Palo Alto City Council
December 18, 2023

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objective is to ensure that there is a continuing planning process that will keep the Santa Clara County Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan dynamic and responsive to the needs and capabilities of the City of Palo Alto and its stakeholders.

Summary Overview of the Plan’s Progress
The performance period for the Santa Clara County Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan became effective on 12-19-2017, with the final approval of the plan by FEMA. The initial performance period for this plan is 5 years. As of this reporting period, the performance period for this plan is considered to be 47% complete (including complete and ongoing projects). The Palo Alto portion of the Santa Clara County Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan has targeted 38 hazard mitigation actions to be pursued during the 5-year performance period. As of the reporting period, the following overall progress can be reported:
●11 out of 38 initiatives (29%) have been completed.
●11 out of 38 initiatives (29%) indicated work is conducted as an ongoing capability. ●11 out of 38 initiatives (29%) reported progress toward completion. ●5 out of 38 initiatives (16%) reported no progress.

Review of the Action Plan
Table 2 reviews the action plan, reporting the status of each initiative.

TABLE 2

ACTION PLAN MATRIX
Action
Taken?
Timeline Priority
Changed?
Comment (Describe progress or changed
priority)
Status
City of Palo Alto
PA-1 - Develop a comprehensive flood control plan for San Francisquito Creek to minimize the risk of flooding.

Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No San Francisquito Creek Lower Reach Flood Reduction
and Ecosystem Restoration Project. San Francisquito
Creek East of Highway 101 project was completed in
December 2018. As a result, the creek can contain
flows greater than 9,600 CFS.

Completed
PA-2 - San Francisquito Creek Upper Reach Flood Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project. Replacing the Existing Pope/Chaucer Street Bridge and widen the creek at 5 locations to allow 7,500 CFS to pass (approximately the 70-year storm event).

Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No JPA and their consultant are evaluating capacity of the creek in light of the NYE 2022 storm event. Analysis
In Progress
Item 24
Attachment A - Hazard
Mitigation Plan Progress
Report for the July 1,
2022 to October 1, 2023
Reporting Period

Item 24: Staff Report
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will determine if the current design criterion is
applicable or if additional changes are needed for the
Chaucer bridge and creek widening design project.

PA-3 - Newell Road Bridge Replacement Project to increase the flows that pass under the bridge from 6,600 CFS to 7,500 CFS.

Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The project design has been completed. ROW
acquisition is under way to secure Temporary
Construction Easement. Negotiation with the owners
will be required and soon to be completed early in
2024. Approval for funding is still outstanding.

Construction to be scheduled to start Spring of 2024.

In Progress
PA-4 - San Francisquito Creek Upper Reach Flood Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project. The purpose of the project is to detain excess runoff generated from storms that exceed 70-year storm event.

Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Staff from SFCJPA and their consultant are working
with Stanford representatives on the sediment transport analysis that the regulatory agencies required. This will be part of the Reach 2 submittal. This project has been delayed or temporary on hold until PA-2 is resolved.

In Progress
PA-5 - Matadero Creek Storm Water Pump Station Improvements.

Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Project is completed. Completed
PA-6 - Storm Drain System Replacement and Rehabilitation Yes Long Term
(5+yrs)
No The damaged pipes have been replaced with HDPE
pipes. The 2022 storm drain rehabilitation project have been completed in fall 2022. Staff continues to monitor the conditions of the pipes and minor repairs are done
in house. Staff monitors hot spots that cannot be
repaired in house and will be completed at a later date when funding will be available.

Ongoing
Capability
PA-7 - Recycled Water Pipeline Expansion Project to expand the recycled water purple pipeline within South Palo Alto towards Stanford Research Park
Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No These projects and other alternative water supply
projects will be considered as part of the "One Water"
planning process.
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agend as-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/utilities-advisory-
In Progress
Item 24
Attachment A - Hazard
Mitigation Plan Progress
Report for the July 1,
2022 to October 1, 2023
Reporting Period

Item 24: Staff Report
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commission/archived-agenda-and-minutes/agendas-
and-minutes-2021/07-07-2021-special/id-12332-item-

1.pdf.

The One Water plan is expected to be completed by
early 2024, which will propose alternatives for water
supply and conservation.

PA-8 - Continue to maintain good standing and compliance in the NFIP and maintain the Community Rating System Class to provide higher CRS premium discounts.

Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The City had a CRS cycle visit on November 6, 2023.

City staff received comments from the CRS specialist
which they will address and return to the CRS specialist for further review. FEMA will finalize the final CRS
rating before summer of 2024. Staff anticipates
maintaining a rating of 6 to provide 20% savings on
flood insurance rates.

