HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 101411
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Resolution No. 10141
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the
Land Use and Design Element of the City of Palo Alto
Comprehensive Plan to Reflect Policies and Programs adopted in
the 2023-2031 Housing Element and Related Updates to the
Zoning Code.
R E C I T A L S
A. On May 8, 2023, the City Council adopted the City of Palo Alto 2023-2031 Housing
Element (“Housing Element”) pursuant to Government Code Section 65585.
B. Program 1.1A of the Housing Element provides for amendments to the zoning ordinance
that are necessary to accommodate the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation
(“RHNA”) on the inventory of housing opportunity sites provided in Appendix D to the
Housing Element.
C. Program 1.1B of the Housing Element provides for additional amendments to the zoning
ordinance for ROLM and GM zoned properties that exceed those required under Program
1.1A.
D. On December 18, 2023, the City Council adopted an ordinance amending Title 18 (Zoning)
of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to implement Programs 1.1A and 1.1B of the Housing
Element.
E. The updates contemplated in Programs 1.1A and 1.1B of the Housing Element also require
related changes to the Land Use and Design Element of the Comprehensive Plan.
F. In order to maintain consistency with the between the Land Use and Design and Housing
Elements of the Comprehensive Plan, and between the Comprehensive Plan and the Palo
Alto Municipal Code, the City Council desires to amend the Land Use and Design Element
of the Comprehensive Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto RESOLVES as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council finds that the public interest, health, safety and welfare of Palo Alto
and the surrounding region would be furthered by Text Amendments to the Land Use and
Community Design Element.
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SECTION 2. The proposed Land Use and Community Design Text Amendments are consistent with
the following goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan:
Policy L-1.1: Maintain and prioritize Palo
Alto’s varied residential neighborhoods
while sustaining the vitality of its
commercial areas and public facilities.
The proposed amendments will align with the
programs and policies of the Housing Element,
which promote the production of much-needed
housing in strategic locations throughout the
City.
Policy L-1.3: Infill development in the
urban service area should be compatible
with its surroundings and the overall
scale and character of the city to ensure a
compact, efficient development pattern.
The proposed amendments will allow for the
production of housing in accordance with the
Housing Element, which envisions urban infill
development throughout the City.
Policy L-1.4: Commit to creating an
inventory of below market rate housing
for purchase and rental. Work with
neighbors, neighborhood associations,
property owners and developers to
identify barriers to infill development of
below market rate and more affordable
market rate housing and to remove these
barriers, as appropriate. Work with these
same stakeholders to identify sites and
facilitate opportunities for below market
rate housing and housing that is
affordable.
The proposed amendments implement the
Housing Element, including provision that
promote the production of below market rate
housing.
Policy L-1.5: Regulate land uses in Palo
Alto according to the land use definitions
in this Element and Map L-6
The proposed amendments ensure compliance
with this policy and modify the land use
definitions to align with past, current, and future
uses of housing opportunity sites in the City.
Policy L-1.6: Encourage land uses that
address the needs of the community and
manage change and development to
benefit the community.
The proposed amendments encourage the
production of housing, which is a local, regional,
and statewide need.
Policy L-2.3: As a key component of a
diverse, inclusive community, allow and
encourage a mix of housing types and
sizes, integrated into neighborhoods and
designed for greater affordability,
particularly smaller housing types, such
as studios, co-housing, cottages,
clustered housing, accessory dwelling
units and senior housing
The proposed amendments align with the
Housing Element, which encourages the
development of all types of housing.
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Policy L-2.6: Create opportunities for new
mixed-use development consisting of
housing and retail.
The proposed amendments facilitate the
production of housing in commercial land use
designations.
SECTION 3. The City Council hereby amends Single-Family Residential land use description in the
City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows
(additions underlined and deletions struck through):
Single-Family Residential: This designation applies to residential neighborhoods
primarily characterized by detached single-family homes, typically with one
dwelling unit on each lot. Private and public schools and churches are conditional
uses requiring permits. Accessory dwelling units or duplexes are allowed subject
to certain size limitations and other development standards and duplexes may be
allowed in select, limited areas where they would be compatible with
neighborhood character and do not create traffic and parking problems. Multiple-
Family uses may be permitted on Housing Element opportunity sites. The net
density in single family areas will range from 1 to 7 units per acre, but rises to a
maximum of 14 units per acre on parcels where second units or duplexes occur,
except on Housing Element opportunity sites, for which higher density standards
may be specified in the Zoning Ordinance. Population densities will range from 1
to 30 persons per acre.
