ULI SF is proud to announce the completion of the San Jose TAP Report! ULI SF’s  Technical Assistance Panels (TAPs) provide strategic advice on complex land use and real estate development issues for local clients, such as municipalities, public agencies, and non-profit developers.

The city of San José engaged ULI San Francisco to convene a technical assistance panel (TAP) of multidisciplinary experts from around the Bay Area. The panel was tasked with analyzing the city’s parking management practices to assist San José with achieving its sustainability goals and “getting out of the parking business.” Specifically, the panel was asked to consider these questions posed by the city:

•  The city of San José would like to reduce parking costs to developers, especially for affordable housing, and seeks to understand how this might impact the financing of development projects. 
• How should the city’s zoning code be modernized and enhanced to achieve its goals?
• What are the on-the-ground impacts of these changes?

Drawing from our seasoned professional membership base, ULI SF composed a panel of professionals from a wide variety of disciplines reflecting diverse perspectives, including land use and design, architecture, finance and development strategies, governance and policy, affordable housing, and real estate development. TAP Panelists included:

• Rick Dishnica, President, The Dishnica Company (TAP Chair)
• Wendi Baker, Principal and COO, Harmonie Park Development
• Brad Leibin, Associate, David Baker Architects
• Mary Murtagh, Executive Chair of the Board at EAH Housing
• Darin Ranelletti, Policy Director for Housing, City of Oakland
• Eric Tao, Managing Partner, L37 Partners
• Dennis Willams, Managing Director of Northmarq Capital
• Mariana Ricker, Associate, SWA (Report Writer/Designer)

Following review of background materials and a two-day workshop in San José, the panelists developed a series of recommendations that are specific to the city’s complex mixture of land uses and community needs. The key takeaways from these recommendations are the need to have policies that encourage “just right” parking and acknowledge that one size does not fit all.

Strategies will depend on the context, the type of project, and the current market’s ability to support a reduction in parking. This report provides detailed guidance to help the city of San José develop a series of parking policy updates that maintain flexibility over time, which is currently and will continue to be necessary to encourage near-term and future development while honoring the goals of climate resiliency that are at the heart of this effort.

Read the full City of San Jose TAP Report to learn more about San Jose, the TAP methodology, and final recommendations and suggested implementation strategies.