Ongoing
Capability
PA-9 - Complete the Strategy to Advance Flood protection, Ecosystems and Recreation (SAFER) San Francisco Bay Draft Feasibility Report to identify potential strategies for sea level rise adaptation flood protection and other benefits.

Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority released a Public Draft Feasibility Report in June 2019.
http://sfcjpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/SAFER-
Bay-Palo-Alto-Public-Draft-Feasibility-Report-June-
2019.pdf
Completed
PA-10 - Construct new Public Safety Building to mitigate current risks to public safety essential services Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No The public safety building exterior is complete, with interior construction occurring now. Anticipated move
in date is Spring of 2024.

In Progress
PA-11 - Rebuild Fire Stations 3 and 4 to mitigate current risks to essential services Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Fire Station 3 is complete. A design contract for Fire Station 4 was awarded in May 2022. Design of the new
station is underway with construction expected to begin in spring 2024.

In Progress
PA-12 - Continue seven-year cycle for high priority tree trimming to reduce impacts of falling branches and other tree related damages to public and personal property.

Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No A new contract was started in October 2021 and will
continue until October 2024. The contract scope is
Ongoing
Capability
Item 24
Attachment A - Hazard
Mitigation Plan Progress
Report for the July 1,
2022 to October 1, 2023
Reporting Period

Item 24: Staff Report
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based on maintaining a minimum of the seven-year
cycle of pruning for public trees.

PA-13 - Replace the Baylands Tide Gate
Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No Due to funding limitations the original project was
modified to only include the structural integrity of the tide gate for seismic events. The structural modification is scheduled to be completed in calendar year 2025.

In Progress
PA-14 - Consider the use of alternative energy sources for critical infrastructure (essential facilities, key resources) Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No The City began development of a Reliability and
Resiliency Strategic Plan to study the reliability and
resiliency needs of an electrified community and
develop programs to facility community resiliency. In
September, Staff discussed the scope of the study with
the Utilities Advisory Commission. Two components of
the study are expected to be completed by the end of
2023, but aspects related to home and neighborhood
resiliency and efficient electrification will extend into 2024.

Ongoing
Capability
PA-15 - Implement Wastewater Long-Range Facilities Plan Yes Other,
please
specify
No Palo Alto continues to move forward with upgrading
the Wastewater Treatment Plant; 80 percent complete
with rehabilitating existing primary sedimentation tanks and started the construction of updating the secondary
treatment project to remove nutrients. 100% design
complete of the Salt Removal Facility to improved
existing recycled water. Palo Alto in the next year
plans on updating the Long Range Facilities Plan and
conducting the preliminary design of the new
headworks.

Ongoing
Capability
PA-16 - Conduct a feasibility analysis concerning the continued use of water reservoirs in the Foothills region.

Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Staff determined there will be no change layout of
Foothills water system facilities. Park and Dahl
Reservoirs will be repaired and retrofitted (in FY '23
and '26). Despite low water demand in foothills,
Foothills water reservoirs cannot be removed due to
requirements for emergency water storage for
firefighting operations. The repair and retrofit of these Completed
Item 24
Attachment A - Hazard
Mitigation Plan Progress
Report for the July 1,
2022 to October 1, 2023
Reporting Period

Item 24: Staff Report
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two tanks can be identified as new projects in the
upcoming LHMP update.

PA-17 - Consider construction of a new water reservoir in the low lying areas of Palo Alto.

Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No With the decision in PA-16 to repair/retrofit the Park and Dahl Reservoirs, staff will not move forward plans
to build a new reservoir on Palo Alto's valley floor.

Completed
PA-18 - Rebuild and Reconfigure Electric System in Stanford Hospital/Mall Area to increase reliability during emergencies
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No This project is complete. New substructure was
installed and some circuits were rerouted.

Completed
PA-19 - Install Fiber Optic Service to Montebello Reservoir to improve public safety communications along Skyline Drive
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Electrical undergrounding is proceeding through the
project area, with work completed on Arastradero
Road, and work is continuing along Arastradero Creek
Trail. Completion of this project will occur in 1-2
years.

In Progress
PA-20 - Convert overhead utility lines to underground transmission. Installation of new underground electric, communication, and cable television systems in Electric Underground Districts 46 and 47 Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No District 46 & 47 is completed. Completed
PA-21 - Construct a second electrical transmission interconnection to PG&E using a new corridor.

Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No Stanford and SLAC decided against participating in
establishing a new intertie with Palo Alto. Palo Alto
Utilities is pursuing a new option and has contracted
with a consultant to obtain the California Independent
System Operator’s (CAISO) approval for a
transmission project to construct a 115kV circuit from
Palo Alto Adobe Creek Substation to PG&E Ames
Substation.

