Amendment to the Master Community Plan (MCP)

On January 31, 2024, an application to amend the Master Community Plan (MCP) was submitted for the Related Santa Clara Project to accommodate a new alternative development scheme with a different mix of land uses in the part of the plan east of Lafayette Street and to modify the transfer of development density to the west of Lafayette as well as modify associated development standards than the City previously approved. The application is currently undergoing city staff review and will include public hearings for the Planning Commission’s recommendation and final approval by the City Council.

File Number: PLN24-00060

RSC MCP Scheme C Supplement 05.29.2025 (PDF)

Proposed Amendment to the MCP Project Description (PDF)

Proposed Amendment to the MCP Site Plan (PDF)

Approved Project

Lot size: 240 acres 

Project Description: Construction of a new multi-phased, mixed-use development of up to 9.16 million gross square feet of office buildings, retail and entertainment facilities, residential units, hotel rooms, surface and structured parking facilities, new open space and roads, landscaping and tree replacement, and new/upgraded/expanded infrastructure and utilities.

Process Description: To accommodate the planned high-intensity urban environment contemplated by the project, a formal application was submitted for public and City review that included a General Plan Amendment of the 240 acre project site from Parks/Open Space and Regional Commercial to Urban Center/Entertainment District; a rezone of the project site from Public, Quasi-Public, Park or Recreation (B) and Commercial Park (CP) to Planned Development-Master Planned Community (PD-MC); and a Master Community Plan (MCP) and Infrastructure Plan to implement the development.

 An Environmental Impact Report was prepared and circulated in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to analyze and inform the decision makers and public of the potential environmental impacts associated with project development. In addition, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program was prepared to identify the mitigation measures for implementation to reduce significant impacts to less than significant along with CEQA Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations for project related significant impacts that with mitigation would not be reduced to less than significant and an Override of the Santa Clara County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) Land Use Plan for inconsistency with ALUC policy to locate the residential portion of the project within the 65 dB CNEL. The project included changes to Figure 2.3-1 Areas of Potential Development and General Plan Table 8.6-2 Proposed Development (Approved, Not Constructed and Pending Projects) in the General Plan to acknowledge the proposed development project and an amendment to the Climate Action Plan, which is an appendix to the General Plan, to set Transportation Demand Management goals for the new land use designation. A Development Agreement between the City and the Developer accompanied the project proposal to secure development rights, terms, and conditions. A Development and Disposition Agreement (DDA) and a Ground Lease were also prepared between the City as landowner and Related Santa Clara, LLC, as the Developer. 

The project, including the associated applications described above, were reviewed and approved by the City Council at a public noticed meeting on June 28, 2016.

File Numbers:

•  PLN2014-10554 (Master Community Plan)
•  PLN2019-14186 (Development Area Plan Phase I, Parcel 5)
•  PLN2020-14626 (Architectural Review Application for Development Area Plan Phase I, Parcel 5)
•  PLN2019-14249 (Development Area Plan Phase 2, Parcel 4 (portion))

Potential Development Area:

• 209-acres of development
• 31-acre city park 

Development Area Plan Approval (DAP) process

Implementation of the project requires the preparation and submittal of Development Area Plans (DAPs) and Vesting Tentative and/or Tentative Maps to implement the project phases. The DAPs will be submitted in accordance with the provisions established in the PD-MC ordinance, with certain procedures superseded by specific procedures in the MCP. The Vesting Tentative and/or Tentative Maps will be submitted consistent with Chapter 17 – Subdivisions of the SCCC prior to development for City review and approval.

The Phase I Development Area Plan for Parcel 5 was approved by City Council on March 24, 2020 and received architectural review approval by the Community Development Director on March 5, 2021. An electronic copy of the approved Architectural Review Application may be viewed by clicking on the links located under resources.

The Phase II Development Area Plan for Parcel 4 has been approved by City Council and will go through a second review process for architectural approval. The applicant will submit architectural materials for approval by the Director of Community Development. An electronic copy of architectural materials submitted to the City for Phase II will also be posted to this page when available.  

Community Meetings Held:

• A community open house was hosted by the Developer on September 12, 2024, to provide information about a new alternative development scheme C with a different mix of land uses in the part of the plan east of Lafayette Street: Meeting Flyer (PDF)

• A community open house was hosted by the developer on January 15, 2020, to provide updated information on the current plans and schedule for the first two development phases: Developer Open House Presentation (PDF).

