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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2506-4838CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Monday, September 08, 2025 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM     Agenda Item     1.414 California Avenue [25PLN-00140]. Request for Council Prescreening to Rezone the Subject Property from Community Commercial (2) (CC[2]) to Planned Community/Planned Home Zoning and to Allow Construction of a Mixed-Use Building with 37 Units in a Six-Story Structure on a 16,231-Square-Foot (0.37 Acre) Site. CEQA Status: Not a Project. Item Removed Off Agenda (Rescheduled for September 15, 2025 City Council Meeting)   City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: STUDY SESSION Lead Department: Planning and Development Services Meeting Date: September 8, 2025 Report #:2506-4838 TITLE 414 California Avenue [25PLN-00140]. Request for Council Prescreening to Rezone the Subject Property from Community Commercial (2) (CC[2]) to Planned Community/Planned Home Zoning and to Allow Construction of a Mixed-Use Building with 37 Units in a Six-Story Structure on a 16,231-Square-Foot (0.37 Acre) Site. CEQA Status: Not a Project. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council conduct a prescreening and provide informal comments regarding the applicant’s request to rezone 414 California Avenue from Community Commercial (2) (CC(2)) to Planned Community/Planned Home Zoning (PHZ).1 Comments provided during the prescreening process are not binding on the City nor the applicant. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This prescreening is a request by the applicant to rezone the subject property, which is currently zoned Community Commercial (CC[2]) to “Planned Home Zoning (PHZ).” The project site is 16,230 square feet, and most recently was occupied by Bank of the West. The existing building is currently vacant. The proposed project includes restaurant/retail space, and 37 housing units. The project also proposes encroachments and modifications within the public right-of-way on California Avenue and Mimosa Lane. In accordance with Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) Section 18.79.030(A), a prescreening review is required for legislative changes, including rezoning, prior to submittal of a formal application. Prescreenings are intended to solicit early feedback on proposed projects and, like all study sessions, cannot result in any formal action. Since this proposal may return to the City Council as a formal application, Councilmembers should refrain from forming firm opinions supporting or opposing the project. 1 Referred to in this report as "Planned Home Zoning" to emphasize the focus on housing as the benefit to the community. PAMC Section 18.38, which outlines the requirement and process for Planned Community (PC) Zoning, remains the underlying code supporting application of this policy. Following this prescreening, the applicant may choose to file a formal application to amend the zoning for the site. Planned Community Rezoning applications require an initial review by the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) followed by a formal recommendation from the Architectural Review Board, a formal recommendation from the PTC, and Council’s final decision as set forth in PAMC Chapter 18.38. BACKGROUND On February 3, 2020, Council unanimously endorsed using Planned Home Zoning (PHZ) for housing and mixed-use housing projects to help spur housing production. In exchange for deviation from the development standards, as allowed under the rezoning if approved by Council, the project must include at least 20% of the housing units as deed restricted, or equivalent based on a menu of options, for lower income households. Project Description The preliminary schematic drawings, included in Attachment D, are conceptual, as is appropriate at this stage of project consideration. As shown in these schematic drawings, the applicant is proposing an approximately 83,218-square-foot mixed-use building with 14 rental units and 23 condominium units. The units would be a mix of studio (10), one-bedroom (11), two-bedroom (8), and three-bedroom (8) units. The plans did not specify which of the units would be rental or condominium in the plans. The proposed project would have a lot coverage of approximately 16,068 square feet (99% of the site). This includes portions of the property which are currently used for surface parking, and the private access alley between 414 California Avenue and 410 California Avenue (The Cobblery). The proposed development would be six stories tall and extend to a height of 78 feet, six inches to the building parapet, and 83 feet to the top of the roof deck stair access. The below grade parking garage would contain two levels of parking with a total of 74 parking spaces, 20 of which would be tandem spaces. The proposed ground floor includes two spaces designated for eating and drinking (restaurant use) and a residential lobby, and two retail/restaurant support spaces, shown as a bakery and butcher on the floor plan (sheet A202). The ground floor includes three roof overhangs that encroach into the public