In Progress
PA-22 - Construct a second water interconnection from Palo Alto Utilities to Stanford Hospital Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The intertie is in place and can be used if needed; staff is working to determine how to finalize the agreement
for its use.

In Progress
Item 24
Attachment A - Hazard
Mitigation Plan Progress
Report for the July 1,
2022 to October 1, 2023
Reporting Period

Item 24: Staff Report
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PA-23 - Connect Palo Alto to adjacent Public Safety agencies' Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) by Fiber Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No This project is on hold while the construction of the new Public Safety Building is underway; the feasibility of this project is being reassessed.

No
Progress
PA-24 - Implement a Public Safety Wireless Data Network Yes Long Term
(5+yrs.)
No This project is on hold while the City initiates the first pilot phase of the Fiber to the Home project. As this
project advances, additional capabilities may be
developed.

No
Progress
PA-25 - Conduct a Hydrology Study on Buck-Eye Creek for flood protection and erosion control at Foothills Park Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The study was completed and sent to the Palo Alto City Council on May 29, 2018. Here is the link to the study
and the Council staff report:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/docum
ents/65118
Completed
PA-26 - Develop a Baylands Comprehensive Conservation Plan Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No Staff received new recommendations received from
Commissioners and stakeholders which staff must
adjudicate. Additionally current staff availability is insufficient to make progress on the plan so it is
temporarily on hold while staff shortfalls are filled.

No
Progress
PA-27 - Address hazardous fuels and reduce structural ignitability in the Foothills region in accordance with the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and Foothills Fire Management Plan Yes Other,
please
specify
No In 2023 Palo Alto performed the required wildfire
mitigation activities in Foothills and Arastradero Nature Preserves in accordance with the FFMP. Additionally,
the Public Works Department Urban Forestry Division
contracted for electrical line clearance of the above
ground lines in the Foothills. The Palo Alto Fire
Department conducted their annual defensible space
home assessments for the residential properties in the
Palo Alto WUI. They have implemented new
management controls to mitigate residences not in
compliance with their recommended actions.

Ongoing
Capability
PA-28 - Encourage creation by Foothills Residents of a Firewise Ready Community Item 24
Attachment A - Hazard
Mitigation Plan Progress
Report for the July 1,
2022 to October 1, 2023
Reporting Period

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Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No No Change: OES conducted a neighborhood meeting of
the Laurel Glen neighbors with PAFD, PAPD, CSD
Open Space Rangers and the Santa Clara County Fire
Safe Council in June 2023 in which we encouraged the
formation of a Firewise Community.

In Progress
PA-29 - Consider a policy for Seismic Retrofitting of earthquake prone structures Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No In 2016, the City contracted a study of building types with a high seismic risk within Palo Alto. Following
this study, the City Council was to direct the staff to develop policy recommendations to renovate these
structures. This item is now on the work plan for 2024 to build on the work done during the previous SRMAG
process.

No
Progress
PA-30 - Develop a Policy for Sea-Level Rise considerations (what actions should the City take) Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The City of Palo Alto City Council adopted a Sea Level rise policy on 18 March 2019.
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdlo ad.aspx?t=71340.78&BlobID=70115
Completed
PA-31 - Develop a post-disaster Community Long-term Recovery Plan Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No There is no change to the status of this activity. The ability to develop this plan is reliant on a multi-
departmental effort which cannot be supported with
current staffing levels.

No
Progress
PA-32 - Conduct public education that raises awareness of Palo Alto threats and hazards and improves community resilience
Yes Other,
please
specify
No Public Safety departments continue community
outreach to raise awareness, lower personal risks, and
increase preparedness through public education classes, social media posting, and attendance at community
events.

Ongoing
Capability
PA-33 - Maintain Storm Ready Community designation
Yes Other,
please
specify
No OES maintains this certification through annual
activities and requirements set by the Storm Ready
program. See https://www.weather.gov/stormready/ca-
sr
Ongoing
Capability
Item 24
Attachment A - Hazard
Mitigation Plan Progress
Report for the July 1,
2022 to October 1, 2023
Reporting Period

Item 24: Staff Report
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PA-34 - Improve Palo Alto Fire Department ISO rating
Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The Fire Department is pursuing an improved ISO
rating; the PAFD has a rating of 2 but is pursuing a
corrective action plan to attain a rating of 1.

Ongoing
Capability
PA-35 - Maintain Building Effectiveness Grading Schedule classification of 1 Yes Other,
please
specify
No There is no change to the ISO BCEGS rating of Class

3. Staff anticipates a revaluation in of this rating 2024.

Ongoing
Capability
PA-36 - Where appropriate, support retrofitting, purchase or relocation of structures located in high hazard areas and prioritize those structures that have experienced repetitive losses Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The City does not currently have a policy to purchase or relocate repetitive loss structures. Additionally,
sizable portions of the City are located in high hazard areas where relocation is not feasible. Retrofitting of properties is encouraged for those properties that may
be impacted by floods, earthquakes, and wildfires. See also PA-29. Additionally, the City has adopted the
most current State building code, which enhances the
standard of new construction.

