on August 4, 2026 and will end on August 14, 2026 in accordance with CEQA and includes all responses to comments received.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Historical and Landmarks Commission 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.
A public hearing notice was mailed to 523 property owners and tenants within a 1,000-foot radius of the project site on July 23, 2026. As of the writing of this report, planning staff has not received public comments for this application.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Recommend that the Historical and Landmarks Commission find that the proposed project located at 451 El Camino Real will not destroy or have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of the Historic Resource Inventory property within 200 feet at 1005 Railroad Avenue; that the proposed construction is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and recommend approval of the Architectural Review at the Development Review Hearing.
Staff
Prepared by: Steve Le, Senior Planner, Community Development Department
Reviewed by: Rebecca Bustos, Principal Planner, Community Development Department
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity Map
2. Project Data and Compliance Table
3. Conditions of Approval
4. Development Plans