High-Density Housing Developments Coming to Midtown and Transit Area

Is our economy perking up and giving developers a much-needed boost to move forward with projects? In the transit-oriented areas in southern Milpitas, local industrial areas are giving way to new homes.

The Planning Commission heard two items Wednesday that were continued to a future meeting date:

Harmony Project

D. R. Horton seeks approval to construct 276 single-family attached town homes and condos on 12.3 acres at the northwest corner of Montague Expressway and McCandless Drive known as the Harmony project. (They are the developers for the condos near Jack-in-the-Box on Main and Montague.) The multi-family, residential high-density project was continued to Oct. 26 at the request of the applicant, according to Planning Director James Lindsay.

Citation Homes

Although previously approved by the Milpitas City Council in 2009, a request was submitted to amend the  project to allow a fifth story and to replace a “wrap” condominium unit building with town homes.

The project site would accommodate up to 732 dwelling units with the addition of 93 more using density averaging. The high-density residential project is at 1200 Piper Dr.

But the union is putting the spotlight on the developer. A letter from the Lozeau/Drury law firm representing the Carpenters' Union Local 405 regarding contamination issues was received late Wednesday. More than a dozen members of the Carpenters' union were in the audience.

Their representative, Scott Littlehale, said there were known potential impacts to public health from contamination in and near this site.

Lindsay said the applicant has provided and staff has received adequate documentation regarding the land cleanup.

The Planning Commission continued this item to its Oct. 12 meeting to allow staff time to review the letter.

Commissioners Mark Tiernan and Larry Ciradello were absent.

The following items are on the agenda for the Wednesday, Oct. 12, Planning Commission meeting:

Shea Residential Project

Their development would allow 204 dwelling units in four stories wrapped around a parking garage and courtyard. The project includes a density bonus in exchange for providing affordable units. The very high-density, multi-family residential project is at 1201 S. Main St.

Trumark Companies

This proposal would redevelop an 8.3-acre site with 134 residential units (91 town homes and 43 detached single-family homes). This mixed-use very high-density project site is at 300, 324-368 Montague Expressway.