Completed
PA-37 - Integrate the hazard mitigation plan into other plans, ordinances and programs that dictate land use decisions within the community
Yes Other,
please
specify
No The Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan recently finalized in 2017 integrates the LHMP in the Safety Element. The
Safety Element informs land use planning by describing
the natural hazards faced by the Palo Alto community.

Additionally, the new Sea Level Rise policy (PA- 30)
also integrates the LHMP. Additionally, the City of
Palo Alto Sustainability and Climate Action planning
take into account land use decisions.

Completed
PA-38 - Actively participate in the plan maintenance protocols outlined in Volume 1 of the hazard mitigation plan.

Yes Short Term
(<5yrs.)
No The City is in compliance with the stated maintenance protocols.

Ongoing
Capability
Public review notice
Item 24
Attachment A - Hazard
Mitigation Plan Progress
Report for the July 1,
2022 to October 1, 2023
Reporting Period

Item 24: Staff Report
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The contents of this report are considered to be public knowledge and have been prepared for total public disclosure. Copies of the report may be provided to the governing boards of all planning partners and to local media outlets. The report, once approved by the Palo Alto City Manager, and made available for City Council review will be available online on the OES website. Any questions or comments regarding the contents of this report should be directed to: City of Palo Alto OES, 650-617-3197 or lhmp@cityofpaloalto.

Next Plan Update
The LHMP five-year cycle formally ended on 12-19-2022 requiring the City of Palo Alto to provide a formal update to this plan. Between 2022 and 2023, The Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services conducted a Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) process among cities and special districts within the county, of which the City of Palo Alto was a participant. Staff worked with County representatives and their contractor to provide the appropriate inputs as required by federal guidance. The County submitted the MJHMP to the State of California Office of Emergency Services for a state level review. Following this state review, the State OES will submit the plan to FEMA for federal review. Once approved by FEMA, the City will request the City Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, as an annex to the County plan, be adopted by City Council.

Item 24
Attachment A - Hazard
Mitigation Plan Progress
Report for the July 1,
2022 to October 1, 2023
Reporting Period

Item 24: Staff Report
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City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: INFORMATION REPORT
Lead Department: Utilities
Meeting Date: December 18, 2023
Staff Report:2309-2084
TITLE
Informational Update on the Palo Alto Fiber Expansion Plan and Construction Alignment with Electric Grid Modernization

RECOMMENDATION
This memorandum and presentation are for informational purposes only; no action is requested at this time. Staff will return to Council in Q1 Calendar Year 2024 after the preliminary CEQA initial study is completed.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recently, staff presented to both the Finance Committee 1 and the Utilities Advisory Commission2, providing updates on the City’s efforts to both upgrade the City’s overhead lines in Palo Alto through electric grid modernization and piloting the build out of Palo Alto Fiber to the home. This report summarizes the staff work needed to advance these two efforts, which seek to support a reliable, sustainable and connected community.

When complete, residents can advantage of locally owned internet services in Palo Alto and use new whole home electrification technologies with ease like vehicle charging, home appliance electrification, solar energy generation and battery storage. Coupling these two efforts together saves money and time. It reduces community disruption by upgrading aging infrastructure that will also improve electric reliability and enhance safety.

Advancing the City Council direction from December 2022, staff is proceeding with the Fiber Expansion Plan to implement the Fiber Rebuild project and Phase 1 of the Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) project. In Phase 1, FTTP would be built out in selected areas of the city, and expanded 1 November 7, 2023 Finance Committee Agenda
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=13231 2 September 6, 2023 Utilities Advisory Commission Agenda https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=2948&type=0 Item 25
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gradually (Staff Report ID 14800)3. Construction of the fiber backbone in the Fiber Rebuild project and last mile infrastructure to provide FTTP broadband internet to the community in the FTTP project will be a significant undertaking for the City.

Priorities on the work ahead seek to manage project costs, minimize construction impacts to the community, and prevent major delays.

In summary, staff are advancing the following activities:
✓Pilot to evaluate alignment of fiber and grid modernization projects - Engineering make- ready work and construction for the grid modernization project will overlap with projects in the Fiber Expansion Plan. As reviewed with the Finance Committee and Utilities Advisory Commission, a pilot area has been identified to help inform on how alignment efforts impact costs, reductions to community disruptions, and project timelines. ✓California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) - The City must analyze and evaluate the potential impacts of the project on various environmental factors and identify whether those impacts can be mitigated.
✓Joint Poles - The existing joint pole agreement with AT&T requires coordination between the City and AT&T to relocate 3 rd party telecom equipment on utility poles and provide space for new fiber attachments, while remaining in compliance with California Public Utilities Commission General Order 95 (GO 95) requirements for overhead electric line construction to insure electric utility service and secure personnel safety. ✓Contract amendments – Evaluation of the use of existing construction and engineering design contracts to expedite these for both FTTP and grid modernization for the pilot.

