HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2606-6436CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, June 15, 2026
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
21.FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance to Amend Various Sections of Title 16
(Building Regulations) and Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to
Implement Retail Vitality Policies in the Comprehensive Plan, Including Changes to the
Zoning Map for Parcels Zoned CN(GF) as Recommended by the Economic Development
Committee. CEQA Status: The Ordinance is Consistent with and Represents
Implementation of Adopted Policies in the Comprehensive Plan, for Which an
Environmental Impact Report (Comprehensive Plan EIR) was Certified on February 5,
2016.
CITY COUNCIL
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Planning and Development Services
Meeting Date: June 15, 2026
Report #: 2606-6436
TITLE
FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance to Amend Various Sections of Title 16 (Building
Regulations) and Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Implement Retail Vitality
Policies in the Comprehensive Plan, Including Changes to the Zoning Map for Parcels Zoned
CN(GF) as Recommended by the Economic Development Committee. CEQA Status: The
Ordinance is Consistent with and Represents Implementation of Adopted Policies in the
Comprehensive Plan, for Which an Environmental Impact Report (Comprehensive Plan EIR) was
Certified on February 5, 2016.
RECOMMENDATION
The Economic Development Committee and staff recommend that the City Council adopt an
ordinance to amend various sections of Titles 16 and 18 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code
(PAMC) (Attachment A) to implement retail vitality measures related to Comprehensive Plan
policies and the City Council's 2025 Enhance Business Vibrancy Priority.
DISCUSSION
The draft ordinance in Attachment A builds on retail conditions and strategies considered in
2023 and 2024, and an interim retail ordinance adopted in December 2024. Approval of this
updated ordinance is intended to:
Codify interim ordinance provisions;
Address other topics raised by the City Council in November 2024 while considering the
interim ordinance (such as expanding retail-like and office uses, and considering
amendments to the retail preservation ordinance);
Allow a broader range of retail and other commercial uses;
Reduce confusion from overlapping/conflicting regulations;
Rename the Conditional Use Permit to Administrative Use Permit to better reflect the
current permit process;
Add standard conditions for specific uses and remove overly subjective findings;
Streamline parking requirements and permit approvals;
Reduce ground-floor vacancies; and
Encourage vibrancy in the City’s commercial areas, including Downtown and California
Avenue.
Amendments to the zoning code are shown as underlined/strikeout in Attachment A.
City Council Economic Development Committee Recommendation
On June 3, 2026, the City Council Economic Development Committee made a unanimous
motion to recommend that the City Council adopt the draft ordinance, with the following
modifications:
Allow health screening uses in the definition of personal services, which includes activity
such as biometric body scanning, imaging or other health testing not intended to fulfill
outside medical orders
Remove a provision that would have allowed retail medical on the ground floor of
University Avenue – the ordinance does allow neighborhood-serving office on the back
half of a University Avenue facing property when accessed from a side street.
Additionally, the motion called for referring further discussions of residential uses in the
Charleston and Midtown Shopping Centers and additional locations and definitions of medical
office uses and personal services to the Economic Development Committee in a future meeting.
Staff have revised the draft ordinance in Attachment A to address this motion:
1. Adding health screening to the personal services definition (PAMC 18.04.030(114));
2. Removing medical office as a permitted use fronting University Avenue (removal of
language in previous versions of the draft ordinance under PAMC 18.30(C).020, Table 1);
and,
3. Continuing the zoning code prohibition of residential uses in the Charleston and
Midtown Shopping Centers (relocating a prohibition formerly in PAMC 18.16.040, Table
2, to PAMC 18.16.040, Table 1, footnote 1).
For additional background, analysis, fiscal impact, stakeholder engagement, environmental
review details, and an ordinance with annotations explaining the rationale behind substantive
changes, see the Economic Development Committee staff report available online here:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meetings/ItemWithTemplateType?id=12046&meetingTe
mplateType=2&compiledMeetingDocumentId=19611.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: 2026 Retail Vitality Ordinance
APPROVED BY:
Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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Ordinance No. _____
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Various Chapters of
Title 18 (Zoning) and Chapter 16.59 (Citywide Transportation Impact Fee of the
Palo Alto Municipal Code, and the Zoning Map, to Implement Retail Vitality
Measures
SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The City Council finds and declares as follows:
A. Like many communities, the City of Palo Alto has experienced high vacancy rates in retail
districts, which have been compounded by challenges associated with the COVID-19
pandemic as well as ongoing retail trends. Accordingly, the City Council has included retail
vitality as a Council priority for the past several years.
B. Throughout 2023 and 2024, City staff, the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC),
and the City’s consultant Michael Baker International (MBI) worked together to develop
a Retail Study Report intended to inform a citywide retail zoning strategy.
C. On September 18, 2024, the City Council Retail Committee reviewed the Final Draft Retail
Study Report and provided direction to staff on several zoning amendments should be
implemented immediately to support retail and retail-like uses in the City.
D. The PTC held six hearings on the Retail Study (in addition to four meetings of the PTC retail
ad hoc committee).
E. In December 16, 2024, the City Council adopted interim ordinance no. 5642, temporarily
implementing some of the recommendations of the Retail Study, while directing further
work by staff and the PTC on a permanent ordinance.
F. On October 29, 2025, the PTC reviewed additional analysis and recommendations
prepared by staff and the City’s consultant Lexington Planning.
G. On March 25, 2026, the PTC reviewed issues and options to encourage ground-floor retail,
provided comments, and recommended that the City Council adopt an ordinance.
H. On June 3, 2026, the City Council Economic Development Committee provided comments
and recommended unanimously that the City Council adopt a retail vitality ordinance.
I. The City Council now desires to adopt a retail vitality ordinance to replace interim
ordinance no. 5642.
SECTION 2. All references in the Palo Alto Municipal Code to “Conditional Use
Permit” shall be amended to read “Administrative Use Permit.” All references in the Palo Alto
Municipal Code to “CUP” shall be amended to read “AUP.” All references in the Palo Alto
Municipal Code to “conditionally permitted” shall be amended to read “administratively
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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permitted.”
SECTION 3. Section 18.04.030 (Definitions) of Chapter 18.04 (Definitions) of Title 18
(Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended as follows (additions underlined;
deletions struck-through; text omitted but unchanged noted by bracketed ellipses; unannotated
text indicates prior, temporary amendments that would expire if not restated herein):
18.04.030 Definitions
(a) Throughout this title the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in
this section.
(12) “Animal care” means a use providing grooming, housing, medical care, or other services
to animals, including veterinary services, animal hospitals, overnight or short-term boarding
ancillary to veterinary care, indoor or outdoor kennels, and similar services.
(12) “Animal care, daytime” means a use providing care and services during the daytime only,
including grooming, socializing, housing, veterinary services, and animal hospitals that do not
provide overnight care.
(12.1) “Animal care, overnight” means a use providing care and services that includes
overnight or short-term boarding, such as kennels and animal hospitals with overnight care.
[. . .]
(12.6) “Automobile showroom” means a use primarily engaged in the sale of new and used
automobiles and trucks, or the display and demonstration of automobiles and trucks for the
purpose of facilitating sales, but which does not involve on-site storage of inventory, except
as incidental to the showroom use. Automobile showroom serves primarily pedestrian
clientele and is distinct from automobile dealership.
[. . .]
(47) “Eating and drinking service” means uses primarily engaged in serving prepared food
and/or beverages for consumption on or off the premises. Related definitions are provided
in subsections (45) (Drive-in/drive- through service).
(47) (A) “Eating and drinking service, full service” means a use providing preparation and
retail sale of food and beverages with a full menu and providing indoor seating area.
Eating and drinking service This use typically includes presence of a full commercial
kitchen, and commercial dishwasher, and table service. For establishments with
incidental sale alcoholic beverages, a minimum of 50% of revenues from an “eating and
drinking service” must be derived from the sale of food. Related definitions are provided
in subsections (45) (Drive-in/drive- through service, and (125)(B) (Intensive retail service)
and (136) (Take-out service).
(B) “Eating and drinking, limited service” means a use where food and beverages are
ready to consume within approximately 15 minutes of the time of sale whether on the
premises, taken out, or delivered. Typically, limited seating area and no commercial
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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kitchen are provided. Examples may include delis, bakeries, frozen dessert shops, pizza
shops, counter service restaurants, and coffee shops. For establishments with incidental
sale alcoholic beverages, a minimum of 50% of revenues must be derived from the sale
of food.
(C) “Bars” mean establishments devoted to serving alcoholic beverages and for which the
serving of food is incidental to the consumption of such beverages, with less than 50% of
revenues derived from the sale of food.
[. . .]
(56) “Financial service” means a use providing financial services to individuals, firms, or other
entities. The term “financial service” includes banks, savings and loan institutions, loan and
lending institutions, credit unions and similar services.
(A) “Retail finance service” means a financial service use operating in a retail-oriented
manner, offering face-to-face interactions, and convenient in-person transactions in
locations designed for public access. These services includes retail banks, savings and
loan institutions, loan and lending offices, credit unions, and similar services that
prioritize walk-in customers with access to immediate financial solutions or combined
with a publicly accessible retail component.
[. . .]
