Dear Members of the San Jose City Council,

I am writing to express my strong support for allowing up to six units on single-family zoned parcels throughout the City of San Jose.

San Jose, like much of the Bay Area, faces a severe housing shortage that drives up rents, pushes families out of the region, and contributes to homelessness. Allowing greater density on single-family lots is one of the most effective, low-cost tools available to address this crisis. It enables gentle infill development in established neighborhoods — close to jobs, transit, and services — without requiring large public subsidies or the displacement of existing residents.

Permitting up to six units per parcel would:

• Meaningfully increase housing supply across all neighborhoods, not just in a few high-density corridors;
• Create more affordable options for renters and first-time homebuyers by adding smaller, lower-cost unit types such as duplexes, triplexes, and courtyard housing;
• Allow multi-generational families to live together on a single property;
• Make more efficient use of existing infrastructure, reducing the per-unit cost of city services; and
• Bring San Jose in line with state housing goals and the broader regional effort to build more homes where people want to live.

I understand that some residents have concerns about neighborhood character and parking. However, the evidence from cities that have implemented similar policies shows that gentle infill development tends to be modest in scale and compatible with surrounding homes. The status quo — exclusionary zoning that limits most of the city to one home per lot — is itself a policy choice, and one with serious consequences for affordability and equity.

I urge the Council to move forward boldly on this reform. San Jose has an opportunity to lead the region in demonstrating that cities can grow more inclusive and more affordable at the same time.

Thank you for your service to our community and for your consideration of this important issue.