Existing contractors have the technical expertise and familiarity with the City’s construction standards, so construction may begin as soon as the power engineering design is complete.

Staff will return with specific actions associated with the efforts outlined to align the fiber expansion and electric grid modernization projects.

BACKGROUND
City Council considered three courses of action for a City-owned FTTP service and directed staff to proceed with the phased build approach. Under this approach, FTTP will be built out in selected areas of the city using $34 million from the Fiber Fund and $13 million from the Electric Fund, and the project will expand gradually from there to eliminate the need for debt financing.

Building the fiber backbone and last-mile infrastructure to provide FTTP broadband internet to the community will require significant planning, coordination, communication, and construction over the next 18 – 24 months.
3 Staff Report ID 14800 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes- reports/reports/city-manager-reports-cmrs/2022/12-19-2022-id-14800.pdf Item 25
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On May 1, 2023, City Council approved Amendment Number 4 to Contract Number C20176363 with Magellan for Fiber program management, organizational change management, network operations and technical support, and utility pole electric make-ready engineering ( Staff Report 2303-12154). Although the phased build approach to FTTP will decrease the City’s financial risk and increase Council’s control over the velocity of the buildout, the City does not have the in- house staffing to fully pursue the Fiber Expansion Plan and efforts to coordinate with Electrification Grid Modernization. These programs require significant staffing and specialized skill sets over the next few years. While it is economically prudent to utilize available staffing resources, the City must also strategically invest in external resources for a successful roll-out.

On June 19, 2023, the City Council approved the FY 2024 CIP Budget with the new FTTP project, and Grid Modernization for Electrification Project. The approval of the electrification project accelerated efforts to align electrification and fiber construction, which impacted the Fiber Expansion Plan. Staff is deploying a pilot to determine how to align the grid modernization and the Fiber Expansion Plan to help minimize utility engineering pole make-ready work, pole replacements, noise disruption, and construction activity in neighborhoods.

Related actions to advance these efforts is noted in the Analysis section of this report.

ANALYSIS
Recently, presentations on the fiber to the premise and grid modernization projects including a pilot area staff are exploring to evaluate alignment of these projects were provided with the Utility Advisory Commission (UAC) and the Finance Committee. Below is a summary of the status and work underway that was discussed.

Align fiber and grid modernization projects
The City conducted a high-level electrification study to evaluate the impacts of projected electrification loads on Palo Alto’s distribution and substation transformers, primary/secondary distribution circuits, and to propose upgrades needed to mitigate overloads. The estimated cost to construct the necessary electric system upgrades for a 100% electrification scenario is between $220 million to $306 million, depending on the approach. The workplan for this project is a staged, multi-year approached designed to accomplish the upgrade of the electric distribution system to meet the City’s goal of being ready for full-scale electrification by 2030.

A pilot project is in progress to convert a 4kV area to 12 kV and upgrade the transformers and secondary networks to facilitate electrification. This work is expected to be completed by the middle of CY 2024, depending on other factors which impact project timelines, such as material lead times, pole make ready, and alignment with the fiber projects. The initial purpose of the pilot was to determine the feasibility of electrification design and construction methods and implement best practices to facilitate the most cost-effective deployment of resources. This 4 Staff Report 2303-1215 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes- reports/reports/city-manager-reports-cmrs/2023/05-01-2023-id-2303-1215.pdf Item 25
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purpose has since been expanded to also test aligning the Fiber Expansion Plan with electrification efforts. Staff will be analyzing the cost savings, timeline, and resources (staffing and contractors) required for project alignment.

The design of the pilot area for the grid modernization (West Bayshore, Embarcadero Road, Louis Road, Colorado Ave) has been in development for several months because this is one of the remaining neighborhoods with a 4kV distribution system. About 80% of the City’s entire distribution has been converted from 4kV to 12kV to date. This conversion is necessary so customers can be switched from one circuit to another during emergencies. The recommended phase one area for FTTP and grid modernization will convert about 10% of the remaining 4kV systems in the City. The first fiber hut required for FTTP will be located near the Colorado power station. Based on the vicinity of the hut, predominantly aerial construction in the grid modernization pilot area, and timing of the CEQA study, there was an opportunity to align FTTP with grid modernization. FTTP build out must be constructed in a manner that provides a pathway from the fiber hut to the areas of higher interest.

