Following months of silence, developers recently submitted a preliminary redevelopment plan for Cambrian Park Plaza that show they intend to build housing and either offices or a hotel in addition to retail.

Weingarten Realty, which bought the 1950s-era, 17-acre shopping center at the corner of Camden and Union avenues for $49 million nearly two years ago, has spent the past year modifying its original plan.

In February, Weingarten asked the city to consider modifying its urban village policies for signature projects like Cambrian Park Plaza’s overhaul. Weingarten argued then that its original plan wouldn’t offer the best use of land and that the market might not be strong enough for just retail.

By proposing a mixed-use development instead, Weingarten said the project would trigger annexation and benefit San Jose by bringing in sales and property tax revenue from future tenants. Related Articles San Jose: Cambrian Park developer wants to scale back retail space

When the modification was announced at that time, however, residents said they worried additional housing would worsen traffic and cause other problems. They also expressed concern that the iconic carousel sign would be torn down after adorning the plaza for more than 60 years. The colorful rotating sign was officially declared a historic landmark by the county in August.

The newly submitted plan includes about 180,000 square feet for office or hotel space, 87,000 square feet for retail, at least 220 apartments and townhouses and 100,000 square feet of assisted living.

Last year, planner Michael Brilliot said the city was hesitant to convert more commercially zoned land to housing, given the “incredible history of converting commercial land for residential.” Brilliot said then the city would discuss the feasibility of supporting Weingarten’s plan but still wants “to see a significant amount of commercial development on this site.”

In an email, Weingarten said its plan was scaled back from what the city wanted and that more than half of those who have participated so far in an online survey support the mixed-use concept.

“The city’s original vision for the site actually included 440 units of housing, much more housing than Weingarten is proposing,” the developer wrote. “The neighborhood retail/mixed use preliminary concept plan includes a range of uses and amenities which city and community stakeholders have expressed interest in having any redevelopment plan include.”

Although Weingarten is still working on a date, time and location for a community meeting to get feedback from residents, District 9 Councilman Donald Rocha said he has one planned. That meeting will take place Jan. 12 at the Camden Community Center multipurpose room from 7 to 9 p.m.

In the meantime, Weingarten said it is “eager to obtain community feedback” on the preliminary design and has asked residents to visit its website at cambrianparkplazashoppingcenter.com to participate in the survey.