SMPAC

San Martin Planning Advisory Committee

Hello SMNA members,

This is a call to action. Your assistance is needed.

The SCC Planning Department has notified neighbors residing within 300 feet of the referenced property that it has recommended that a Mitigated Negative Declaration be approved for this project. The County of Santa Clara Planning Staff have reviewed the Initial Study for the project and, based upon substantial evidence in the record, found that although the proposed project could initially have a significant effect on the environment, changes or alterations have been incorporated by the applicant into the project to avoid or reduce impacts to a point where clearly no significant effects will occur.

Public Review began on December 28, 2023, and ends on January 17, 2023. This public review is 20 days.There will be two meetings to hear this information: The San Martin Planning Advisory Committee (SMPAC) on January 17, 2023, and the Planning Commission meeting scheduled for January 18, 2023. You can review the entire letter (Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration), the Initial Study, and the proposal submitted by the applicant here

Since the applicant and County Planning Department state that the San Martin project is similar to Honey Bucket’s Santa Rosa facility, SMNA suggests that you review Google Maps of the 4119 Sebastopol Rd. Santa Rosa Honey Bucket location for a preview of the facility.

We want to stress the importance of attending the two public meetings and/or submitting written comments using the template letter below

January 17, 2024

San Martin Planning Advisory Committee

Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.

AEM Resource Highland-Main Conference Room, Building K

80 West Highland Avenue, San Martin

January 18, 2024

Planning Commission

Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

Board of Supervisors Chambers

70 West Hedding Street, San Jose

You may also attend Planning Commission virtually at this link

Or you may submit written comments. Please copy and paste the letter below, or write your own, then send it to the Planning Commissioners and the San Martin Planning Advisory Committee.

You will need to send the letter by Monday in order for the committee and commissioners to review in time.

Dear Members of the SCC Planning Commission and the San Martin Planning Advisory Committee, I respectfully request that you do not approve the Use Permit and Grading Permit for the proposed North West Cascade/Honey Bucket #5 project located at 13755 Monterey Road. This facility will operate from 5 am. to 7 pm. on weekdays and 24/7 during peak seasons, which may adversely impact the surrounding neighbors. I am concerned about the potential increase in traffic, noise, smells that the facility may generate, and the potential long-term environmental impact. I am also worried about the number of portable toilets on site, the number of half-loaded trucks carrying waste sitting at the location for up to three days, and how they will dispose of materials that employees can not vacuum from the portable toilets.

I appreciate your consideration and ask that you deny this project. San Martin residents have faced many significant challenges with approved projects, and I believe we can not afford to deal with a project like this.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

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The San Martin Planning Advisory Committee, or SMPAC, is a nine-member committee appointed by the Board of Supervisors to advise the County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors on land use matters of interest to the community of San Martin. The Committee meets monthly on the Wednesday evening prior to the County Planning Commission’s monthly meetings, which occur on the first Thursday of the month, unless a special meeting or meeting date is called. As part of its meeting agenda, the Committee may consider informational updates regarding planning issues in San Martin, and it also provides advisory recommendations to the Planning Commission regarding proposals for major subdivisions and conditional use permit applications.

Extensive details on this committee can be found on the Santa Clara County web site at

https://plandev.sccgov.org/commissions-other-meetings/smpac