(57.6) “Formula retail business” means a retail, personal, or eating and drinking service that
is one of fifty (50) or more business locations in the State of California required by contractual
or other arrangement to maintain any of the following standardized characteristics:
merchandise, menu, services, decor, uniforms, architecture, facade, color scheme, signs,
trademark, or servicemark. For purposes of this definition:
(A) “Standardized merchandise, menu and/or services” means 50% or more of in- stock
merchandise from a single distributor bearing the same or similar markings; 50% or
more of menu items identical in name and presentation with other locations; or 50%
or more of services offered identical in name or presentation with other locations.
(B) “Decor” means the style of interior furnishings, which may include but is not limited
to, style of furniture, wall coverings or permanent fixtures.
(C) “Color Scheme” means the selection of colors used throughout, such as on the
furnishings, permanent fixtures, and wall coverings, or as used on the facade.
(D) “Uniforms” means standardized items of clothing including but not limited to
standardized aprons, pants, shirts, smocks or dresses, hats, and pins (other than
name tags) as well as standardized colors of clothing.
(E) “Facade” means the face or front of a building, including awnings, looking onto a
street or an open space.
(F) “Trademark” means a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words,
phrases, symbols or designs that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods
from one party from those of others.
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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(G) “Servicemark” means a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words,
phrases, symbols or designs that identifies and distinguishes the source of a service
from one party from those of others.
[. . .]
(102.6) "Neighborhood-serving offices" are medical offices, professional offices, travel
agencies, and insurance agencies that fit the definition of a neighborhood-serving use.
(102.7) A "Neighborhood Serving Use" is not a separate use classification, but describes the
class of uses that primarily serve individual consumers and households, not businesses, are
generally pedestrian oriented in design, and do not generate noise, fumes or truck traffic
greater than that typically expected for uses with a local customer base. A neighborhood-
serving use is also one to which a significant number of customers and clients travel, rather
than the provider of the goods or services traveling off-site.
[. . .]
(114) “Personal service” means a use providing services of a personal convenience nature, and
cleaning, repair or sales incidental thereto, including:
(A) Beauty shops, nail salons, day spas, and barbershops;
(B) Self-service laundry and cleaning services; laundry and cleaning pick-up stations
where all cleaning or servicing for the particular station is done elsewhere; and
laundry and cleaning stations where the cleaning or servicing for the particular station
is done on site, utilizing equipment meeting any applicable Bay Area Air Quality
Management District requirements, so long as no cleaning for any other station is
done on the same site, provided that the amount of hazardous materials stored does
not at any time exceed the threshold which would require a permit under Title 17
(Hazardous Materials Storage) of this code;
(C) Repair and fitting of clothes, shoes, and personal accessories;
(D) Quick printing and copying services where printing or copying for the particular
service is done on site, so long as no quick printing or copying for any off-site printing
or copying service is done on the same site;
(E) Internet and other consumer electronics services;
(F) Film, data and video processing shops, including shops where processing for the
particular shop is done on site, so long as no processing for any other shop is done on
the same site;
(G) Art, dance or music studios intended for an individual or small group of persons in a
class (see “commercial recreation” for other activities); and
(H) Fitness and exercise studios, or similar uses, in a space having 5,000 square feet or
fewer of gross floor area (see “commercial recreation” for uses exceeding 5,000
square feet).
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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(I) Learning centers intended for individual or small group settings, including tutoring,
standardized test preparation, language classes, after-school programs, cooking
classes, and similar uses.
(J) Health screening, including biometric body scanning, imaging, or other health testing
services directly serving the public, so long as no medical treatment is provided and
the service is not intended to fulfill outside medical orders.
[. . .]
(125) “Retail service” means a use open to the public during typical business hours and
predominantly engaged in providing retail sale, rental, service, processing, or repair of items
primarily intended for consumer or household use.
(A) “Extensive retail service,” as used with respect to parking requirements, means a
retail sales use having more than seventy-five percent of the gross floor area used for
display, sales, and related storage of bulky commodities, including household
furniture and appliances, lumber and building materials, carpeting and floor covering,
air conditioning and heating equipment, and similar goods, which uses have
demonstrably low parking demand generation per square foot of gross floor area.
(B) “Intensive retail service” as used with respect to parking requirements, means any
retail service use not defined as extensive retail service, such as boutiques,
bookstores, and small goods retail shops. and including limited food service (i.e.
‘ready-to-eat’ food and/or beverage shops without a full commercial kitchen, where
food and/or beverages are ready to consume at the time of sale and any seating area
is limited; examples include sandwiches, frozen desserts, non-alcoholic beverages,
and baked items).
(125.1) “Retail-like use” means a use generally open to the public during typical business
hours and predominantly engaged in providing services closely related to, but distinct from,
retail services, including but not limited to:
(A) Eating and drinking services, as defined in subsection (47);
(B) Hotels, as defined in subsection (73);
(C) Personal services, as defined in subsection (114);
(D) Theaters;
(E) Travel agencies;
(F) Commercial recreation, as defined in subsection (33);
(G) Commercial nurseries;
(H) Automobile showrooms, as defined in subsection (12.6);
(I) Day care centers, as defined in subsection (42);
(J) Retail financial services, as defined in subsection (56)(A); and
(K) Other commercial uses, services, or activities determined by the Director of Planning
and Development Services to be accessible to the general public, generate walk-in
pedestrian clientele, and contribute substantially to a high level of pedestrian activity,
and meet the intent of the 18.30(B).040 (Pedestrian Shopping) design standards.
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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Not all retail-like uses are permitted in zoning districts that allow retail-like uses. Refer to use
tables within each zoning district for specific permitted retail-like uses.
[. . .]
(136) “Take-out service” means a characteristic of an eating or drinking service which
encourages, on a regular basis, consumption of food or beverages, such as prepared or
prepackaged items, outside of a building, in outdoor seating areas where regular table
service is not provided, in vehicles parked on the premises, or off-site. Take-out service does
not include intensive retail service uses, as defined in subsection (125)(B).
[. . .]
SECTION 4. Section 18.08.040 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, the “Zoning Map,” is
hereby amended by changing the zoning of the properties identified in Exhibit A by removing
the Ground Floor (GF) combining district.
SECTION 5. Sections 18.16.030 (Definitions), 18.16.040 (Land Uses), 18.16.050 (Office
Use Restrictions), and 18.16.060 (Development Standards) of Chapter 18.16 (Neighborhood,
Community, and Service Commercial (CN, CC and CS) Districts) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo
Alto Municipal Code are hereby amended as follows (additions underlined; deletions struck-
through; text omitted but unchanged noted by bracketed ellipses):
18.16.030 Definitions
[. . .]
(e) "Neighborhood-serving offices" are medical offices, professional offices, travel agencies, and
insurance agencies that fit the definition of a neighborhood-serving use.
(f) A "Neighborhood Serving Use" is a use that primarily serves individual consumers and households,
not businesses, is generally pedestrian oriented in design, and does not generate noise, fumes or truck
traffic greater than that typically expected for uses with a local customer base. A neighborhood-serving
use is also one to which a significant number of customers and clients travel, rather than the provider of
the goods or services traveling off-site.
[. . .]
18.16.040 Land Uses
The uses of land allowed by this chapter in each commercial zoning district are identified in the
following tables. Land uses that are not listed on the tables are not allowed, except where
otherwise noted. Where the last column on the following tables (“Subject to Regulations in”)
includes a section number, specific regulations in the referenced section also apply to the use;
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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however, provisions in other sections may apply as well. For properties with combining district
zoning designations, refer to combining district use regulations for additional or superseding
requirements.
(a) Commercial Zones and Land Uses
Permitted and conditionally permitted land uses for each commercial zone are shown in Table
1:
TABLE 1
PERMITTED AND CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USES
P = Permitted Use CUP = Conditional Use Permit Required
LAND USE
CN (4)
CC, CC(2)
CS (4)
Subject to
Regulations
In:
ACCESSORY AND SUPPORT USES
Accessory facilities and activities customarily associated with
or essential to permitted uses, and operated incidental to
the principal use.
P
P
P
18.42
Drive-in services or take-out services associated with
permitted uses(3) CUP CUP CUP 18.42
Tire, battery, and automotive service facilities, when
operated incidental to a permitted retail service or shopping
center having a gross floor area of more than 30,000 square
feet.
CUP
18.42,
18.40.160
Safe Parking 18.42.160
EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, AND ASSEMBLY USES
Business and Trade Schools CUP P P
Churches and Religious Institutions P P P
Private Educational Facilities CUP P P
Private Clubs, Lodges, or Fraternal Organizations CUP P P
MANUFACTURING AND PROCESSING USES
Recycling Centers CUP CUP CUP
Warehousing and Distribution CUP
OFFICE USES
Administrative Office Services P 18.16.050
Medical Offices PCUP(5)(7) PCUP(5) PCUP(5) 18.16.050
Professional and General Business Offices P(7) P P 18.16.050
PUBLIC/QUASI-PUBLIC USES
Utility Facilities essential to provision of utility services but
excluding construction or storage yards, maintenance facilities,
or corporation yards.