SECTION 4. The City Council hereby amends Multiple-Family Residential land use description in
the City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as
follows (additions underlined):
Multiple-Family Residential: The permitted number of housing units will vary by
area, depending on existing land use, proximity to major streets and public transit,
distance to shopping and environmental problems. Net densities will range from
8 to 40 units and 8 to 90 persons per acre, except on Housing Element opportunity
sites, for which higher density standards may be specified in the Zoning Ordinance.
Density should be on the lower end of the scale next to single-family residential
areas. Densities higher than what is permitted may be allowed where measurable
community benefits will be derived, services and facilities are available, and the
net effect will be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Population densities
will range up to 2.25 persons per unit by 2030.
SECTION 5. The City Council hereby amends Neighborhood Commercial land use description in
the City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as
follows (additions underlined):
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Neighborhood Commercial: Includes shopping centers with offstreet parking or a
cluster of street-front stores that serve the immediate neighborhood. Examples
include Charleston Center, Edgewood Center and Midtown. Typical uses include
supermarkets, bakeries, drugstores, variety stores, barber shops, restaurants, self-
service laundries, dry cleaners and hardware stores. In locations along El Camino
Real and Alma Street, residential and mixed use projects may also locate in this
category. Non-residential FARs will range up to 0.4. Consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan’s encouragement of housing near transit centers, higher
density multi-family housing may be allowed in specific locations, generally within
one-half mile of high quality transit.
SECTION 6. The City Council hereby amends Regional/Community Commercial land use
description in the City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element
to read as follows (additions underlined):
Regional/Community Commercial: Larger shopping centers and districts that
have a wider variety of goods and services than the neighborhood shopping areas.
They rely on larger trade areas and include such uses as department stores,
bookstores, furniture stores, toy stores, apparel shops, restaurants, theaters and
nonretail services such as offices and banks. Examples include Stanford Shopping
Center, Town and Country Village and University Avenue/Downtown. Non-retail
uses such as medical and dental offices may also locate in this designation;
software development may also locate Downtown. In some locations, residential
and mixed use projects may also locate in this category. Non-residential FARs
range from 0.35 to 2.0. Consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s encouragement
of housing near transit centers, higher density multi-family housing may be
allowed in specific locations, generally within one-half mile of high quality transit.
SECTION 7. The City Council hereby amends Service Commercial land use description in the City
of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows
(additions underlined):
Service Commercial: Facilities providing citywide and regional services and relying
on customers arriving by car. These uses do not necessarily benefit from being in
high volume pedestrian areas such as shopping centers or Downtown. Typical uses
include auto services and dealerships, motels, lumberyards, appliance stores and
restaurants, including fast service types. In almost all cases, these uses require
good automobile and service access so that customers can safely load and unload
without impeding traffic. In some locations, residential and mixed-use projects
may be appropriate in this land use category. Examples of Service Commercial
areas include San Antonio Road, El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road northeast
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of the Bayshore Freeway. Nonresidential FARs will range up to 0.4. Consistent with
the Comprehensive Plan’s encouragement of housing near transit centers, higher
density multi-family housing may be allowed in specific locations, generally within
one-half mile of high quality transit.
SECTION 8. The City Council hereby amends Service Commercial land use description in the City
of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows
(additions underlined):
Service Commercial: Facilities providing citywide and regional services and relying
on customers arriving by car. These uses do not necessarily benefit from being in
high volume pedestrian areas such as shopping centers or Downtown. Typical uses
include auto services and dealerships, motels, lumberyards, appliance stores and
restaurants, including fast service types. In almost all cases, these uses require
good automobile and service access so that customers can safely load and unload
without impeding traffic. In some locations, residential and mixed-use projects
may be appropriate in this land use category. Examples of Service Commercial
areas include San Antonio Road, El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road northeast
of the Bayshore Freeway. Nonresidential FARs will range up to 0.4. Consistent with
the Comprehensive Plan’s encouragement of housing near transit centers, higher
density multi-family housing may be allowed in specific locations, generally within
one-half mile of high quality transit.