Public Hearings Held:

• A City Council Hearing was held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, where the City Council approved the proposal to amend the Master Community Plan (MCP) to introduce a Scheme C to Introduce a new Scheme C Land Use Scenario. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A Planning Commission Hearing was held on Tuesday, June 11, 2025, to amend the Master Community Plan (MCP) to introduce a Scheme C to Introduce a new Scheme C Land Use Scenario. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A City Council Study Session was held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 to present the proposal to Amend the approved Master Community Plan (MCP). Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A City Council Hearing was held on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, where the City Council approved the Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map for Development Area Plan (DAP) 1. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A Planning Commission Hearing was held on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, for Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map for Development Area Plan (DAP) 1. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, where the City Council approved the Comprehensive Sign Program for Parcels 4 and 5. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A Planning Commission meeting was held on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 for the Comprehensive Sign Program for Parcels 4 and 5. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, July 13, 2020, for the Phase 2 Development Area Plan for Parcel 4, where the City Council Adopted a Second EIR Addendum for the Phase 2 DAP, and Approved the Phase 2 DAP Application, subject to conditions. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A Planning Commission meeting was held on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 for the Phase 2 Development Area Plan for Parcel 4. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, for the Phase 1 Development Area Plan, where the City Council Adopted a First EIR Addendum for Phase 1 DAP, and Approved the Phase 1 DAP Application, subject to conditions. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A Planning Commission meeting was held on Thursday, February 20, 2020, for the Phase 1 Development Area Plan. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A Study Session was held at the Planning Commission meeting on January 29, 2020 to provide information on the Related development project entitlements and Development Area Plan review process. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, for the City Place Project (now known as "Related Santa Clara Project"), where the City Council certified the City Place Santa Clara EIR; adopted the Master Community Plan (MCP), approved the General Plan Amendment to  Urban Center/Entertainment District, approved Rezoning to PD-MC, and approved the Development Agreement (DA) and the Disposition and Development Agreement. Staff Report Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A Planning Commission meeting was held on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, for the City Place Project (now known as "Related Santa Clara Project"). Staff Presentation Link; Meeting Minutes Link

• A City Council Study session was held on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, for the City Place Project (now known as "Related Santa Clara Project"). Staff Report Link.

• A City Council Hearing was held on Tuesday, June 10, 2015, for various agreements with Related Santa Clara LLC and Montana Property Group for the City Place Project (now known as "Related Santa Clara Project"). Staff Report Link.

• In addition to Planning Commission and City Council noticed public hearings for review and action on the project applications in June 2016, a series of noticed public meetings, study sessions, and community meetings were conducted from March 2013 through June 2016. 

CEQA

All documents related to Environmental Review are available on the City's CEQA webpage:

CEQA Documents

Related Santa Clara Scheme C CEQA Checklist Addendum (PDF)

Contacts:

City Contact: Nimisha Agrawal, Senior Planner (408-615-2450, nagrawal@santaclaraca.gov)

Property Owner/Applicant: City of Santa Clara / Related Santa Clara, LLC 

Resources

All PDF documents indicated on this page are available in the Planning Division for review.

• Master Community Plan (Volume I) (PDF)
• Master Community Plan (Volume II) (PDF)
• Development Agreement (PDF)
• Disposition and Development Agreement (PDF)
• Developer Phase Option Notice for DAP 1 (PDF)
• DAP 1, Parcel 5 Development Plans (PDF)
• DAP 2, Parcel 4 Development Plans (PDF)
• Notice of Architectural Review for DAP 1, Phase 1, Parcel 5 (PDF)
• DAP 1, Parcel 5 Architectural Review Application (PDF)
  • Phase 1 Architectural Materials - Appendix A
  • Phase 1 Architectural Materials - Appendix B
  • Phase 1 Architectural Materials - Appendix C
  • Phase 1 Architectural Materials - Submissions Plans
• DAP 2, Parcel 4 Architectural Review Approval Letter (PDF)
  • Phase 2 Architectural Materials - Appendix A
  • Phase 2 Architectural Materials - Appendix B
  • Phase 2 Architectural Materials - Appendix C
  • Phase  Architectural Materials - Submissions Plans
• Comprehensive Sign Program for Parcels 4 and 5 (PDF)
• DAP 1 Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map (PDF)