CUP
CUP
CUP
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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LAND USE
CN (4)
CC, CC(2)
CS (4)
Subject to
Regulations
In:
RECREATION USES
Commercial Recreation CUPP(5) CUPP(5) CUPP(5) 18.40.160
Outdoor Recreation Services CUP CUP CUP
RESIDENTIAL USES
Multiple-Family P(1) P(1) P(1) 18.16.060(b)
and (c)
Home Occupations P P P
Residential Care Homes P P P
RETAIL USES
Automobile Showroom P P P
Bars CUP CUP 18.42.090
Eating and Drinking Services, excluding drive-through drive-in and
take-out services
P(8) P P 18.40.160
18.42.090
Retail Services, excluding liquor stores P(8) P P 18.40.160
Liquor stores CUP P P 18.40.160
Shopping Centers P 18.16.060(c),
18.40.160
SERVICE USES
Ambulance Services CUP CUP CUP
Animal Care, daytime excluding boarding and kennels P P P 18.42.130
Animal Care, overnight CUP CUP CUP 18.42.130
Automobile Service Stations CUP CUP CUP 18.30(G)
Automotive Services CUP
Convalescent Facilities CUP P P
Day Care Centers P P P 18.40.160
Small Family Day Care Homes P P P
Large Family Day Care Homes P P P
Small Adult Day Care Homes P P P
Large Adult Day Care Homes CUP P P
Banks and Financial Services V CUP P(2) P(2) P(2)
General Business Services CUP CUP P
Hotels P P 18.16.060(d),
18.40.160
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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LAND USE
CN (4)
CC, CC(2)
CS (4)
Subject to
Regulations
In:
Mortuaries CUP P P
Neighborhood Business Services P 18.16.060(f)
Personal Services P P(6) P 18.16.060(f),
18.40.160
Reverse Vending Machines P P P
TEMPORARY USES
Farmer’s Markets CUP CUP CUP
Temporary Parking Facilities, provided that such facilities shall
remain no more than five years.
CUP CUP CUP
TRANSPORTATION USES
Parking as a principal use CUP CUP
Transportation Terminals CUP CUP
P = Permitted Use CUP = Conditional Use Permit Required
(1) Residential is only permitted in the following instances and pursuant to 18.16.060(b) and (c):
(i) Aas part of a mixed use development, except on CN sites in the Midtown Shopping District
and Charleston Shopping Center; or pursuant to the provisions of Section 18.16.060(b), or
(ii) Oon sites designated as housing inventory sites in the Housing Element of the
Comprehensive Plan; or
(iii) Oon CN or CS sites on El Camino Real; or
(iv) Oon CC(2) sites.
(2) Except drive-through drive-in services.
(3) So long as drive up facilities, excluding car washes, provide full access to pedestrians and
bicyclists. A maximum of two such services shall be permitted within 1,000 feet, and each use shall
not be less than 150 feet from one another.
(4) For properties in the CN and CS zone districts, businesses that operate or have associated
activities at any time between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. require a conditional use permit.
(5) Except, a A conditional use permit is not required for medical office or commercial recreation
uses up to 5,000 square feet of gross floor area, with the following exceptions, for which a
conditional use permit is always required for:
(A) ground-floor medical office fronting on California Avenue and, in the Charleston Shopping
Center, in the Midtown Shopping District, and Town and Country Shopping
Center;
(B) commercial recreation uses fronting on California Avenue and in the Town and Country
Village Shopping Center.
(6) A conditional use permit is required for the following uses when fronting on California Avenue:
(A) Fitness or exercise studios, and similar uses exceeding 1,800 square feet in gross floor area; and
(B) Learning centers intended for individual or small group settings. A conditional use permit is
required for fitness or exercise studios, and similar uses exceeding 1,800 square feet in gross floor
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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area in Town and Country Village Shopping Center.
(7) In the Midtown Shopping District and Charleston Shopping Center, only “neighborhood serving
office” uses are permitted, and a CUP is required for office uses exceeding 2,500 sq. ft.
(8) In the Midtown Shopping District and Charleston Shopping Center, a conditional use permit is
required for eating and drinking services above 5,000 sq. ft and for other retail uses above 20,000 sq.
ft.
[. . .]
(c) CN District: Special Use Requirements in the Charleston and Midtown Shopping Centers
The following regulations shall apply to areas of Charleston Center and the Midtown
Shopping Center as defined in Section 18.16.030.
Table 2 shows the uses permitted and conditionally permitted on the ground floor of the
applicable areas of the Charleston Center and Midtown Shopping Center. Permitted and
conditional uses specified in subsection (a) of this section shall only apply to the ground floor
of the areas of the Charleston and Midtown Shopping Centers as listed in Table 2. Uses
lawfully existing on January 16, 2001 may be continued as non-conforming uses but may only
be replaced with uses permitted or conditionally permitted under this subsection.
TABLE 2
CHARLESTON AND MIDTOWN SHOPPING CENTERS GROUND FLOOR USES
P = Permitted Use CUP = Conditional Use Permit Required X = Prohibited Use
LAND USES
Charleston
Shopping
Center
Midtown
Shopping
Center
Subject to
Regulations in:
ACCESSORY AND SUPPORT USES
Accessory facilities and uses customarily incidental to
permitted uses. P P
EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, AND ASSEMBLY USES
Churches and Religious Institutions CUP CUP
Private Educational Facilities CUP CUP
MANUFACTURING AND PROCESSING USES
Recycling Centers CUP CUP
OFFICE USES
Neighborhood-serving offices that do not exceed 2,500 square
feet in floor area. P 18.16.050
Neighborhood-serving offices exceeding 2,500 square feet in
floor area. CUP 18.16.050
Administrative office uses and general business office uses (other
than neighborhood-serving travel agencies and insurance
agencies) other than those legally in existence on January
16,2001
X
X
18.16.050
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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LAND USES
Charleston
Shopping
Center
Midtown
Shopping
Center
Subject to
Regulations in:
Medical offices not exceeding 2,500 square feet in area,
professional offices, travel agencies, and insurance agencies
CUP 18.16.050
PUBLIC/QUASI-PUBLIC USES
Utility Facilities essential to provision of utility services but
excluding construction or storage yards, maintenance facilities,
or corporation yards.
CUP
CUP
RECREATION USES
Commercial Recreation CUP CUP 18.40.160
Outdoor Recreation Services CUP CUP
Private Clubs, Lodges, or Fraternal Organizations CUP CUP
RESIDENTIAL USES
Residential uses of any nature X X
RETAIL USES
Eating and Drinking Services, excluding drive-in and take-out
services
P P 18.40.160
Retail Services, excluding liquor stores P P 18.40.160
Liquor stores CUP CUP 18.40.160
SERVICE USES
Ambulance Services CUP CUP
Animal Care, excluding boarding and kennels P P
Automobile Service Stations CUP CUP 18.30(G)
Convalescent Facilities CUP CUP
Day Care Centers P P 18.40.160
Financial Services CUP CUP
Mortuaries CUP CUP
Neighborhood Business Services P P
Personal Services P P 18.40.160
Reverse Vending Machines P P
TEMPORARY USES
Farmers’ Markets CUP CUP
Temporary Parking Facilities, provided that such facilities shall
remain no more than five years.
CUP CUP
P = Permitted Use CUP = Conditional Use Permit Required X = Prohibited Use
(d) Charleston Shopping Center Additional Use Restrictions
(1) Any office use first occupying space at the Center on or after January 16, 2001, shall obtain
a written determination from the director of planning and development services that it
qualifies as a neighborhood serving use, as defined in this chapter, before occupying its
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premises. The applicant shall submit such information as the director shall reasonably require
in order to make the determination, and the director shall issue the determination within 30
days of receiving a complete application. Failure to submit the required information shall be
grounds for determining that a business is not neighborhood-serving.
(2) No more than 7,850 square feet of total floor area at the Center shall be occupied by
office uses at any time.
(3) Prior to approving a conditional use permit for neighborhood-serving offices larger than
2,500 square feet in total floor area, the city shall find that the proposed use will be
neighborhood-serving, that it will be conducted in a manner that will enhance and strengthen
the Center as a neighborhood resource, and that it will not diminish the retail strength of the
center.
(e) Midtown Shopping Center: Additional Use Restrictions
(1) An existing ground floor office may be replaced with another office if
(a) the new tenant or owner will continue the existing business or practice; or
(b) a conditional use permit is issued for the new office use.
(2) No conditional use permit shall be issued for any new office use on the ground floor
unless, in addition to the findings required for a conditional use permit as specified in Section
18.76.010, the city finds that the proposed use will be neighborhood serving, that it will be
conducted in a manner that will enhance and strengthen the Midtown Shopping District as a
neighborhood resource, and that it will not diminish the retail strength of the District.
(3) For properties at 711, 719, and 721 Colorado Avenue, and 689 Bryson Avenue ,
buildings not fronting on Middlefield Avenue, designed and used for office purposes, and not
well suited to other uses are exempt from the provisions of this subsection (b).