Given the hundreds of miles of overhead and underground construction activity between FTTP and electric grid modernization, the pilot enables exploration of various construction phasing options to minimize disruption, construction activity, and construction costs within neighborhoods while avoiding prolonged deployments. In addition, aligning these projects in the pilot helps alleviate construction constraints and internal resource constraints to project manage, perform engineering make ready, and inspect construction for both projects in parallel.

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Compliance
CPAU has retained a CEQA consultant who is preparing an Initial Study on the environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of the potential citywide FTTP network, will cross much of the City of Palo Alto and include some new infrastructure (i.e. fiber hut, fiber cabinets, aerial and underground cables, utility vaults). The Initial Study is estimated to take about 30 weeks to complete, including internal and mandated review time such as 30 days for public review and comment. The preliminary assessment will be available to staff for review and comments by end of Dec 2023.

The preliminary assessment, or Initial Study, will evaluate the project’s potential impacts on various environmental factors and identify whether those impacts can be mitigated. If the project’s impacts can be mitigated to a less-than-significant level, then the City may issue a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) or Negative Declaration (ND). If the preliminary assessment of the project determines one or more significant impacts on the environment despite mitigation, a full environmental impact report (EIR) will be required, involving a more comprehensive and detailed analysis of the project’s impacts and alternatives.

The CEQA consultant is preparing a CEQA Initial Study in accordance with local, state, and federal statutes. The Initial Study identifies physical, biological, social and economic factors that might be affected by the fiber expansion project. Some environmental factors that could potentially be Item 25
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affected by this project include aesthetics, air quality, geology/soils, hazardous materials, noise, utilities services, and hydrology/water quality. Specific examples of likely CEQA analysis include:
•Hydrological analysis to see if any proposed fiber lines would run through areas near bodies of water and show that there would not be significant impacts to waters of the state or waters of the US, as well as provide recommendations for how to protect nearby waterbodies even if there are no direct impacts (e.g. through proper stormwater protection measures)
•Air quality analysis (including understanding how to run claimed calcs for the proposed project to evaluate air quality emissions and GHG emissions) •Noise modeling (including analysis of potential impacts on nearby sensitive receptors from construction noise and vibrations)
•Hazardous materials analysis (including evaluation and mitigation if necessary, of potential impacts to construction workers and sensitive receptors especially if any of the dark fiber runs through areas of the city runs through a plume) Replacement of Jointly-Owned Poles
The City jointly owns 5,550 poles with AT&T. The current pole intent process (including billing) for managing joint pole replacements operates under a joint pole agreement executed between the City and AT&T in 1918. This process may not be feasible to accommodate the increased volume of pole transactions expected with the grid modernization and Fiber Expansion Plan.

CPAU began discussing with AT&T effective ways to coordinate and collaborate on the anticipated surge in pole replacement work and mitigating the impact to the community. One potential improvement is to identify third party resources authorized to work on both AT&T and CPAU facilities during pole replacement, make ready work, and/or inspection.

As part of the effort to streamline processes, the benefits of joining the Northern California Joint Pole Association (NCJPA) was evaluated. Members have “joint pole equity” and standardized cost-sharing methodologies for pole ownership, maintenance, use, setting, replacement, dismantling, relinquishment or removal of jointly owned poles. CPAU is not an NCJPA member as the volume of pole replacements were manageable under the existing process. The main objectives for considering membership with the NCJPA were to a) streamline the pole intent and billing process; and b) improve the process of recovering AT&T’s costs for joint poles replaced by CPAU. After review, membership is not recommended as the objectives for membership would not be achieved. For example, the current joint agreement with AT&T requires a response within 10 days vs. 45 days according to the NCJPA handbook, and the current agreement is based on actual replacement costs while NCPJA joint pole costs are based on average unit costs for all members. The City is considering amending the joint agreement with AT&T so the pole intent process can support the anticipated high volume of pole replacement.

Design and Construction Contracts for Pilot Area
Given the anticipated increase in pole work, CPAU will need to add resources to manage and perform a high volume of pole make-ready work and replacements. In the meantime, staff is evaluating how to leverage existing on-call construction and engineering contracts to perform Item 25
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the engineering design, overhead and underground construction, and installation for the pilot area (approximately 409 poles and 1,224 homes). This will reduce the construction timeline by 6 – 9 months, which would otherwise be prolonged in the process of issuing multiple invitation for bids (IFBs) to perform the work for FTTP and grid modernization. The pilot area will be treated as a testbed to design and construct both projects in parallel to minimize community disruption and reduce shared construction costs. The pilot is intended to inform CPAU how to most effectively bid out the engineering, construction and installation services required for FTTP and grid modernization for the remaining phase 1 area (additional 1,241 poles and 5,560 customers). •VIP Powerline provides electric construction services including pole replacements, facilities upgrade on the electric distribution system, and customer connections. VIP also has some fiber construction experience such as installation of fiber cable and messenger wires. (Staff Report 2303-1119)5
•MP Nexlevel provides electric and fiber substructure installation and trenching services.