right-of-way on California Avenue and Mimosa Lane. The residential units would be on the upper five floors. The primary pedestrian entrances for the ground floor restaurants and the residential lobby are designed to front Mimosa Lane, which is proposed to be redesigned to be a pedestrian only street with outdoor seating located along the project frontage within the public right-of-way. Secondary pedestrian entrances are also provided from California Avenue for the two smaller tenant spaces. The sole vehicle entrance is located at the rear of the site on New Mayfield Lane. With the existing closure of a portion of California Ave., New Mayfield Lane is accessible from Cambridge Avenue. The upper floors are wrapped with balconies, providing private open space for residential uses. Five of the units have private roof decks. Surrounding Uses This project is located within the California Avenue downtown district adjacent to a wide variety of retail, restaurants, and personal services. The site is specifically between Country Sun Natural Foods market and The Cobblery cobbler. The adjacent buildings are both one story, and buildings in the vicinity vary from one story to four stories. The project site is on the portion of California Avenue which is permanently closed to vehicles. On May 21, 2025 the Retail Committee recommended approval of the Car Free California Avenue Outdoor Activation Program to City Council2. That staff report includes a map of the potential/proposed improvements to the California Avenue right-of-way, including in front of 414 California Avenue. California Avenue and adjacent streets are also used for the Farmer’s Market every Sunday morning, as well as community events such as 3rdThursday. On June 17, 20253 Council approved the resolutions associated with outdoor dining and permit fees enabling activation to continue in its current state. Council also provided direction to staff to revise the outdoor activation program guidelines seeking revisions for outdoor parklet like structures and bike lane adjustments. ANALYSIS Staff will prepare a thorough analysis of the Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan compliance upon submittal of a formal application, if filed. A review of the conceptual plans, below, summarizes staff’s preliminary review of the proposal and highlights key policy considerations associated with the applicant’s request. Comprehensive Plan Compliance The Comprehensive Plan designation is Community Commercial. High-density housing is identified as an allowed use in some locations within this land use designation, including this one within one half-mile of the California Avenue CalTrain station. This property is not identified as a Housing Inventory site in the City’s Housing Element, nor was it in the previous 2015-2023 Housing Element Cycle. Zoning Compliance This property is within the California Avenue downtown district. This property is zoned CC(2). A summary of the project’s consistency with these development standards is detailed in Attachment B. The applicant is requesting to deviate, through the Planned Community rezoning process from the following development standards: Height: 83 feet in height where up to 37 feet is allowed (60 feet under HIP); 2 Retail Committee Staff Report, May 21, 2025, Item 1: https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=17618 3 City Council Staff Report, June 17, 2025, Item 17: https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=17567 Floor Area: A 5.13:1 FAR where a maximum of 2.0 total FAR is allowed (0.6 residential FAR allowed)(2.6:1 FAR allowed under HIP); Open Space: 1,612 square feet of useable open space is proposed, all of which is private and available to five of the units, where 150 square feet of usable open space per unit is required. See additional discussion below. Parking: 88 parking spaces are proposed where 169 spaces are required (161 required under HIP). This site is eligible to use AB 2097 to reduce parking to 0 with a TDM plan. Roof overhangs encroach into the public right of way on California Avenue and Mimosa Lane. Portions of the upper floors, where the elevators and stairways are located, do not meet the 10 foot required rear setback for residential uses. No street-side setback is proposed on Mimosa Lane, where five feet is required; The project also deviates from several Objective Design Standards in PAMC Chapter 18.24, such as: Stepback (PAMC 18.24.050(b)(1)): The building massing as proposed is not stepped back where it is more than 20 feet taller the average height of an adjacent building. This step back would start within two vertical feet of the height of the adjacent building. The step back would be a minimum depth of six feet along both the façade on the primary building frontage and the facing façade of the adjacent building, and the step shall occur for a minimum of 70% of each façade length. Façade Modulation (PAMC 18.24.050(b)(3)): Additional information would be needed to analyze the façade modulation. The side and rear facades lack upper floor modulation. Base/Middle/Top (PAMC 18.24.060(c)(1): Although the design has a strong base and middle, the top is less defined. The fenestration