Community Meeting, Thursday March 27

First let us start by reminding you that tomorrow, Thursday March 27, 2025 there will be a community meeting to discuss this redevelopment project and you are invited to attend and share your thoughts and feelings.

📅 Meeting Date: Thursday, March 27

🕡 Time: 6:30 PM

🔗 Zoom Link: https://sanjoseca.zoom.us/j/98038029038

📞 Call-in Number: 408-638-0968 | Meeting ID: 980 3802 9038

An interesting article was published by National Geographic discussing the importance of "Walkable Neighborhoods" and their role in community health (attached below). Many of the ideas outlined in the article were embraced and targeted by the West San Carlos Urban Village Plan; unfortunately this project fails to conform to these guidelines.

Despite these logaicaland attainable goals, this car-centric, parking-lot heavy proposal encourage people to not only consume more fast food but get in their cars to do it. This isn't a temporary project that will be replaced in a year or two; if built this project will monopolize three lots depriving the community of housing and other businesses for litterally decades!

Why your neighborhood matters.pdf

Download PDF • 12.66MB

Some of you may have received a notice from Chik-FilA (attached below) regarding the project which disappointingly misrepresents reality.  The proposed Chick-fil-A development at 1301 W. San Carlos Street raises serious concerns regarding job displacement, misrepresentation of local ownership, disregard for community engagement, and failure to align with San Jose’s housing and urban development goals. Despite claims made in their announcement, this project ultimately harms the community rather than enhancing it.

Chick-Fil-e letter March 14 2025.pdf

Download PDF • 810KB

Job Displacement and Misrepresentation of Local Ownership

While Chick-fil-A asserts that their new restaurant will create 100 jobs, this claim overlooks the fact that the proposed development will displace existing locally owned businesses. These businesses, which are deeply embedded in the community, already provide jobs that support local families and entrepreneurs. Rather than fostering economic growth, this project merely shifts employment from one business to another, replacing genuinely local jobs with positions at a national chain.

Additionally, Chick-fil-A’s assertion that their restaurant will be a “locally owned small business” is misleading. While the franchisee may reside in the area, the reality remains that Chick-fil-A is a massive national corporation. The businesses being displaced, on the other hand, are truly locally owned and operated, with full control over their operations and reinvestment directly into the community. This proposal does not enhance local business diversity; it undermines it.

Community Engagement and Local Support

Chick-fil-A’s claim to foster community engagement is directly contradicted by the overwhelming local opposition to this project. The existing businesses at this location have strong community loyalty, as demonstrated by the thousands of signatures on a petition opposing this redevelopment. (See petition at: change.org petition.) This level of community resistance clearly illustrates that the people of San Jose value the current businesses and do not support replacing them with a corporate fast-food chain.

If Chick-fil-A were truly committed to community engagement, they would recognize and respect the voices of the residents who are actively opposing this project. The forced displacement of well-loved local establishments in favor of a corporate chain does not strengthen community ties—it severs them.

Failure to Address Housing Needs and Urban Village Goals

San Jose has well-documented goals of increasing housing inventory, particularly in locations like this one, where mixed-use developments could provide much-needed residential space. This Chick-fil-A project does absolutely nothing to address these housing needs. Instead of contributing to the city’s efforts to expand housing availability, it replaces an existing site with a single-use fast-food establishment that does not serve the broader objectives of sustainable urban development.

Moreover, this proposal fails to align with the principles set forth in the West San Carlos Urban Village Plan. According to the guidelines outlined by local planning efforts (Urban Village Plan), development in this area should prioritize mixed-use projects that enhance walkability and community vibrancy. Chick-fil-A’s plan, which focuses solely on commercial use with no housing component, directly contradicts these objectives.

Conclusion

Approving the Chick-fil-A project at this location would be a step backward for San Jose. The proposal displaces existing local businesses, falsely claims to be locally owned, disregards substantial community opposition, and neglects the city's pressing need for housing development. The City of San Jose should reject this proposal in favor of a project that aligns with community interests, prioritizes local business retention, and contributes to sustainable urban growth.