MP Nexlevel is also qualified to provide fiber construction and installation services including fiber installation, splicing, and testing. (Staff Report 13953)6 •Magellan provides multiple facets of implementing municipal fiber and broadband networks including business planning, engineering, program management, integration, and operations. In 2022, Magellan was acquired by Entrust Solutions, an experienced provider of engineering, consulting, data analytics, and automation services to the electric, gas, and telecom markets. (Staff Report 2303-1215)7 •Davey Tree provides clearing of trees and other vegetation from the overhead electric distribution system. Clearing vegetation from power lines is an on-going operation necessary to ensure the City provides safe, reliable power. (Staff Report 10883)8 Work is underway to identify the specific bill of materials (BOM) for electric and fiber specifically in the pilot area. Once complete, it is expected that this will be provided to current on-call construction and engineering firms for quotes. Ultimately, staff will bring forward appropriate recommended contract amendments for the additional scope of work including revised not-to- exceed financial limits.

Other Updates
Fiber Make-Ready Engineering
5 Staff Report 2303-1119 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes- reports/reports/city-manager-reports-cmrs/2023/04-10-2023-id-2303-1119.pdf 6 Staff Report 13953 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes- reports/reports/city-manager-reports-cmrs/2022/03-21-22-id-13953.pdf 7 Staff Report 2303-1215 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes- reports/reports/city-manager-reports-cmrs/2023/05-01-2023-id-2303-1215.pdf 8 Staff Report 10883 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes- reports/reports/city-manager-reports-cmrs/year-archive/2020/id-10883.pdf Item 25
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Magellan completed the survey of approximately 6,000 utility poles in Palo Alto. The survey identified the current load and condition of each pole in preparation for the new fiber backbone and FTTP. The survey included detailed fielding and walk-out of all routes to validate running lines, existing utilities, and constructability. For aerial construction, Magellan provided make- ready engineering pole data to determine pole preparation and pole replacement, as well as timeframes for the work to be completed. For phase one of FTTP and grid modernization, CPAU will be passing 1,650 existing poles, attaching fiber to 1,300 poles, replacing 200 to 300 poles, and coordinating with third parties to move their telecom equipment lower on 325 poles. In addition to the fiber expansion project, CPAU has a recurring Wood Pole Replacement capital improvement project to replace approximately 100 deteriorated wood poles annually. Wood poles are used to support overhead utility lines throughout the City of Palo Alto. Though poles are inspected, tested, and treated to maintain their integrity, over time poles will deteriorate to the point that they are no longer in compliance with GO 95 requirements or safe for community and utility workers.

Fiber Hut Sites:

Fiber huts are usually a prefabricated building (10’ x 20’) containing electronics and network equipment that connects fiber to neighborhoods. The hut also has backup generators and HVAC systems to maintain equipment within its operating environmental specifications. Two fiber huts are recommended for the citywide network for Palo Alto Fiber. Staff and Magellan evaluated potential fiber hut sites and considered their proximity to strategic areas, planning/land use requirements, and existing infrastructure. As a result, the potential locations were narrowed to the Colorado substation and anticipated space at City Hall. The Colorado substation was previously identified as an ideal location due to its proximity to the area it serves and its current use for utilities. The Equinix data center in Palo Alto will serve as the second fiber hut site. City Hall was a potential option but Equinix provides a superior alternative due to timing, cost, construction, and future flexibility considerations.

Equinix Fiber Data Center:

Equinix is currently the hub for the City’s dark fiber service. The Equinix datacenter is vendor- neutral site where numerous internet service providers and content delivery networks can interconnect and exchange internet traffic between their networks. As the City expands its fiber footprint, more data center space will be needed. On November 27, 2023, Council approved a new license agreement with Equinix for a three-year term to secure space for the infrastructure required to operate the fiber and ISP for FTTP ( Staff Report 2310-2129) 9. A private cage will provide a secure space that meets the requirements to host the data center and fiber hut for FTTP.
9 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes-reports/reports/city-manager-reports- cmrs/2023/11-27-23-id-2310-2129-mini-packet.pdf
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Invitation for Bid (IFB) Construction Package:

Upon completion of the pilot, should opportunities arise to align FTTP and grid modernization, a public and open procurement process (IFB) for the construction of FTTP and grid modernization is expected. The consolidated IFB package will include construction-ready prints for fiber and power, construction details, splice details, pole make-ready details, construction standards as well as all documentation needed to complete the bid package. This shall include a written summary and scope of work, estimated costs to construct, as well as labor estimates, bill of materials, and the vendor list.