variation is also limited on the upper floors. Planned Community/PHZ projects are not required to comply with Chapter 18.24 of the code. However, it is analyzed for the purposes of understanding how the design could be improved to be more consistent with the standard project requirements. Under the CC(2) zoning a project could also opt to be evaluated in accordance with the context-based design criteria in-lieu of the objective design standards under 18.24. Usable Open Space The proposed plans include balconies at all upper levels, wrapping most of the façade, however these four foot wide balconies do not count as useable open space as they do not meet the minimum depth requirement of six feet. Additionally, five roof decks are proposed. In the CC(2) zoning district, roof decks are only allowed if they are for common open space, and these are private open space (PAMC 18.40.240 [c]). Refuse Pick Up The project currently proposes a shared refuse room for residential and commercial uses, which is not allowed by the Code. Additonally the refuse room is not sufficiently sized to accommodate the project’s needs and would need to be redesigned. Staff would expect the trash room to be designed in a manner that allows the bins to be pulled directly from the trash room and would not support staging of the bins within public right-of-way. Public Right-of-way Modifications and Encroachments The closure of Mimosa Lane would require a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to Amend Map T-5 and a Resolution to Close this public street to vehicular traffic, similar to the efforts lead by the City for the closure of portions of California Avenue and Ramona Street. This proposal would need to be evaluated as staff understands it could have impacts on deliveries to neighboring properties and activation of the public space for events such as 3rd Thursday and the farmers' market or other civic events. The project also includes canopies that extend into the public right-of-way on California Avenue and along Mimosa Lane. There are several existing buildings along California Avenue that have existing minor canopy encroachments. Staff has generally allowed existing legal noncomplying buildings to maintain their canopies when modifying the facade, with approval of a permanent encroachment permit, but has not generally allowed new permanent encroachments. PC Special Requirements The project is not within 150 feet of residential uses or residential zones. Therefore, the PC Special Requirements (PAMC 18.38.150) do not apply. Housing Incentive Program or State Density Bonus Law Alternatives As an alternative to the PHZ process the applicant could consider a State Density Bonus Law project and may request waivers and concessions from certain standards in accordance with State Density Bonus Law requirements. However, because the CC(2) zone does not regulate maximum density, a density bonus is calculated based on allowable FAR and proposed average unit size. The highest number of units achievable under State Density Bonus Law is 16 units. The Housing Incentive Program provides an additional path but would be insufficient for the proposed building heights, floor area and other standards. Multi-Modal Access & Parking 414 California is approximately 0.3 miles from the California Avenue CalTrain Station, providing potential for future residents to walk or bike to CalTrain. It is also approximately 120 feet from the nearest Valley Transit Authority (VTA) bus stop, served by lines 22 and Rapid 522. This project has not yet been analyzed for consistency with the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and other transportation policies such as Council’s Local Transportation Impact Analysis Policy adopted on June 15, 2019 (CMR 11256). This analysis would be conducted as a part of any formal application and reviewed by the Office of Transportation. However, staff notes that the plans proposed modifications to California Avenue and Mimosa Lane do not align with what is currently planned for street improvements in this area proposed by the City, as recommended for approval by the Retail Committee. Parking All parking is proposed in two levels of below-grade parking. Access to the parking garage would be provided from New Mayfield Lane through a single entrance/exit. Of the 74 proposed parking spaces, 20 would be in tandem to other spaces. Under the zoning code, 169 stalls would be required based on the sizes of the housing units. Under AB 2097, no spaces are required with implementation of a TDM plan. One loading space is proposed, interior to the building at grade, with access adjacent to the parking garage entrance; the functionality of this space for deliveries or ride share services remains to be evaluated. Potential space for bicycle parking is identified on both levels of the parking garage. It is unclear how many bikes each space could hold. The rooms are only accessible by stair or elevator and do not have a protected path within the garage. Thirty-seven long term and four short term spaces are required for the proposed residential use, and five long term and seven short term spaces are required for the proposed commercial use. Inclusionary