Residents last week told developers they don’t want to see a hotel or mixed-use housing as part of the planned overhaul of Cambrian Park Plaza.

Traffic and density were major concerns cited by many of about 200 people who attended a Jan. 12 community meeting at the Camden Community Center. The meeting was organized by Weingarten Realty, which owns the 17-acre plaza, to review and discuss public feedback from an online survey. Related Articles Campbell: Pruneyard Shopping Center’s ‘dramatic transformation’ breaks ground

Cambrian Park Plaza developers want to add housing, maybe a hotel

Interest in the project has grown since Weingarten recently submitted preliminary redevelopment plans that show housing and either offices or a hotel may be added to the site. Weingarten originally planned to redevelop the plaza for retail only when it paid $49 million for the site two years ago.

Last year, Weingarten asked the city to consider modifying its urban village policies for signature projects such as Cambrian Park Plaza. The company said the market might not be strong enough for retail alone and noted its original plan wouldn’t make the best use of land.

Approval of the mixed-use project–about 180,000 square feet of office or hotel space, 87,000 square feet of retail space, 100,000 square feet of assisted living and at least 220 apartments and townhouses–would allow San Jose to annex the property, Weingarten pointed out. And that in turn would generate sales and property taxes for the city.

But neighbors criticized Weingarten’s latest proposal, saying it doesn’t blend in with the area’s character or offer what the community wants. Many took issue with a proposed six-story hotel, especially those living behind the property who said it would invade their privacy. When asked how many did not want a hotel as part of the project, nearly everyone in the room raised their hand.

There’s little community interest in mixed-use housing on the property, residents said, because it would increase traffic congestion. One woman asked about changing the traffic pattern “so we can get the two lanes turning from Union (Avenue) onto Camden (Avenue).”

“That would definitely mitigate some of the problems that we’re going to have on there on Union Avenue” because of the planned expansion of nearby Samaritan Medical Center, she said.

“We have another project that the city planning department is pushing through with Samaritan Drive, which is the major intersection on the other side,” she added.

The turn lane on Camden is going to be extended and is part of the proposal right now, according to Weingarten. Access to Wyrick Avenue from the backside of the property will be closed to vehicles as well.

Although some residents accused the city of pushing for more housing, District 9 Councilman Donald Rocha said in an interview that’s not the case.

“I’m not pushing any particular type of development and I don’t think city staff is asking for any particular type,” Rocha said. “(Weingarten representatives are) the ones that are introducing this residential component and the assisted living component. That’s not something the city of San Jose is directly asking for that I’m aware of.”

Weingarten representative Sean Morley told the crowd that the proposed Cambrian Park Plaza design is “a starting point” and the hotel and other project factors aren’t set in stone.

“We want to make sure that we have development that is responsive and respectful to the neighborhood as far as scale,” Morley said. “We’re trying to find that balance.”

A formal plan will be submitted to the city by early summer; the approval process should last well into late next year, when construction is expected to begin. Another community meeting will be held but has not yet been scheduled.