Land Use & Development Review Program

VTA manages a Development Review Program to provide technical expertise and guidance on both near-term development projects and long-range land use and transportation plans (e.g. General Plans or Specific Plans) throughout the County. The program focuses on integrating transit and multimodal connectivity into new developments while supporting local, regional and state mobility and climate goals. Key aspects of VTA’s Development Review efforts include:  

Coordinating with local jurisdictions to align land use with transit and multimodal goals.  

Review of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents and Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) reports to assess potential transportation impacts, minimize adverse effects on all travel modes, and improve multimodal access.  

Review of development site plans, long-range plans, and policies to support fast and reliable transit service, encourage transit-supportive development, and prioritize sustainable travel behavior. 

Related to this work, VTA maintains a set of technical resources for local jurisdictions including TIA Guidelines, base VMT data, and the Santa Clara Countywide VMT Evaluation Tool.  

The Community Design and Transportation (CDT) Manual serves as a guiding document to: 

• Inspire innovative approaches to growth that enhance both urban design and transportation efficiency. 

• Broaden and strengthen transportation choices to create pedestrian-friendly, transit-supportive environments. 

• Maximize resources by integrating land use and transportation solutions. 

Design Guidelines 

The CDT Design Guidelines serve as a tool for implementing best practices that enhance the livability and character of the built environment. These guidelines focus on: 

• Creating walkable, pedestrian-friendly spaces that encourage active transportation. 

• Enhancing transit accessibility and connectivity through urban design. 

• Building on the distinct qualities of each community to maintain unique and vibrant neighborhoods. 

Policy and Implementation  

Applying CDT principles requires translating design best practices into actionable policies. Through planning and development processes, VTA collaborates with local jurisdictions to support transit-oriented communities. 

To formalize its role in land use and development review, VTA’s Board of Directors adopted the Land Use & Development Review Policy on January 10, 2019, to guide decision-making and strengthen countywide coordination. The policy was later updated on February 6, 2025 with streamlined language, equity focused principles, and improved clarity and usability. 

The policy’s principles, informed by VTA’s Strategic Plan, are as follows: 

1. Advance Equity - Expand access to transit and mobility options for all communities, including historically underserved groups. 

2. Build Effective Partnerships – Strengthen collaboration with local jurisdictions to align land use and transportation efforts. 

3. Increase Ridership and Support Fast Frequent, Safe and Reliable Transit Service – Improve transit access through infrastructure enhancements and seamless multimodal connections.  

4. Support Transit-Supportive Development in Close Proximity to Transit – Encourage compact, mixed-use development near the existing and planned Frequent Network and other agencies’ rail stations.  

5. Prioritize Sustainable Travel Behavior – Reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles by promoting walking, biking, transit and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies. 

Key Policy Strategies 

• Encourage internal and external partners to actively engage with community members in the planning process, especially those in historically underserved and marginalized communities. 

• Coordinate early and often with local jurisdictions on land use planning efforts, including long-range plans and development projects. 

• Improve transit connections by making them easy, convenient, and seamless through investments in the existing and planned Frequent Network, including Frequent Network routes connecting to other agencies’ rail stations, passenger information, and waiting facilities. 

• Support local jurisdictions and developer efforts to intensify land uses and maximize densities to support transit ridership.  

• Implement the VTA Community Design and Transportation Manual and Complete Streets principles. 

By implementing this policy, VTA aims to create vibrant, multimodal, and transit-supportive communities that reduce congestion, enhance mobility, and improve public health.  

VTA manages a Development Review Program to provide technical expertise and guidance on both near-term development projects and long-range land use and transportation plans (e.g. General Plans or Specific Plans) throughout the County. The program focuses on integrating transit and multimodal connectivity into new developments while supporting local, regional and state mobility and climate goals. Key aspects of VTA’s Development Review efforts include:  

Coordinating with local jurisdictions to align land use with transit and multimodal goals.  

Review of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents and Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) reports to assess potential transportation impacts, minimize adverse effects on all travel modes, and improve multimodal access.  

Review of development site plans, long-range plans, and policies to support fast and reliable transit service, encourage transit-supportive development, and prioritize sustainable travel behavior. 

Related to this work, VTA maintains a set of technical resources for local jurisdictions including TIA Guidelines, base VMT data, and the Santa Clara Countywide VMT Evaluation Tool.  

The Community Design and Transportation (CDT) Manual serves as a guiding document to: 

• Inspire innovative approaches to growth that enhance both urban design and transportation efficiency. 

• Broaden and strengthen transportation choices to create pedestrian-friendly, transit-supportive environments. 

• Maximize resources by integrating land use and transportation solutions. 

Design Guidelines 

The CDT Design Guidelines serve as a tool for implementing best practices that enhance the livability and character of the built environment. These guidelines focus on: 

• Creating walkable, pedestrian-friendly spaces that encourage active transportation. 

• Enhancing transit accessibility and connectivity through urban design. 

• Building on the distinct qualities of each community to maintain unique and vibrant neighborhoods. 

Policy and Implementation  

Applying CDT principles requires translating design best practices into actionable policies. Through planning and development processes, VTA collaborates with local jurisdictions to support transit-oriented communities. 

To formalize its role in land use and development review, VTA’s Board of Directors adopted the Land Use & Development Review Policy on January 10, 2019, to guide decision-making and strengthen countywide coordination. The policy was later updated on February 6, 2025 with streamlined language, equity focused principles, and improved clarity and usability. 

The policy’s principles, informed by VTA’s Strategic Plan, are as follows: 

1. Advance Equity - Expand access to transit and mobility options for all communities, including historically underserved groups. 

2. Build Effective Partnerships – Strengthen collaboration with local jurisdictions to align land use and transportation efforts. 

3. Increase Ridership and Support Fast Frequent, Safe and Reliable Transit Service – Improve transit access through infrastructure enhancements and seamless multimodal connections.  

4. Support Transit-Supportive Development in Close Proximity to Transit – Encourage compact, mixed-use development near the existing and planned Frequent Network and other agencies’ rail stations.  

5. Prioritize Sustainable Travel Behavior – Reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles by promoting walking, biking, transit and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies. 

Key Policy Strategies 

• Encourage internal and external partners to actively engage with community members in the planning process, especially those in historically underserved and marginalized communities. 

• Coordinate early and often with local jurisdictions on land use planning efforts, including long-range plans and development projects. 

• Improve transit connections by making them easy, convenient, and seamless through investments in the existing and planned Frequent Network, including Frequent Network routes connecting to other agencies’ rail stations, passenger information, and waiting facilities. 

• Support local jurisdictions and developer efforts to intensify land uses and maximize densities to support transit ridership.  

• Implement the VTA Community Design and Transportation Manual and Complete Streets principles. 

By implementing this policy, VTA aims to create vibrant, multimodal, and transit-supportive communities that reduce congestion, enhance mobility, and improve public health.