Requirement and Jobs Housing Imbalance The intent of limiting PHZ projects to residential and residential mixed-use is to address the job/housing imbalance and to support increased housing production within the City, consistent with the City’s RHNA allocation. PHZ projects are required to provide more housing than jobs on site. The proposed mixed-use project would demolish an approximately 6,135 sf bank and develop a mixed-use project with approximately 15,063 sf of retail and 37 residential units. The net new commercial sf would result in the need for 5 new housing units, which is less than the 37 proposed. Therefore, the project complies with this requirement. The project is required to provide 20% of the units at Below Market Rate at an average of 80% AMI in accordance with Council’s requirements for projects seeking to rezone using the PHZ process. The applicant is currently proposing 18.9% BMR units (7 units) at unspecified income levels. Additionally, the project proposes a mix of rental and condominium units, and does not specify how many of which type would be provided at BMR. Until more information is provided, this project cannot be fully analyzed for compliance with Council’s requirements. POLICY IMPLICATIONS The City Council has previously identified California Avenue as an area to accelerate housing, though the effort is not currently resourced. California Avenue would benefit from a policy document to guide future housing and development proposals. In the absence of such a framework, individual property owners are advancing projects independently. In addition to the subject project, a builder’s remedy application is being processed for 17-, 11-, and 7-story buildings at 156 California Avenue. While the City has broad discretion to evaluate PHZ applications due to their legislative nature, the lack of a coordinated planning policy that considers proximity to the rail station, the California Avenue street closure, parcel sizes, street access, and broader urban design and placemaking objectives may result in a less cohesive neighborhood character. The conceptual plans for the subject project also propose use of the public right-of-way, raising a unique policy question for the City Council. Staff must analyze the access implications of this proposal. Developer-funded improvements could support pedestrian activity in the area, though in an ad hoc manner. Council’s support for or opposition to such improvements would significantly affect both the project and the surrounding neighborhood. Use of the public right- of-way as part of a PHZ application has not been considered previously and may warrant further public benefits, beyond the minimum benefits typically associated with these projects. FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT The recommendation in this report does not have any significant fiscal or budgetary impacts. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT The Palo Alto Municipal Code requires notice of this public hearing be published in a local paper and mailed to owners and occupants of property within 600 feet of the subject property at least ten days in advance. Notice of a public hearing for this project was published in the Daily Post on July 31, which is 10 days in advance of the meeting. Postcard mailing occurred on July 29, which is 12 days in advance of the meeting. As of the writing of this report no project-related public written comments were received. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The prescreening is a preliminary review process in which Councilmembers may provide comment, but no formal action will be taken. Therefore, no review under the California Environmental Quality Action (CEQA) is required at this time. A full review in accordance with CEQA would be initiated with the formal filing of a development application. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Location Map Attachment B: Zoning Comparison Table Attachment C: Applicant’s Description Letter Attachment D: Link to Project Plans APPROVED BY: Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director Bank of_the West Country Sun 32.0' 35.2' 71.1' 26.7' 50.9' 125.0' 0' 107.7' 40.0' 11.6' 46.1' 75.0' 40.0'22.2' 90.0' 271.6' 239.4' 90.0' 48.0' 127.0' 50.2' 127.0' 50.2' 125.0' 20.0' 125.0' 20.0' 125.0' 50.0' 125.0' 50.0' 125.0' 46.0' 125.0' 46.0' 125.0' 37.0' 125.0' 37.0' 125.0' 65.5' 125.0' 65.5' 93.0' 61.0' 26.7' 71.1' 35.2' 40.0' 58.6' 40.0' 58.6' 22.7' 7.2' 27.7'2.0' 62.0' 25.6' 90.0' 250 22.7' 90.0' 40.9' 90.0' .3' 35.0' 53.4' 35.0'.3' 90.0' 43.8' 125.0' 44.0' 92.8' 1' 62.0' 2.0' 27.7' 92.8' 18.0' 50.0'0.0' 100.0' 14.1' 237.8' 100.0' 75.0' .0' 84.4' 75.0' 9 79.0' 21.0' 79.0' 21.0' 21.0' 110.0' 20.2' 14.1' 100.0' 30.3' 95.0'125.0'125.0' 51.0' 125.0' 51.0' 125.0' 50.0' 125.0' 50.0' 125.0' 42.0' 125.0' 42.0' 125.0' 50.0' 125.0' 50.0' 110.0' 50.0' 110.0' 50.0' 110.0' 50.0' 110.0' 50.0' 110.0' 50.0' 110.0' 50.0' 195.0' 110.0' 125.0' 130.2' 115.0' 14.1' 120.3' 115.0' 50.0' 125.0' 40.0' 14.1' 125.0' 32.5' 125.0' 32.5' 49.5' 49.5' 49.5' 49.5' 49.5' 86.5' 86.5'86.5' 79.0' 70.5' 70.5' 29.5' 29.5'29.5' 46.3' 71.7' 440 454 415 425-431 437- 441 381- 395 403- 409 433-447 330- 350 366- 370 