08/27/2026
The San José City Council recently held its General Plan Four Year Review, including proposals that could create more housing opportunities within many of the city’s existing single family neighborhoods.
SBA President Tom Tran spoke before the City Council on behalf of our community of local builders, developers, and contractors, supporting increased SFR zoning density and more opportunities for missing-middle homeownership.
His message was simple: San José needs more attainable pathways to homeownership, while still respecting the neighborhoods we’re building in.
Consider a typical 8,000-square-foot lot. Today, it might be redeveloped into one large 3,000–4,000-square-foot home serving one family at a very high price point. With thoughtful zoning, that same lot could potentially accommodate three or four well-designed homes, spreading the land cost across multiple households and creating more attainable paths to ownership.
That is the opportunity behind missing-middle housing.
But more housing should not come at the expense of existing neighborhoods. Parking matters. Privacy matters. Trees matter. Good design matters.
Responsible development means creating homes that respect surrounding neighbors while addressing our housing shortage through practical parking, thoughtful layouts, quality architecture and landscaping, and attainable price points.
The question isn’t simply, “How many units can we build?”
It’s: How can we create more homes that working families can actually afford while still being good neighbors?
The City Council ultimately voted 8-3 to move forward with increased-density planning, with City staff tasked with developing an implementation plan through December 2027.
SBA will continue advocating for thoughtful housing solutions, responsible development, and more attainable homeownership opportunities.
Homeownership for ALL means giving more families the opportunity to stay here, work here, raise their families here, and own a piece of the communities they help build.
Join SBA at the next San José hearing and support the effort to create more attainable housing for all.
Watch the full City Council hearing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
