City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Planning and Development Services
Meeting Date: December 11, 2023
Report #:2311-2265
TITLE
SECOND READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Implementing Program 1.1A and 1.1B of the Housing Element, Including: 1) New Chapter 18.14: Housing Incentives, and 2) Modifications to Base Zoning Districts Throughout Title 18. Adoption of a Resolution Making Corresponding Changes to the Land Use and Design Element of the Comprehensive Plan. (FIRST READING:
November 13, 2023 PASSED 5-1-1, Kou no, Veenker recused and PASSED 6-1, Kou no)
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt an ordinance amending Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) (Attachment B) to implement Program 1.1A and 1.1B of the Housing Element regarding the Adequate Sites Inventory.
Staff also recommends that Council adopt a resolution (Attachment A) making corresponding changes to the Land Use and Design Element of the Comprehensive Plan.
ANALYSIS
This item was heard by the City Council on November 13, 2023 for a first reading. The portion of the ordinance pertaining to Stanford University lands was approved 5-1-1, Kou no, Veenker recuse, with the modifications specified below. The remainder of the ordinance and was approved 6-1, Kou no.
The table below identifies additional actions taken by Council related to the Housing Focus Area and Pasteur Drive site, and how it is addressed in the ordinance (Attachment B). 11/13/23 Council Motion and Subsequent Modifications to Ordinance Council Motion Revision to Ordinance
1. Refer expansion of the El Camino Real
Housing focus area to staff for further
analysis and return to Council with a
recommendation.
None. This assignment will be prioritized
during the Council’s objectives priority
setting session in Q1 2024.
2. Exempt parapets and guardrails from
height limits in the El Camino Real Housing
Focus Area and Pasteur Drive.
Added exemption.
3. Remove the 18.14.020(c)(5)(C) regarding
Stanford affiliation, and refer to staff and
the Stanford Ad Hoc for further dialogue.
Removed affiliation requirement.
4. Amend 18.14.020 Table 3, upper story
stepback to state a 20-foot average stepback
from the property line, with a minimum
stepback of 15-feet, and any additional
requirements identified by staff to meet this
intent contingent on meeting fire safety
standards and as an alternative to the 15-
foot stepback direct staff evaluate for
inclusion of a standard that would require an
appropriate stepback from the front façade.
Revised El Camino Real frontage stepback
standard above 55 feet to require:
•20-foot average setback from the
property line; and
•6-foot minimum stepback from the
lower façade, for at least 70% of the
façade (similar to the existing
objective design standard to regulate
contextual height, to have
consistency across regulations)
Added illustrative graphic.
The City Council also directed staff to review proposed amendments to PAMC 18.16.040(b) and
18.16.060 regarding Redwood residences as described in the November 7, 2023 from Kristi Bascom. This too will be considered for prioritization relative to other Council interests in Q1 2024.
The staff report for the November 13, 2023 hearing showed the proposed changes to the Land Use and Design Element of the Comprehensive Plan, but inadvertently omitted the actual resolution adopting those changes. Accordingly, the resolution is included here as Attachment A for Council adoption.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
This action has no fiscal impact as it can be performed with current adopted staffing levels.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Resolution Amending the Land Use and Design Element of the Comprehensive Plan
Attachment B: Ordinance Adopting Amendments to Title 18 to Implement Housing Element Program 1.1
APPROVED BY:
Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director