Gateway-Main Street Specific Plan (formerly Midtown Specific Plan)

MidtownAbout

The Milpitas Midtown Specific Plan was originally adopted by City Council in 2022 to provide a new vision for an approximately 1,000-acre area of land which is currently undergoing changes related to its growing role as a housing and employment center in Silicon Valley. Development activity over the past several years has included approval and/or construction of 1,200 units of housing, reinvestment in the Great Mall, an extension of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's (VTA's) Tasman East Light Rail Transit (LRT) line, and proposals to extend Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) through the area as part of the San Jose extension.

Specific Plan Update

Since the adoption of the current Midtown Specific Plan, little of the community’s vision for this area has been realized, and many potential development sites remain vacant and underutilized, especially along Main Street. Other commercial sites along the busy Calaveras Boulevard corridor are poised for new development or redevelopment to revitalize this important gateway to the City. 

In Fall 2021, the City initiated an update to the Midtown Specific Plan, which will be renamed the “Milpitas Gateway/Main Street Specific Plan” to reflect a greater focus on: 

  1. The historical significance of Main Street as a place for community members to gather and mingle;
  2.  The importance of Calaveras Blvd. as a primary gateway into central Milpitas, and;
  3.  The valuable 1-880 freeway frontage along Abbott Avenue with opportunities for new mixed-use commercial and office development.

Please see the project website for additional details, including existing conditions reports and meeting materials. 

Main Street Community Conversations by Catalyze SV

In Spring 2021, the City of Milpitas partnered with Catalyze SV to host three community workshops focused on reimagining the future of Main Street. Residents, business owners, and other stakeholders shared their perspectives on what they value about Main Street today and what types of development they would like to see moving forward.

The input gathered from these sessions is helping guide the Milpitas Gateway–Main Street Specific Plan Update, with adoption expected in Fall 2025..

Workshops were open to all community members and featured bilingual slides (English and Spanish), live Spanish and Vietnamese interpretation, and real-time English transcription to ensure broad participation.

Below are YouTube videos of each of the Community Conversations:

  • April 29, 2021 - Community Conversation #1. Focus: Small Business & Economic Development
    Parts I & II  and Part IV
  • May 27, 2021 - Community Conversation #2. Focus: Housing
    Parts I, II, & IV
  • June 24, 2021 - Community Conversation #3. Focus: Historical & Cultural Resources
    Parts I & II  and Part IV

Click here to view Catalyze SV's Community Conversations:  Revitalizing Milpitas' Main Street Report

Click here to view Catalyze SV's Milpitas Survey Summary

Notice of Planning Commission Hearing and Availability of Materials


The Planning Commission Hearing to consider the adoption of the Gateway-Main Street Specific Plan is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, 2025.  

The Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report that includes responses to comments on environmental issues received on the Draft SEIR during public review and appendices are available for review at the links below. Appendix A provides a summary of the comment letters received. Appendix B contains the CEQA Findings of Fact (Findings) and Statement of Overriding Considerations (SOC) that includes the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), which is incorporated by reference and made a part of the Findings.