18.16.050 Office Use Restrictions
The following restrictions shall apply to office uses:
(a) Conversion of Ground Floor Housing and Non-Office Commercial to Office
Medical, Professional, and Business offices shall not be located on the ground floor, unless
any of the following apply to such offices:
(1) Have been continuously in existence in that space since March 19, 2001, and as of such
date, were neither non-conforming nor in the process of being amortized pursuant to Chapter
18.30(I);
(2) Occupy a space that was not occupied by housing, neighborhood business service,
retail services, personal services, eating and drinking services, or automotive service on March
19, 2001 or thereafter;
(3) Occupy a space that was vacant on March 19, 2001;
(4) Are located in new or remodeled ground floor area built on or after March 19, 2001 if
the ground floor area devoted to housing, retail services, eating and drinking services,
personal services, and automobile services does not decrease;
(5) Are on a site located in an area subject to a specific plan or coordinated area plan,
which specifically allows for such ground floor medical, professional, and general business
offices; or
(6) Are located anywhere in Building E or in the rear 50% of Building C or D of the property
***NOT YET APPROVED***
13
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at the southeast corner of the intersection of Park Boulevard and California Avenue, as shown
on sheet A2 of the plans titled “101 California Avenue Townhouse/Commercial/Office, Palo
Alto, CA” by Crosby, Thornton, Marshall Associates, Architects, dated June 14, 1982, revised
November 23, 1982, and on file with the Department of Planning and Development Services.
(a) The following office use restrictions shall apply in the Midtown Shopping District and
Charleston Shopping Center:
(1) The only office uses permitted are “neighborhood serving office” uses.
(2) Prior to approving a conditional use permit for neighborhood-serving offices larger
than 2,500 square feet in total floor area, the city shall find that the proposed use
will be neighborhood-serving and consistent with the purposes of the zoning district
(3) In the Midtown Shopping District, buildings at 711, 719, and 721 Colorado Avenue,
and 689 Bryson Avenue, which do not front on Middlefield Avenue and are designed
and used for office purposes, are exempt from the provisions of this subsection.
(b) Size Restrictions on Office Uses in the CN and CS Districts (other than Midtown Shopping
District and Charleston Shopping Center):
(1) In the CN district, office uses shall be governed by the following regulations:
(A) Total floor area of permitted office uses on a lot shall not exceed 25% of the lot
area, provided:
(i) A lot shall be permitted to have at least a total floor area of 2,500 square feet
of office uses, provided the uses meet all other zoning regulations.
(ii) No lot shall be permitted to have more than a total floor area of 5,000 square
feet of office uses.
(B) Such uses may be allowed to exceed the maximum size, subject to issuance of a
conditional use permit in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.76. The
maximum size for any conditional use shall be established by the director and
specified in the conditional use permit for such use.
(2) In the CS district, office uses shall be governed by the following regulations:
(A) No lot shall be permitted to have more than a total floor area of 5,000 square
feet of office uses.
(B) Such uses may be allowed to exceed the maximum size, subject to issuance of a
conditional use permit in accord with the provisions of Chapter 18.76. The
maximum size for any conditional use shall be established by the director and
specified in the conditional use permit for such use.
18.16.060 Development Standards
[. . .]
(f) Size of Establishments in the CN District
In the CN district, permitted commercial uses shall not exceed the floor area per individual
use or business establishment shown in Table 5. Such uses may be allowed to exceed the
maximum establishment size, subject to issuance of a conditional use permit in accord with
Section 18.76.010. The maximum establishment size for any conditional use shall be
established by the director and specified in the conditional use permit for such use.
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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TABLE 5
MAXIMUM SIZE OF ESTABLISHMENT
Type of Establishment Maximum Size (ft 2 )
Personal Services 3,000
Retail services, except grocery stores 15,000
Grocery stores 20,000
Eating and drinking services 5,000
Neighborhood business services 3,000
[. . .]
SECTION 6. Sections 18.18.050 (Land Uses) and 18.18.060 (Development Standards) of
Chapter 18.18 (Downtown Commercial (CD) District) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code are hereby amended as follows (additions underlined; deletions struck-through;
text omitted but unchanged noted by bracketed ellipses):
18.18.050 Land Uses
The uses of land allowed by this chapter in each commercial zoning district are identified in the
following table. Land uses that are not listed on the tables are not allowed, except where
otherwise noted. Where the last column on the following tables (“Subject to Regulations in”)
includes a section number, specific regulations in the referenced section also apply to the use;
however, provisions in other sections may apply as well. For parcels designed with the -GF
combining district, refer to 18.30(C) for ground-floor use regulations.
Permitted and conditionally permitted land uses for the CD district are shown in Table 1:
Table 1
CD Permitted and Conditionally Permitted Uses
P Permitted Use • CUP Conditional Use Permit Required
CD-C CD-S CD-N Subject to
regulations in:
ACCESSORY USES
Accessory facilities and activities associated with or essential
to permitted uses, and operated incidental to the principal
use
P
P
P
Drive-in or Take-out Services associated with permitted uses
(2) CUP CUP CUP
Tire, battery, and automotive service facilities, when operated
incidental to a permitted retail service or shopping center
having a gross floor area of more than 30,000 square feet
CUP
18.40.160
Safe Parking 18.42.160
EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, AND ASSEMBLY USES
Business and Trade Schools P P
Churches and Religious Institutions P P P
Private Educational Facilities P P CUP
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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0160198_20260604_ay16
Table 1
CD Permitted and Conditionally Permitted Uses
P Permitted Use • CUP Conditional Use Permit Required
CD-C CD-S CD-N Subject to
regulations in:
Private Clubs, Lodges, or Fraternal Organizations P P CUP
MANUFACTURING AND PROCESSING USES
Recycling Centers CUP CUP CUP
Warehousing and Distribution CUP
OFFICE USES
Administrative Office Services P 18.18.060(f)
Medical, Professional, and General Business Offices P P P 18.18.060(f)
PUBLIC/QUASI-PUBLIC FACILITY USES
Utility Facilities essential to provision of utility services but
excluding construction or storage yards, maintenance facilities,
or corporation yards
CUP
CUP
RECREATION USES
Commercial Recreation CUP(3) CUP(3) CUP(3)
Outdoor Recreation Services CUP CUP CUP
RESIDENTIAL USES
Multiple-Family P (1) P (1) P (1) 18.18.060(b)
Home Occupations P P P
Residential Care Homes P P P
RETAIL USES
Automobile Showrooms P P P
Bars CUP 18.42.090
Eating and Drinking Services, except drive-through drive-in or
take-out services
P P P 18.18.060(g) ,
18.40.160
18.42.090
Retail Services, excluding liquor stores P P P 18.18.060(g) ,
18.40.160
Shopping Centers P 18.18.060(g) ,
18.40.160
Liquor Stores P P CUP 18.40.160
SERVICE USES
Animal Care, excluding boarding and kennels daytime P P P 18.42.130
Ambulance Services CUP CUP CUP 18.30(G)
Automobile Service Stations CUP CUP CUP
Automobile Services CUP
Convalescent Facilities P P CUP
***NOT YET APPROVED***
16
0160198_20260604_ay16
Table 1
CD Permitted and Conditionally Permitted Uses
P Permitted Use • CUP Conditional Use Permit Required
CD-C CD-S CD-N Subject to
regulations in:
Day Care Centers P P P 18.40.160
Small Family Day Care Homes P P P
Large Family Day Care Homes P P P
Small Adult Day Care Homes P P P
Large Adult Day Care Homes
Financial Services, except drive-up services P P CUP
General Business Services CUP P P
Hotels P P P 18.18.060(d) ,
18.40.160
Mortuaries P P CUP
Personal Services P(4) P(4) P(3)(4) 18.18.060(g) ,
18.40.160
Reverse Vending Machines P P P
TRANSPORTATION USES
Parking as a principal use CUP CUP
Passenger Transportation Terminals CUP
TEMPORARY USES
Indoor Farmers’ Markets CUP CUP CUP
Temporary Parking Facilities, provided that such facilities shall
remain no more than five years
CUP CUP CUP
P Permitted Use CUP Conditional Use Permit Required
(1) Residential is only permitted as part of a mixed use development, pursuant to the provisions of Section
18.18.060(b), or on sites designated as Housing Opportunity Sites in the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan,
pursuant to the provisions of Section 18.18.060(c).
(2) Drive-up facilities, excluding car washes, provide full access to pedestrians and bicyclists. A maximum of two such
services shall be permitted within 1,000 feet and each use shall not be less than 150 ft from one another.
(3) A conditional use permit is required for personal services over 5,000 sq. ft.
(3) A conditional use permit is not required for commercial recreation uses up to 5,000 square feet of gross floor
area, with the following exceptions, for which a conditional use permit is always required: (A) medical office fronting on
University Avenue; (B) commercial recreation uses fronting on University Avenue.
(4) A conditional use permit is required for the following uses when fronting on University Avenue: (A) Fitness or
exercise studios, and similar uses; and (B) Learning centers intended for individual or small group settings.
18.18.060 Development Standards
[. . .]
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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(g) Restrictions on Size of Commercial Establishments in CD-N Subdistrict
In the CD-N subdistrict, permitted commercial uses shall not exceed the floor area per
individual use or business establishment shown in Table 4. Such uses may be allowed to exceed
the maximum establishment size, subject to the issuance of a conditional use permit in
accordance with Chapter 18.76. The maximum establishment size for any conditional use shall
be established by the director and specified in the conditional use permit for such use.
TABLE 4
MAXIMUM SIZE OF ESTABLISHMENT
Type of Establishment Maximum Size (ft 2 )
Personal Services 3,000
Retail services, except grocery stores 15,000
Grocery stores 20,000
Eating and drinking services 5,000
[. . .]
