Santa Clara shifts minor public right-of-way changes to staff - San Jose Spotlight

"Several officials and residents pushed back against the decision, citing ongoing code enforcement issues and a lack of public input. Councilmembers Albert Gonzalez, Karen Hardy, Kelly Cox and Mayor Lisa Gillmor voted in favor of the proposal, while Councilmembers Raj Chahal, Kevin Park and Suds Jain voted against it. The plan is going back to staff for revisions after feedback from residents and councilmembers, including to explore an appeal process and additional notice requirements."

""This isn't the city right-of-way. This is the public's right-of-way," Adam Thompson, a Santa Clara resident and chair of the Downtown Community Task Force who has tracked encroachment complaints for more than two years, told San José Spotlight. "Why can't you just have the public have their day to be able to say yay or nay?""

"The proposal emerged amid ongoing disputes over encroachments on Lexington Street in Santa Clara's Old Quad neighborhood, where residents have spent more than two years raising concerns about fences and other structures built in public right-of-way areas. Thompson said the proposal appeared to residents as an attempt to move decisions involving public space out of public view. Neighbors first filed complaints in 2023, but Thompson said the issue remained unresolved as residents were redirected between multiple city departments."

Santa Clara officials voted to shift approval of certain minor public right-of-way changes from elected leaders to the city manager. The change covers items such as fences or structures near sidewalks and would remove the requirement for a public hearing before approval. Some residents and councilmembers raised concerns about transparency, accountability, and lack of public input. The vote was 4-3, with Albert Gonzalez, Karen Hardy, Kelly Cox, and Mayor Lisa Gillmor supporting the proposal and Raj Chahal, Kevin Park, and Suds Jain opposing it. The proposal will return to staff for revisions, including exploring an appeal process and adding notice requirements. The decision follows long-running disputes over encroachments on Lexington Street in the Old Quad neighborhood, where residents reported unresolved complaints and alleged redirection between city departments.

Read at San Jose Spotlight