406-410 2454 405-409 451453 448450 460 456 2450 421 475477 465 463 461 459 480 450 435 433 447 445 2431 24 2415 2438415417421 360364 392 413 414 440 444 442 VENUE ASH FIELD LANE NEW MAYFIE CALIFORN IA AVENUE CALIFORNIA AVENUE PERAL LA MIMOSA LANE CAMBRIDGE AVENUE JACA RANDA LANE Lot C-8 Lot C-4 Parking This map is a product of theCity of Palo Alto GIS This document is a graphic representation only of best available sources. Legend Project SiteCurrent Features 0' 48' Attachment ALocation Map414 California Ave. CITY OF PALO ALTOINCORPORATED CALIFORNIA P a l o A l t oT h e C i t y o f APRIL 16 1894 The City of Palo Alto assumes no responsibility for any errors. ©1989 to 2016 City of Palo Altoekallas, 2025-08-22 14:45:33Attachment A. Location Map (\\cc-maps\Encompass\Admin\Personal\Planning.mdb) ATTACHMENT B ZONING COMPARISON TABLE 414 California Ave, 25PLN-00140 Table 1: COMPARISON WITH CHAPTER 18.16 (CC(2) DISTRICT) AND CHAPTER 18.14 (HOUSING INCENTIVES) Mixed Use and Residential Development Standards Regulation Required Proposed Minimum Site Area, width and depth No Requirement 16,230.95 sf. Minimum Front Yard 0' - 10' to create an 8' - 12' effective sidewalk width 0 ft. ground floor 10 ft. upper floor, except at elevator/stairs Rear Yard (New Mayfield Lane)10' for residential portion; no requirement for commercial portion 0 ft. ground floor 10 ft. upper floor, except at elevator/stairs Interior Side Yard No Requirement 2 ft. 6.5 in. on ground floor 1 ft. 1.75 in. on upper floors Street Side Yard (Mimosa Lane)5 feet 0 ft. ground floor 10 ft. upper floor, except at elevator/stairs Min. yard for lot lines abutting or opposite residential districts or residential PC districts Not applicable, no abutting residential districts/PCs Not applicable Build-to-lines (7) 50% of frontage built to setback on California Avenue; 33% of side street built to setback on Mimosa Lane Complies Max. Site Coverage 100% (16,230.95 sf)99% (16,068 sf) Max. Building Height (CC(2))37 feet (4)78 feet 6 inches to parapet 83 feet to top of roof deck access Max. Building Height (HIP)60 feet (4)See above Max. Floor Area Ratio (FAR) (CC(2)) 0.6:1 residential (9,738.6 sf) 2.0:1 non-residential (32,460 sf) Not to exceed 2.0:1 (32,460 sf) total 4.17: 1 Residential (67,667.43 sf) 0.96:1 Non-residential (15,550.72 sf) 5.13: 1 (83,218.15 sf) total Max. Floor Area Ratio (FAR) (HIP) 2.6 residential or residential with mixed-use on the ground floor (42,198.6 sf) See above Max. Residential Density No Maximum Complies Daylight Plane for lot lines abutting one or more residential zone districts other than an RM- 40 or PC Zone None Not applicable Usable Open Space (Private and/or Common)150 sf per unit 1,612 sf of useable open space = 43 sf per unit, however only 5 of the units have access to these spaces. Minimum Mixed Use Ground Floor Commercial FAR 0.25:1 (4,057.7 sf) Retail Preservation applies Approximately 15,063 sf proposed (1) No parking or loading space, whether required or optional, shall be located in the first 10 feet adjoining the street property line of any required yard. (2) Any minimum front, street side, or interior yard shall be planted and maintained as a landscaped screen excluding areas required for access to the site. A solid wall or fence between 5 and 8 feet in height shall be constructed along any common interior lot line.. (4) As measured to the peak of the roof or the top of a parapet; penthouses and equipment enclosures may exceed this height limit by a maximum of five feet, but shall be limited to an area equal to no more than ten percent of the site area and shall not intrude into the daylight plane. (7) 25 foot driveway access permitted regardless of frontage. Table 2: CONFORMANCE WITH CHAPTER 18.52 (Off-Street Parking and Loading) Type Required Existing Proposed Special Requirements This project is located within a half mile of the California Ave. CalTrain Station. AB 2097 applies. 0 parking spaces required. 74 parking stalls proposed, TDM plan will be required. Vehicle Parking per PAMC 18.52 per land use 1 per studio/1 bed 2 per 2+ bed (53 spaces) For ground floor uses: 1 space for each 60 gross sq. ft. of public service area, plus 1 space for each 200 gross sq. ft. for all other areas. Seating area is approximately 3,254 sf (54.23 spaces) Rest of ground floor is approximately 12,296 sf (61.48 spaces) 169 spaces required 14 spaces paid into the parking district. 20 spaces provided onsite. 74 parking stalls proposed plus 14 district spaces 88 spaces total. Vehicle Parking per PAMC 18.14 (HIP) plus PAMC 18.52 for non-residential land uses. 1 per studio/1 bed 1.5 per 2+ bed (45 spaces) For ground floor uses: 1 space for each 60 gross sq. ft. of public service area, plus 1 space for each 200 See above See above gross sq. ft. for all other areas. Seating area is approximately 3,254 sf (54.23 spaces) Rest of ground floor is approximately 12,296 sf (61.48 spaces) 161 spaces required Bicycle Parking 1 LT space per unit (37) 1 ST space per 10 units (4) 12 spaces for the ground floor uses (5 LT, 7 ST) None provided, potential bike parking area shown on both garage levels. Loading Space 1 loading spaces for less than 100,000 sf No loading space required for residential projects with fewer than 50 units. 