SECTION 7. Section 18.29.050 (Permitted Uses) of Chapter 18.29 (North Ventura (NV)
District Regulations) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended as follows
(additions underlined; deletions struck-through; text omitted but unchanged noted by bracketed
ellipses):
18.29.050 Permitted Uses
The uses of land allowed by this chapter in each zoning district are identified in the following
tables. Land uses that are not listed in the tables are not allowed, except where otherwise noted.
Where the last column on the following tables ("Subject to Regulations in") includes a section
number, specific regulations in the referenced section also apply to the use; however, provisions
in other sections not specifically referenced may apply as well.
TABLE 1: PERMITTED AND CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USES
P = Permitted Use
CUP = Conditional Use Permit Required TUP = Temporary Use Permit Required
— = Not Permitted
LAND USE NV-R1 NV-R2 NV-R3 NV-R4 NV-MXL
(1)(5)
NV-MXM
(5)
NV-MXH NV-PF Subject to
Regulations In:
ACCESSORY AND SUPPORT USES
18.40
Accessory facilities and activities
customarily incidental to the
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
-
18.10.080
permitted use 18.12.080
Accessory Dwelling Unit & Junior
Accessory Dwelling Unit when
accessory to primary and permitted
residential use
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
-
18.09
***NOT YET APPROVED***
18
0160198_20260604_ay16
TABLE 1: PERMITTED AND CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USES
P = Permitted Use
CUP = Conditional Use Permit Required TUP = Temporary Use Permit Required
— = Not Permitted
LAND USE NV-R1 NV-R2 NV-R3 NV-R4 NV-MXL
(1)(5)
NV-MXM
(5)
NV-MXH NV-PF Subject to
Regulations In:
Home Occupations, when accessory
to permitted residential use
P P P P P P P P 18.42
Horticulture, Gardening, and Growing
of food products for consumption by
occupants of a site
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
-
EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, AND ASSEMBLY USES
Private Clubs, Lodges, or Fraternal
Organizations, excluding any such
facility operated as a business for
profit
-
-
-
CUP
CUP
-
-
-
Private Educational Facilities CUP CUP CUP CUP CUP P P -
Religious Institutions CUP CUP CUP CUP P P P -
OFFICE USES(2)
Administrative Office Services - - - - P P P - 18.29.050(a)
Medical Offices - - - - P P P - 18.29.050(a)
Professional and General Business
Offices
- - - - P P P - 18.29.050(a)
PUBLIC/QUASI-PUBLIC USES
Community Centers CUP CUP CUP CUP - - - CUP (3)
Utility Facilities essential to provision
of utility services but excluding
construction or storage yards,
maintenance facilities, or corporation
yards.
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
-
RECREATION USES
Neighborhood Recreational Centers - - CUP CUP - - - CUP(3)
Commercial Recreation - - - - CUP CUP CUP CUP(3)
Outdoor Recreation Services CUP CUP CUP CUP - CUP CUP CUP(3)
Youth Clubs - - - - - - - CUP(3)
RESIDENTIAL USES
Single-Family P P - - - - - -
Two-Family P P - - - - - - 18.42.180
Multiple-Family - - P P P P P P (4)
Residential Care Homes P P P P P P P -
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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0160198_20260604_ay16
TABLE 1: PERMITTED AND CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USES
P = Permitted Use
CUP = Conditional Use Permit Required TUP = Temporary Use Permit Required
— = Not Permitted
LAND USE NV-R1 NV-R2 NV-R3 NV-R4 NV-MXL
(1)(5)
NV-MXM
(5)
NV-MXH NV-PF Subject to
Regulations In:
RETAIL USES
Automobile Showroom P
Bars CUP 18.42.090
Eating and Drinking Services, except
drive-through drive-in and takeout
services
- - P P P P P CUP (3) 18.40.160,
18.29.050(c)
Personal Services and Retail Services
of a neighborhood- serving nature
-
-
P
P
P
P
P
CUP (3)
18.40.160,
18.29.050(c)
Liquor stores - - - - - P P - 18.40.160,
18.29.050(c)
SERVICE USES
Animal Care, daytime excluding
boarding and kennels
- - - - P P P - 18.29.050(c)
18.42.130
Animal Care, overnight CUP CUP CUP 18.42.130
Convalescent Facilities - - - CUP P P P -
Day Care Centers CUP CUP CUP P P P P - 18.40.160
Large Family Day Care Homes P P P P P P P P(3)
Small Family Day Care Homes P P P P P P P P(3)
Large Adult Day Care Homes CUP CUP P P P P P P(3)
Small Adult Day Care Homes P P P P P P P P(3)
Financial Services - - - - P P P - 18.29.050(a),
18.29.060(b)
General Business Services - - - - P P P - 18.29.050(a),
18.29.060(b)
Hotels - - - - - P P - 18.40.160,
18.16.060(d)
Personal Services and Retail Services
defined as a neighborhood- serving
use
-
-
P
P
P
P
P
CUP (3)
18.40.160,
18.29.050(c)
Other Personal Services - - - - P P P - 18.40.160,
18.29.050(c),
18.29.060(b)
AGRICULTURAL AND OPEN SPACE USES
Park uses and uses incidental to park
operation
- - - - - - - P
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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0160198_20260604_ay16
TABLE 1: PERMITTED AND CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USES
P = Permitted Use
CUP = Conditional Use Permit Required TUP = Temporary Use Permit Required
— = Not Permitted
LAND USE NV-R1 NV-R2 NV-R3 NV-R4 NV-MXL
(1)(5)
NV-MXM
(5)
NV-MXH NV-PF Subject to
Regulations In:
All facilities owned or leased, and
operated or used, by the City of Palo
Alto, the County of Santa Clara, the
State of California, the government of
the United States, the Palo Alto
Unified School District, or any other
governmental agency, or leased by
any such agency to another party
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
P
Utility Facilities - - - - - - - CUP
TEMPORARY USES
Temporary Uses - - TUP TUP - - - - 18.42.050
Farmer’s Markets - - - - - CUP CUP -
Temporary Parking Facilities,
provided that such facilities shall
remain no more than five years
-
-
-
-
-
CUP
CUP
CUP (3)
Notes:
For NV-MXL zoning district, the total floor area of non-residential uses permitted and conditionally permitted on a lot shall not
exceed 5,000 square feet.
For office uses, total floor area of permitted office uses on a lot shall not exceed 5,000 square feet.
Provided such use is conducted on property owned by the City of Palo Alto, the County of Santa Clara, the State of California , the
government of the United States, the Palo Alto Unified School District, or any other governmental agency, and leased for said uses.
Only a 100% Affordable Housing Project is permitted. Development shall follow NV-R4 standards.
Ground floor uses shall comply with the ground floor edge framework set forth in NVCAP section 2.3.
…
SECTION 8. Chapter 18.30(A) (Retail Shopping (R) Combining District Regulations) of
Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended as follows (additions
underlined; deletions struck-through; text omitted but unchanged noted by bracketed ellipses):
18.30(A).010 Specific Purposes
The retail shopping combining district is intended to modify the uses allowed in a commercial
district, where applied in combination with such district, to allow only retail, eating, and service-
oriented, and neighborhood-serving office commercial development on the ground floors
[. . .]
18.30(A).040 Permitted Uses Land Uses
Except to the extent a conditional use permit is required pursuant to Section 18.30(A).050, the
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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0160198_20260604_ay16
following uses shall be permitted in an R district:
(a) Eating and drinking services, except drive-in and take-out services.
(b) Personal services, except the following on California Avenue: fitness or exercise studios
exceeding 1,800 square feet in gross floor area
(c) Retail services.
(d) Financial services, except drive-in services.
(e) Pet grooming services.
(f) Automobile showroom.
(g) All other uses permitted in the underlying commercial district, provided they are not
located on a ground floor.
Permitted and conditionally permitted land uses in the combining district are identified in
Table 1. Where the last column on the following tables ("Subject to Regulations in") includes a
section number, specific regulations in the referenced section also apply to the use.
Conditional use permits shall be issued in accordance with Chapter 18.76 (Permits and
Approvals), subject to restrictions in Section 18.40.160.
Table 1
P Permitted Use • CUP Conditional Use Permit Required (R) Subject to regulations in:
OFFICE USES
Medical offices, that include retail services, fronting California Avenue CUP 18.30(A).050(b)
Neighborhood-serving offices, except fronting California Avenue. P 18.30(A).050(c)
RECREATION USES
Commercial recreation, fronting California Avenue CUP
Commercial recreation, other locations P
RETAIL USES
Automobile showrooms P
Bars CUP 18.42.090
Eating and drinking services, except drive-through services P 18.42.090
Formula retail businesses on California Avenue CUP
Retail financial services, except drive-through services. P
Retail services P
SERVICE USES
Animal care, daytime P 18.42.130
Personal services P
OTHER
All other uses permitted in the underlying commercial district, provided
they are not located on a ground floor.
CUP See underlying district
regulations
18.30(A).050 Conditional Uses
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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The following uses may be conditionally permitted in an R district, subject to the issuance of a
conditional use permit in accord with Chapter 18.76 (Permits and Approval):
(a) All other conditional uses allowed in the underlying commercial district provided they are
not located on a ground floor.
(b) Formula retail businesses on California Avenue.
