Land Use History

In the late 1990's two outlying parcels were sold to Montessori Schools and Mid-Peninsula Housing Corporation (both fronting onto Washington Boulevard). Fearing further development of the remaining 14.82 acre Motherhouse property which contained the vast majority of the sensitive landscape and historic resources, the city issued an interim urgency ordinance prohibiting issuance of land use entitlements for certain lands in central Mission San Jose. They then directed staff to prepare a study as to the appropriate land use designation and zoning for those lands.

That study, referred to as the "Mission San Jose Density Study," was prepared by an urban planner hired by the city, Jay W. Claiborne, and Len Banda, a recently retired planner with the City of Fremont. The date of the report was August 1998. Referring to the Sister's property as Area 2, the report also cited a previous study prepared by Gates & Associates (1996) which included an Architectural and Historical Analysis prepared for David L. Gates & Associates by H. Ruth Todd, AIA. The Gates study included an analysis of the overall impacts associated with the aforementioned affordable housing development with the information cited therein specifically referring to the "Cumulative Impacts of the Motherhouse Site" – i.e. what would the cumulative impacts be if the Sisters were to develop the remaining 14.82 acre "Motherhouse" property with residential housing. Both of these studies are available for review.

This planning process ultimately led to down-zoning the Sister's 14.82 acres from Residential 15-18 dwelling units per acre to Residential, Medium 6.5 – 10 units per acre, primary historic resource with a Conference Center Overlay. The Zoning was also changed from R-G-29-H (H-I) to a Planned District with a Historic Overlay District. In doing so, the city made clear its desire to preserve the property as a historic park and/or conference center while simultaneously respecting the Sisters request that their economic interests be protected by retaining the highest and best use of the land, the residential development of the property.

Most recently, the Sisters hired Dutra Cerro Graden to develop Conceptual Residential Site Plans and a Highest and Best Valuation for Palmdale. The resulting development capacity of the Property were detailed in two different conceptual development plans, both of which ultimately reviewed by a Market Feasibility Analyst and valued by an MAI Appraiser. These plans, feasibility report and valuation are available for review.