1 off-street space SPF:architects 8609 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA | www.spfa.com WRITTEN PROJECT DESCRIPTION - 414 CALIFORNIA AVENUE, PALO ALTO Project Summary: The proposed development at 414 California Avenue is a new six-story mixed-use building that includes approximately 10,000 square feet of ground floor restaurant and market uses, 14 affordable and market-rate apartments, and 23 for- sale residential condominiums. Two levels of subterranean parking provide 74 total spaces. The overall building height is 75’-0” to the top of the roof structure and 78’-6” to the top of parapet—intentionally designed to remain below the 75’ occupiable floor threshold that would classify the building as a high-rise. Located within the California Avenue Commercial District and surrounded by existing commercial and multi-family buildings, the project is consistent with the City’s ongoing effort to densify infill sites near transit and services. There are no single-family homes in the immediate vicinity, and the scale and intensity of the proposed development are well- suited to the surrounding context. While the proposed commercial uses and square footage are permitted by code, the project seeks rezoning to allow an increase in residential floor area (beyond the current 0.6:1 RFA limit) and overall height. We believe these modifications support the City’s broader planning goals and regional housing objectives. Design Concept & Site Relationship: The design approach takes inspiration from the cultural and material heritage of the region—most notably the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, the area's Indigenous inhabitants. The façade expresses this influence through a refined architectural screen system that references traditional basket weaving and ceremonial regalia. This “Golden Weave” exterior system functions not only as an expressive visual motif, but also as an environmental filter, offering solar shading and layered transparency across the upper residential levels. Ground floor uses activate both California Avenue and Mimosa Lane with a curated mix of restaurants, butcher, bakery, and market-style retail. These uses are complemented by upgraded public realm improvements, including widened sidewalks, planters, and seating areas, designed to reinforce the project’s “Gateway to California Avenue” concept. An enhanced pedestrian experience is prioritized, while vehicular access is located at the rear of the property via New Mayfield Lane. The massing is stepped to respect zoning code and urban adjacencies: • The building steps back at residential floors to provide a consistent 10-foot setback above the podium, complying with city standards. • Balconies protrude 4’-0” into the residential setback. • Stairs are exposed and articulated to break up the building volume and provide light, and air into the center of the building. • Private rooftop terraces are set back for individual and neighborhood privacy. Preliminary Review Focus: We respectfully request Council and ARB to provide feedback in the following areas: • Density: Is the proposed increase in Residential Floor Area and density in alignment with the future growth and evolution of California Avenue? • Massing & Height: Does the project appropriately scale to its commercial surroundings? We are under the high-rise classification and believe this six-story massing is a reasonable for the site. • Public Realm Interface: Does the project contribute positively to the pedestrian experience at California Avenue and Mimosa Lane? • Zoning Compatibility: Given the absence of single-family residences in the area and the site's location in an active commercial zone, we believe the increased density and height are well justified. Does the Board agree with this position? • Cultural Heritage: The design draws from the heritage of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe and other Indigenous communities of the region. We welcome feedback on how this is reflected in the architecture and are exploring ways to deepen the connection. A dedicated zone on the California Avenue façade is envisioned for a permanent artwork honoring Indigenous history, and the landscape strategy may be refined to further acknowledge the site's cultural significance. If you need assistance reviewing the above documents, please contact the Project Planner or call the Planner-on-Duty at 650-617-3117 or email planner@cityofpaloalto.org Project Plans In order to reduce paper consumption, a limited number of hard copy project plans are provided to Council members for their review. The same plans are available to the public, at all hours of the day, via the following online resources. Directions to review Project plans and environmental documents online: 1. Go to: bit.ly/PApendingprojects 2. Scroll down to find “414 California” and click the address link 3. On this project-specific webpage you will find a link to the project plans and other important information Direct Link to Project Webpage: https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/Planning-Development-Services/Current- Planning/Projects/414-California-Ave