(c)Fitness or exercise studios exceeding 1,800 square feet in gross floor area on California
Avenue.
18.30(A).055050 Design Standards
(a) The following design standards shall apply in the R combining district:
(a) (1) Window Transparency. Exterior windows on the ground floor shall use transparent
glazing to the extent feasible. Low-e glass or minimal tinting to achieve sun control is
permitted, so long as the glazing appears transparent when viewed from the ground
level.
(b) (2) Visual Access. Window coverings are not permitted on the ground floor during
typical business hours. Where operations preclude transparency (e.g., theaters) or
where privacy requires window coverings, sidewalk-facing frontage shall include
items of visual interest including displays of merchandise or artwork; visual access
shall be provided to a minimum depth of 3 feet.
(b) Medical Office Uses. For ground-floor medical office uses located within 40 feet of the
back of sidewalk on California Avenue, such uses shall include a retail services
component that occupies a minimum 15-foot depth, as measured from the California
Avenue ground floor building frontage.
(c) Neighborhood-Serving Office Uses. Ground-floor neighborhood-serving office uses may
be located in the rear of lots with frontage on California Avenue or fronting on side
streets, if retail or retail-like uses occupy a minimum 40-foot depth of the ground floor,
as measured from the back of sidewalk on California Avenue, and occupy the full extent
of the California Avenue building frontage, excluding required utilities, driveways,
pedestrian access and residential lobby.
[. . .]
18.30(A).070 Waivers and adjustments.
(a) The following shall be grounds for a request for waiver or adjustment of this Chapter:
(1) Economic Hardship. An applicant may request that the requirements of this Chapter be
adjusted or waived upon a showing that strict application would result in an unreasonable
financial burden on the property.
(2) Alternative Viable Use. An applicant may request that the requirements of this Chapter
18.30(A) be adjusted or waived based on a showing that: the permitted retail or retail-like use
is not viable; the proposed alternative use will support the purposes of the combining district
and Comprehensive Plan land use designation; and the proposed use will encourage active
pedestrian-oriented activity and connections.
(b) Documentation.
The applicant shall bear the burden of presenting substantial evidence to support a waiver
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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0160198_20260604_ay16
or modification request under this section and shall set forth in detail the factual and/or legal
basis for the claim, including all supporting technical documentation. Any request under this
section shall be submitted to the Planning and Development Services Director together with
the fee specified in the municipal fee schedule and an economic analysis or other supporting
documentation. A request under this section shall be acted upon by the City Council.
SECTION 9. Chapter 18.30(C) (Ground Floor (GF) Combining District Regulations) of
Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended as follows (additions
underlined; deletions struck-through; text omitted but unchanged noted by bracketed ellipses):
[. . .]
18.30(C).020 Permitted Uses Land Uses
(a) The following uses shall be permitted in the GF combining district, subject to restrictions in
Section 18.40.180:
(1) Eating and drinking;
(2) Hotels;
(3) Personal services, except for the following on parcels with frontage on University
Avenue: fitness and exercise studios exceeding 3,000 square feet in gross floor area;
(4) Retail services;
(5) Theaters;
(6) Travel agencies;
(7) Commercial recreation up to 5,000 square feet in gross floor area, except for parcels
with frontage on University Avenue;
(8) Financial services, except drive-in services.
(9) Pet grooming services.
(10) Automobile showroom;
(11) All other uses permitted in the underlying district, provided such uses are not on the
ground floor.
(a) Permitted and conditionally permitted land uses in the combining district are identified
in Table 1 and, subject to restrictions in Section 18.40.180. Where the last column on
the following tables ("Subject to Regulations in") includes a section number, specific
regulations in the referenced section also apply to the use.
(b) Elimination or conversion of basement space currently in retail or retail-like use or related
support purposes is prohibited.
(c) Entrance, lobby, or reception areas serving non-ground floor uses may be located on the
ground floor to the extent reasonably necessary, provided they do not interfere with the
ground floor use(s), and subject to the approval of the Director.
18.30(C).030 Conditional Uses
(a) The following uses may be conditionally allowed on the ground floor in the GF ground floor
combining district, subject to issuance of a conditional use permit in accord with Chapter 18.76
(Permits and Approvals) and with the additional finding required by subsection (b), subject to
restrictions in Section 18.40.160:
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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(1) Business or trade school;
(2) Commercial recreation over 5,000 square feet in gross floor area or with frontage on
University Avenue;
(3) Day care;
(4) General business service;
(5) All other uses conditionally permitted in the applicable underlying district, provided such
uses are not on the ground floor.
(b a) The director may grant a conditional use permit under this section only if he or she
makes the following findings in addition to the subject to the findings required by Chapter
18.76 (Permits and Approvals) and a finding that:
(1) The location, access or design of the ground floor space of the existing building
housing the proposed use, creates exceptional or extraordinary circumstances or
conditions applicable to the property involved that do not apply generally to property
in the same district.
(2) Tthe proposed use will not be determined to the retail environment or the
pedestrian-oriented design support the objectives of the GF combining district.
(c b) Any use conditionally permitted pursuant to this section shall be effective only during
the existence of the building that created the exceptional circumstance upon which
present when the finding set forth in subsection (b) was made.
Table 1
P Permitted Use • CUP Conditional Use Permit Required (GF) Subject to regulations in:
EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, AND ASSEMBLY USES
Business or trade school CUP
OFFICE USES
Neighborhood-serving offices, except fronting University Avenue. P 18.30(C).030(b)
RECREATION USES
Commercial recreation, up to 5,000 sq. ft. P
Commercial recreation, more than 5,000 sq. ft. CUP
Commercial recreation, fronting University Avenue CUP
RETAIL USES
Automobile showrooms P
Bars CUP 18.42.090
Eating and drinking services, except drive-through services P 18.42.090
Retail financial services, except drive-through services. P
Retail services P
SERVICE USES
Animal care, daytime P
Day care centers CUP
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General business service CUP
Personal services P
Theaters P
Travel Agencies P
OTHER
All other uses permitted in the underlying commercial district, provided
they are not located on a ground floor.
CUP See underlying district
regulations
18.30(C).035030 Design Standards
(a) Where the GF combining district is combined with the CD-C subdistrict, the following
design standards shall apply:
(a) (1) Window Transparency. Exterior windows on the ground floor shall use
transparent glazing to the extent feasible. Low-e glass or minimal tinting to achieve
sun control is permitted, so long as the glazing appears transparent when viewed
from the ground level.
(b) (2) Visual Access. Window coverings are not permitted on the ground floor during
typical business hours. Where operations preclude transparency (e.g., theaters) or
where privacy requires window coverings, sidewalk-facing frontage shall include
items of visual interest including displays of merchandise or artwork; visual access
shall be provided to a minimum depth of 3 feet.
(b) Neighborhood-Serving Office Uses on University Avenue. Ground-floor neighborhood-
serving office uses may be located in the rear of lots with frontage on University Avenue
or fronting on side streets, if one of the following conditions are met:
(1) Retail or retail-like uses occupy a minimum 50-foot depth of the ground floor, as
measured from the back of sidewalk on University Avenue, and occupy the full extent of
the University Avenue building frontage, excluding required utilities, driveways,
pedestrian access and residential lobby; or
(2) For buildings that do not have tenant spaces within 50 feet of University Avenue
(e.g., flag lots, deep setbacks), neighborhood-serving offices are located a minimum of
50 feet from University Avenue, as measured from the back of sidewalk.
[. . .]
18.30(C).050 Waivers and adjustments.
(a) The following shall be grounds for a request for waiver or adjustment of this Chapter:
(1) Economic Hardship. An applicant may request that the requirements of this Chapter be
adjusted or waived upon a showing that strict application would result in an unreasonable
financial impact on the property.
(2) Alternative Viable Use. An applicant may request that the requirements of this Chapter
18.30(A) be adjusted or waived based on a showing that: the permitted retail or retail-like
use is not viable; the proposed alternative use will support the purposes of the combining
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district and Comprehensive Plan land use designation; and the proposed use will
encourage active pedestrian-oriented activity and connections.
(b) Documentation. The applicant shall bear the burden of presenting substantial evidence to
support a waiver or modification request under this section and shall set forth in detail the
factual and/or legal basis for the claim, including all supporting technical documentation. Any
request under this section shall be submitted to the Planning and Development Services
Director together with the fee specified in the municipal fee schedule and an economic
analysis or other supporting documentation. A request under this section shall be acted upon
by the City Council.
SECTION 10. Section 18.38.030 (Permitted Uses) of Chapter 18.38 (PC Planned
Community District Regulations) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby
amended as follows (additions underlined; deletions struck-through):
18.38.030 Permitted uses.
Any use may be permitted in any specific PC district; provided:
(a) Such such use is shall be specifically listed as a permitted use and shall be located and
conducted in accord with the approved development plan and other applicable
regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter to govern each specific PC district; or
(b) Except for uses identified as being part of a PC community benefit, the Director may
determine that an unlisted use is materially similar to a listed use in the specific PC district
and may be allowed in the same extent and subject to the same standards as a listed
permitted use, if it has:
(1) Similar impacts on the neighborhood such as traffic generation, deliveries, noise and
lighting as listed uses; and
(2) Similar characteristics such as building type, site arrangement, floor area, number of
employees, indoor and/or outdoor uses, customer traffic, equipment use, hours of
operation, parking, vehicle trips and signage as listed uses.