SECTION 9. The City Council hereby amends Mixed Use land use description in the City of Palo
Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows (additions
underlined):
Mixed Use: The Mixed Use designation is intended to promote pedestrian-
oriented places that layer compatible land uses, public amenities and utilities
together at various scales and intensities. The designation allows for multiple
functions within the same building or adjacent to one another in the same general
vicinity to foster a mix of uses that encourages people to live, work, play and shop
in close proximity. Most typically, mixed-use developments have retail on the
ground floor and residences above. This category includes Live/Work,
Retail/Office, Residential/Retail and Residential/Office development. FARs will
range up to 1.15, although development located along transit corridors or near
multi-modal centers will range up to 2.0 FAR with up to 3.0 FAR possible where
higher FAR would be an incentive to meet community goals such as providing
affordable housing. The FAR above 1.15 must be used for residential purposes. Up
to 100% of FAR may be used for residential purposes in a Planned Community
zone. Consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s encouragement of housing near
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transit centers, higher density multi-family housing may be allowed in specific
locations, generally within one-half mile of high quality transit.
SECTION 10. The City Council hereby amends Research/Office Park land use description in the
City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows
(additions underlined):
Research/Office Park: Office, research and manufacturing establishments whose
operations are buffered from adjacent residential uses. Stanford Research Park is
an example. Other uses that may be included are educational institutions and child
care facilities. Compatible commercial service uses such as banks and restaurants
and residential or mixed-uses that would benefit from the proximity to
employment centers, will also be allowed. Additional uses, including retail
services, commercial recreation, churches and private clubs may also be located
in Research/Office Park areas, but only if they are found to be compatible with the
surrounding area through the conditional use permit process. In some locations,
residential and mixed-use projects may also locate in this category. Maximum
allowable FAR ranges from 0.3 to 0.5, depending on site conditions. Consistent
with the Comprehensive Plan, multi-family housing may be allowed in specific
locations. On Housing Element opportunity sites, FAR will typically range from
1.25 to 2.5, as specified in the Zoning Ordinance. Higher FARs may be feasible
within one-half mile of high quality transit, as specified in the Zoning Ordinance.
SECTION 11. The City Council hereby amends Light Industrial land use description in the City of
Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows
(additions underlined):
Light Industrial: Wholesale and storage warehouses and the manufacturing,
processing, repairing and packaging of goods. Emission of fumes, noise, smoke, or
other pollutants is strictly controlled. Examples include portions of the area south
of Oregon Avenue between El Camino Real and Alma Street that historically have
included these land uses, and the San Antonio Road industrial area. Compatible
residential and mixed use projects may also be located in this category. FAR will
range up to 0.5. On Housing Element opportunity sites, FAR will typically range
from 1.5 to 2.5, as specified in the Zoning Ordinance. Higher FARs may be feasible
within one-half mile of high quality transit. Consistent with the Comprehensive
Plan’s encouragement of housing near transit centers, higher density multi-family
housing may be allowed in specific locations, generally within one-half mile of high
quality transit.
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SECTION 12. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the City
prepared an Addendum to the 2017 Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR),
analyzing the potential environmental impacts of the 2023-2031 Housing Element. On May 8,
2023, the City Council adopted Resolution 10107, finding that the Addendum and the 2017 EIR
adequately analyzed the environmental impacts of the Housing Element, including Programs
1.1A and 1.1B of the Housing Element, which this resolution implements.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: December 18, 2023
AYES: BURT, LAUING, LYTHCOTT-HAIMS, STONE, TANAKA, VEENKER
NOES: KOU
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
__________________________ _____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM APPROVED
__________________________ __________________________
Assistant City Attorney City Manager
__________________________
Director of Planning and
Development Services
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Subject: DocuSign: Resolution 10141
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Certificate Pages: 2 Initials: 0 Vinhloc Nguyen
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250 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto , CA 94301
Vinhloc.Nguyen@CityofPaloAlto.org
IP Address: 199.33.32.254
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City of Palo Alto
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Jonathan Lait
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Interim Director Planning and Community
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City of Palo Alto
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Ed Shikada
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Ed Shikada
City of Palo Alto
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Lydia Kou
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Council Member
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Mahealani Ah Yun
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Interim City Clerk
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