The review period ends July 28 for the draft environmental impact report for the Kohl’s redevelopment project known as Gateway Village at El Camino Real and Lawrence Expressway.
Essex took control of the 12.6-acre property in Santa Clara in 2011. The deal was part of a plan by the property’s previous owner, Santa Clara Square LLC, to get out of bankruptcy, according to Santa Clara officials.
Residents have been skeptical of previous designs for the site, which included a large-scale, transit-oriented mixed-use project.
However, the site at 3610 and 3700 El Camino Real is designated as a large-scale commercial space that needs to be developed, despite residents’ prior concerns, Santa Clara development review officer Gloria Sciara previously told The Sun.
Included in the plans were about 494 apartment residences proposed to wrap around a multi-story parking garage topped by a pool/sundeck/clubhouse amenity space.
Additionally, 100,000 square feet of pedestrian-oriented retail and commercial space would be built along El Camino and would wrap around and down Lawrence Expressway, leaving the center open for parking and a one-acre park. The rear of the site–where Kohl’s is located–would be residential apartments, with three separate courtyards and a garden.
Since some of the first community outreach meetings held by Essex in 2012, the proposed retail space shrank from 100,000 square feet to 84,000 square feet, and the apartment residences also went down from 494 units to 475.
“We have worked with staff and the neighbors in the evolution of our plan during the site plan design process resulting in the changes,” Essex executive vice president of development John Eudy said in an email.
More public hearings will be scheduled fairly soon, Eudy added.
“The evolution of the development plan and all the related issues will be addressed and answered,” Eudy said.
Some issues raised by draft EIR include significant unavoidable traffic impacts to three intersections at El Camino Real and Halford Avenue, El Camino Real and Helen Avenue, and Lawrence Expressway and Homestead Road.
Sunnyvale communications officer Jennifer Garnett said Sunnyvale city staff is still reviewing the draft EIR and preparing comments on the adequacy of the environmental document to give to the city of Santa Clara.
“They don’t have their comments prepared yet, so it’s too soon for us to say anything about it at this point,” Garnett said.
For more information about the project, visit santaclaraca.gov and click on “Development Projects.”