SECTION 11. Section 18.40.180 (Retail Preservation) of Chapter 18.40 (General
Standards and Exceptions) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended
as follows (additions underlined; text omitted but unchanged noted by bracketed ellipses):
18.40.180 Retail Preservation
(a) Conversion of Retail and Retail-Like Uses Prohibited.
(1) Any ground floor Retail or Retail-Like use permitted or operating as of March 2, 2015
may be replaced only by another Retail or Retail-Like use, as permitted in the
applicable district.
(A) A ground floor Retail or Retail-Like use in the RT-35 district on properties with
frontage on Alma Street between Channing Avenue and Lincoln Avenue may
additionally be replaced by a Private Educational Facility use, provided that such
use shall not be thereafter replaced by an Office use.
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(B) This subsection shall not apply to the following zoning districts:
(I) Residential zones: RM-30, RM-40, NV-R3, NV-R4
(II) Office/manufacturing zones, except within the San Antonio Road Area Plan
area: ROLM, ROLM(E), RP, RP(5), GM
[. . .]
SECTION 12. Section 18.42.090 (Alcoholic Beverages) of Chapter 18.42 (Standards for
Special Uses) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code are hereby amended and
Section 18.42.130 (Animal Care) is hereby added as follows (additions underlined; deletions
struck-through; text omitted but unchanged noted by bracketed ellipses):
18.42.090 Alcoholic Beverages
(a) Purpose
This subsection establishes permit requirements and standards for establishments with
alcoholic beverage sales or service.
(b) Licensing
Establishments with alcoholic beverage sales or service shall comply with all applicable
regulations of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
(c) Permits Required
Table 1 shows permits required for alcoholic beverage service depending on the use
classification and type of alcohol service.
Table 1 Permits Required for Alcoholic Beverage Services
Use Classification Beer and Wine Distilled Spirits
Eating and Drinking Service P P
Bar CUP CUP
(a) Conditional Use Permit Required in Tandem with On-Sale License
In any district where otherwise permitted by this title, any eating and drinking establishment
or other use having any part of its operation subject to an on-sale license required by the State
of California shall be subject to securing a conditional use permit.
(b) Conditional Use Permit Required with New On-Sale License
A conditional use permit shall be obtained in the case of premises for which no conditional
use permit is in force, whenever a new on-sale license is required by the State of California.
(c)(d) Amendment to Conditional Use Permit Required with Expansion
In the case of premises for which a conditional use permit is in force, which permits the sale
of alcohol, but Table 1 permits less restrictive requirements, an administrative amendment
to such permit shall be required whenever such use is intensified or is expanded in square
footage.
(d)(e) Amendment to Conditional Use Permit Required with New On-Sale License
In the case of premises for which a conditional use permit is in force, but such use permit
does not permit sales of alcohol, compliance with the permit level identified in Table 1 an
amendment to such permit shall be required whenever a new on-sale license is required by
the State of California.
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(e)(f) Alcohol Service in Parklets on Rights-of-Way
Establishments that are allowed by the city to serve alcohol for onsite consumption by
issuance of a conditional use permit (“CUP”) as required in pursuant to this section or as a
legal nonconforming use, and that have both an on-sale license from the California
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (“ABC”) and are duly authorized by ABC to serve
alcohol in outdoor areas, shall be allowed to serve alcohol for onsite consumption without
an amendment of the CUP in parklets on public property approved via permit per PAMC
Chapter 12.11 or other outdoor uses approved via permit per any other relevant section of
the PAMC. Outdoor alcohol service shall be in full compliance with all applicable
regulations, including ABC regulations, as may be amended.
(g) Findings. To approve a CUP for alcoholic beverage sales or service, the decision-making
body must make the following findings:
(1) The applicant has not operated a licensed establishment that has been the subject
of violations regarding alcohol, or violations of public safety or nuisance statutes or
regulations in Palo Alto. In making this finding, the decision-making body may
consider the number, frequency, and severity of prior violations, the time elapsed
since the last violation, and other relevant factors; and
(2) At least one of the following:
(A) The proposed establishment will promote the City’s economic health, contribute
to Comprehensive Plan or area plan policies, or further the zoning district
purpose; or
(B) The economic benefits associated with the establishment could not reasonably
be achieved without the proposed alcohol sales or service.
(h) Operational Conditions. Owners and operators of Bars or Eating and Drinking
Services with alcohol beverage service must meet the following performance standards:
(1) Hours. Hours of operation are subject to review and amendment by the review
authority as necessary to avoid detriment to the neighborhood or to achieve
conformance with revised City of Palo Alto standards or policies.
(2) Preventing Disturbances. The owner or operator of the establishment shall take
reasonable measures to prevent disturbances by patrons in the immediate vicinity.
Such measures shall include:
(A) Signs reminding patrons of nearby sensitive receptors, such as residences, and
requests not to congregate or loiter near such residences nor operate vehicles in
a noisy manner on public streets; and
(B) Sightlines to public areas near the establishment, keeping public areas free of
trash and litter, providing lighting, and otherwise preventing conduct that might
disturb the peace and quiet of residences in the vicinity.
(C) The operator shall assume reasonable responsibility for ensuring that patrons do
not block the entrance or interfere with pedestrian activity on the adjacent
public sidewalk.
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(3) Training. All employees selling and/or serving alcoholic beverages, or directly
supervising such sales and/or service, shall finish the Licensee Education on Alcohol
and Drugs program, or another equivalent program offered or certified by the
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control within 90 days of employment
at the establishment. Employees who have finished the course within the last 12
months are exempt from this requirement.
[. . .]
18.42.130 Animal Care
(a) Purpose
Conform with State licensing requirements and City regulations, regulate operations, and
ensure compatibility with other allowed uses in the applicable zoning district.
(b) Performance Standards
Animal Care uses shall be subject to the following standards. Animal care uses subject to a
conditional use permit may be required to meet additional standards such as hours of
operation, drop-off and pick-up regulations, fencing and privacy standards, in particular for
businesses with outdoor uses when adjacent to residential or other sensitive uses.
(1) Animal Control Permit. The facility shall maintain a valid permit with Animal Control
at all times, if required, and follow the guidelines of said permit all times.
(2) Nuisances and noise. The business shall be operated in a manner to protect any
nearby properties from excessive noise, odors, lighting or other nuisances from any
sources during the business hours. Noise levels emanating from the use shall not
exceed the maximum level established in Chapter 9.10.
(3) Interior materials. The interior building surfaces of indoor housing facilities shall be
constructed and maintained so that they are substantially impervious to moisture
and may be readily sanitized.
(4) Drainage. Adequate drainage facilities shall be installed and maintained to facilitate
proper sanitation and disposal of natural precipitation and water used to clean the
facility.
(5) Ventilation. Indoor housing facilities shall be adequately ventilated to provide for
the health and comfort of the animals at all times. Such facilities shall be provided
with fresh air either by means of windows, doors, vents, or air conditioning and shall
be ventilated so as to minimize drafts, odors, and moisture condensation.
(6) Waste. Provision shall be made for the removal and disposal of animal and food
wastes, bedding, dead animals, and debris, in accordance with applicable laws.
Disposal facilities shall be covered and operated as to minimize odors and disease
hazards.
SECTION 13. Sections 18.52.030 (Basic Parking Requirements), 18.52.040 (Off-Street
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Parking, Loading and Bicycle Facility Requirements), and 18.52.050 (Adjustments by the Director)
of Chapter 18.52 (Parking and Loading Requirements) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code are hereby amended as follows (additions underlined; deletions struck-through;
text omitted but unchanged noted by bracketed ellipses):
18.52.030 Basic Parking Regulations
[. . .]
(i) Transportation Demand Management Plan
(1) Requirement for TDM Plan: A Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan to
reduce and manage the number of single-occupant motor vehicle trips generated by
the project shall be prepared and submitted by the applicant in the following
circumstances:
A. For all projects that generate 50 or more net new weekday (AM or PM peak hour)
or weekend peak hour trips; or
B. For all projects claiming a reduction in net new trips due to proximity to public
transit, exclusive of subsection (D); or the implementation of a TDM plan; and
C. For all projects requesting a parking reduction, except a retail or retail-like use
proposing an addition of less than 1,500 sq. ft. or change of use to other retail or
retail-like; or
D. For all projects with reduced parking pursuant to California Government Code
Section 65863.2 (AB 2097, 2022), except a retail or retail-like use proposing an
addition of less than 1,500 sq. ft. or change of use to other retail or retail-like.
(2) The Director shall have the authority to adopt guidelines for preparing TDM plans and
when applicable shall coordinate such guidelines with the Transportation
Management Association.
[. . .]
18.52.040 Off-Street Parking, Loading and Bicycle Facility Requirements
[. . .]
(c) Tables 1, 2, 3 and 34: Parking, Bicycle, and Loading Requirements
Tables 1, 2 and 23 below outline vehicle and bicycle parking requirements in general and for
Parking Assessment Districts, respectively. Where bicycle parking standards differ from
California Green Building Standards for bicycle parking, the more stringent standards shall
apply. Table 34 outlines loading requirements for each land use.
For mixed-use projects, the requirements for each land use shall be applied and required for
the overall project.
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Table 1
Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements
Use
Vehicle Parking
Requirement
(# of spaces)
Bicycle Parking Requirement
Spaces
Class 1 Long
Term (LT) and
Short Term (ST)
…
Eating and Drinking Services:
(a) With drive-through drive-in
or take-out facilities
1 per 200 sq. ft. of gross floor area, plus
minimum queue line for 10 cars, subject to
further evaluation for higher demand drive-
through uses. 3 per 100 sq. ft. of gross floor
area
3 per 400 sf 40% - LT 60% - ST
(b) All othersFull Service 1 space for each 15060 sq. ft. gross floor
area sq. ft. of public service area, plus 1
space for each 200 gross sq. ft. for all other
areas.
1 per 600 sf of
public service
area, plus 1 per
2,000 sf for other
areas
40% - LT 60% - ST
(c) Limited Service 1 space for each 250 sq. ft. gross floor area 1 per 2,000 sf 40% - LT 60% - ST
(d) Bars 1 space for each 150 sq. ft. gross floor area 1 per 1,000 sf 40% - LT 60% - ST
[. . .]
4. For residential mixed-use developments in the CD-C zone, CC(2) zone, on CN and CS zoned sites
abutting El Camino Real, and on CS zoned sites abutting San Antonio Antonia Road between Middlefield
Road and East Charleston Road, the first 1,500 square feet of ground-floor retail uses shall not be
counted toward the vehicle parking requirement.
[. . .]
Table 2
Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements for Parking Assessment Districts
Use Vehicle Parking Requirement (# of spaces) 1
For Downtown University Avenue Parking Assessment District:
Residential Uses See Table 1
All Other Uses 1 per 250 square feet
For California Avenue Parking Assessment District:
Residential Uses See Table 1
Hotel/Motel/Inn See Table 1
All Other Uses 1 per 250 square feet
1. For residential mixed-use developments in the CD-C zone, CC(2) zone, and on CN and CS
zoned sites abutting El Camino Real, the first 1,500 square feet of ground-floor retail uses shall
not be counted toward the vehicle parking requirement.
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[. . .]
Table 23
Minimum Off-Street Bicycle Parking Requirements for Parking Assessment Districts (IF USE IS
NOT LISTED, REFER TO TABLE 1 FOR REQUIREMENTS)
Use Vehicle Parking Requirement
(# of spaces)
Bicycle Parking Requirement
Class1 Spaces
For Downtown University Avenue Parking Assessment District:
All uses (except residential) 2 1 per 250 square feet 1 per 2,500
square feet
40% - LT 60% -
ST
Residential Uses See Table 1
For California Avenue Parking Assessment District:
Automobile Service Stations
1 per 310 square feet of gross
enclosed floor area, plus queue
capacity equivalent to the service
capacity of gasoline pumps
1 per 10
employees
100%-ST
Automotive Services
1 per 150 square feet of gross floor
area, display, or storage on site 1 per 10
employees
100%-ST
Eating and Drinking Services:
(a) With drive-through drive-in
or take-out facilities
3 per 100 sf of gross floor area 3 per 400 sf 40% - LT 60%-ST
(b) All others 1 per 155 sf of gross floor area 1 per 1,550 sf
Financial services:
(a) Bank, savings and loan
offices with 7,500 square
feet of floor area or less:
1 per 180 sf of gross floor area 1 per 1,800 sf 40%-LT 60% - ST
(b) Banks, savings and loan
offices with more than
7,500 square feet of floor
area:
1 per 310 sf of gross floor area
(c) Others 1 per 180 sf of gross floor area 1 per 1,800 sf
General Business Services:
(a) Enclosed 1 per 360 sf of gross floor area 1 per 3,600 sf 80%- LT 20%- ST
(b) Open lot 1 per 500 sf of sales, display or storage
site area
1 per 5,000 sf 100%- ST
Medical, professional, and
general business offices
1 per 310 sf of gross floor area 1 per 3,100 sf 60%-LT 40% - ST
Personal Services 1 per 450 sf of gross floor area 1 per 4,500 sf 20% - LT 80% -
ST
Retail:
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(a) Intensive 1 per 240 sf of gross floor area 1 per 2,400 sf 20%-LT 80% -ST
(b) Extensive 1 per 350 sf of gross floor area 1 per 3,500 sf
(c) Open lot 1 for each 500 square feet of sales,
display, or storage site area. 1 per 5,000 sf 100%-ST
OTHER USES
Any use not specified See Table 1
1. Long Term (LT) and Short Term (ST) bicycle spaces as described in Section 18.54.060 .
2. For residential mixed-use developments in the CD-C zone, CC(2) zone, and on CN and CS zoned
sites abutting El Camino Real, the first 1,500 square feet of ground-floor retail uses shall not be
counted toward the vehicle parking requirement.
Table 34
Minimum Off-Street Loading Requirements
[. . .]
18.52.050 Adjustments by the Director
Automobile parking and off-street loading requirements prescribed by this chapter may be
adjusted by the director in the following instances and in accord with the prescribed limitations
in Table 4, when in his/her opinion such adjustment will be consistent with the purposes of this
chapter, will not create undue impact on existing or potential uses adjoining the site or in the
general vicinity, and will be commensurate with the reduced parking demand created by the
development, including for visitors and accessory facilities where appropriate. No reductions
may be granted that would result in provision of less than ten (10) spaces on a site. The
following are adjustments that apply to developments not located within a parking assessment
district. Adjustments within the parking assessment districts are contained in Section
18.52.080. The decision of the regarding parking adjustments may be appealed as set forth in
Chapter 18.78 (Appeals).
Table 4 Allowable Parking Adjustments
Purpose of
Adjustment
Amount of Adjustment Maximum Reduction 2
[. . .] [. . .] [. . .]
Combined Parking
Adjustments
Parking reductions may be granted for any
combination of the above circumstances as
prescribed by this chapter, subject to limitations on
the combined total reduction allowed.
3060% reduction of the total
parking demand otherwise
required
40% reduction for affordable
housing projects
[. . .] [. . .] [. . .]
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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1. See Section 18.52.050(d) below regarding requirements for TDM programs.
2. No parking reductions may be granted that would result in provision of less than ten (10) parking
spaces on site.
2. 3. No parking reductions may be granted for projects that are entitled to the reduced parking
standards in Table 1 of Section 18.52.040 for senior housing.
3. 4. Applies to 100% affordable housing projects and the residential component of 100% affordable
housing mixed-use projects. "100% affordable housing" as used herein means a multiple-family housing
project consisting entirely of affordable units, as defined in Section 16.65.020 of this code, available
only to households with income levels at or below 120% of the area median income, as defined in
Chapter 16.65, except for a building manager's unit.
(a) Combining Parking Adjustments
Parking reduc ons may be granted for any combina on of circumstances, prescribed by this chapter,
so long as in total no more than a 3060% reduc on of the total parking demand otherwise required
occurs, or no less than a 40% reduc on for affordable housing projects (including Single Room
Occupancy (SRO) units).
[. . .]
SECTION 14. Section 18.76.015 (Additional Findings for Specified Retail Uses) of
Chapter 18.76 (Permits and Approvals) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is
hereby deleted in its entirety.
SECTION 15. Section 16.59.040 (Exemptions) of Chapter 16.59 (Citywide
Transportation Impact Fee) of Title 16 (Building Regulations) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code
are hereby amended as follows (additions underlined; deletions struck-through; text omitted
but unchanged noted by bracketed ellipses):
16.59.040 Exemptions.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
(a) City buildings or structures.
(b) Public school buildings or structures.
(c) Affordable units, either for sale or rental, that exceed the minimum number required for
projects under the city's below market rate (BMR) housing program or other provisions
of this code, which units are, by recordable means, obligated to be and remain affordable
units for a period consistent with the requirements of Section 16.65.075(c) of this code.
(d) Day care centers used for childcare, nursery school or preschool education.
(e) Accessory dwelling units (ADU).
(f) Junior accessory dwelling units (JADU).
(g) Retail service, eating and drinking service, personal service, or automotive service when
the total additional square footage is 1,500 square feet or less. This exemption shall apply
only when the additional square footage of new development does not exceed 1,500
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square feet. New development that is larger than 1,500 square feet shall pay a fee for all
square footage, including the first 1,500 square feet.
(h) (g) New development which is exempt from the fee by virtue of the Constitution of the
United States or California or by virtue of other applicable state or federal law.
SECTION 16. If any section, subsection, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any
reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion or
sections of the Ordinance. The Council hereby declares that it should have adopted the
Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof irrespective of the
fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared
invalid.
SECTION 17. The Council finds that the Ordinance is exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it
can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the foregoing amendments to reduce
retail vacancies will have a significant effect on the environment.
//
//
//
//
//
//
//
//
//
//
//
//
//
//
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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SECTION 18. This Ordinance shall be effective from the thirty-first day after the date of
its adoption. Once effective, this Ordinance shall repeal Ordinance no. 5642.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
__________________________
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________
Assistant City Attorney
_________________________
Mayor
_________________________
City Manager
__________________________
Director of Planning and
Development Services
***NOT YET APPROVED***
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Exhibit A (Remove Ground Floor (GF) Combining District)
Charleston Shopping Center
Midtown Shopping District