Staffing:

As the City solidifies staffing plans in parallel with contracted services, the Director of Information Technology will take on the responsibilities of an Assistant Director for Palo Alto Fiber on an interim basis. In the FY 2024 adopted budget, four (4) new FTE positions for the dark fiber expansion and implementation of FTTP were created. These positions will be recruited and filled as needed during the various stages of the project.
•Assistant Director - To provide the vision and strategy for the new fiber business and lead a high-performance team to quickly execute. Responsibilities include and are not limited to: overseeing fiber enterprise fund budget timelines and milestones (including the dark fiber optic business), managing the roll out and expansion of the fiber optic network, Internet Service Provider (ISP) operations, customer service operations, and business development.
•Manager Utilities Telecommunications / "Outside Plant Manager" - To lead the construction process, installation and repair service technicians, and ensure the outside plant processes run efficiently and smoothly. Responsibilities include and are not limited to: overseeing construction, managing engineers and contractors, achieving construction budget timelines and milestones.
•Manager Information Technology / "Sr. Network Engineer/Architect" – To lead the development process of the overall architecture of the broadband system and manage the system. Responsibilities include and are not limited to: managing the network and supporting technical needs across the organization.
•Manager Utilities Telecommunications / "Sales and Marketing Manager" - To develop the marketing strategy and lead marketing initiatives. Responsibilities include and are not limited to: meeting revenue objectives, cultivating strong partnerships, and maintaining retention rates.

FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
This report is for informational purposes so there is no resource impact. Based on Council and UAC input, staff will return with specific actions associated with efforts to align the fiber expansion and electric grid modernization projects.

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STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Staff continues to engage with the community on these two efforts primarily through the City’s Finance Committee and Utilities Advisory Commission discussions which are open to the public to participate and share feedback.

On November 7, 2023, the Finance Committee was updated on the Fiber Master Plan, which includes a pilot to align FTTP with the Electric grid modernization project. The Finance Committee provided feedback on timeline, costs, and alignment of FTTP to grid modernization.

In addition, staff continues to share updates through the Palo Alto Fiber project webpage10, City communications channels such as social media 11, Medium.com12 blog and interactive Palo Alto Fiber Hub.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
A CEQA consultant is preparing a CEQA Initial Study for the Fiber-to-the-Premises project in accordance with the State CEQA Guidelines and the environmental regulations of the City.

ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Finance Committee Presentation
APPROVED BY:

Dean Batchelor, Director of Utilities
Staff: Dave Yuan, Strategic Business Manager
10 Palo Alto Fiber Webpage, https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/paloaltofiber 11 City Social Media Channels, www.cityofpaloalto.org/connect 12 Palo Alto Connect, https://medium.com/@paloaltoconnect Item 25
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Palo Alto Fiber Project and
Construction Alignment
with Electric Grid
Modernization
November 7, 2023
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AGENDA
• Project(s) Recap
• Fiber Expansion Plan
• Fiber Backbone Expansion “Rebuild” Project
• Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) Project
• Electrification
• Grid Modernization for Electrification Project
• Informational Updates
• Alignment of Fiber Expansion Plan and Grid Modernization • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Initial Study • Joint Pole Ownership Coordination with AT&T
• Contract Amendments
• Other Updates
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HOW DID WE GET HERE?
• What has Council Approved?
• Dec 19, 2022 Council Approved to
• Proceed with dark fiber backbone
expansion “rebuild”
• Build FTTP Phase 01 in multi-
phased approach without debt
financing
• Jun 19, 2023 Council Approved​
• New Grid Modernization for Electrification project in FY24 Budget • New Fiber-to-the-Premises project in FY24 Budget
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RECAP OF PROJECTS

FIBER BACKBONE REBUILD FIBER-TO-THE-PREMISES GRID MODERNIZATION Estimated cost $25.6M (FO-16000) Estimated cost for Phase 1 $20M; Citywide $102M (FO-24000)
Estimated cost $220M to $306M
(EL-24000)
Funded by Electric and Fiber funds Funded by Fiber Fund Funded by the Electric Fund; debt financing and/or grants
Supports the City’s fiber licensing
service and internal needs:
 Improve fiber and electric
system reliability, security
and capacity
 Enable more connectivity for
City departments
 Internal communication
needs for SCADA, AMI, DA
and other critical
infrastructure
Supports the City’s high speed
broadband internet needs:
 Provides City-owned
high-speed internet
service
 Provides new capacity for
dark fiber licensing
 Community investment in
its own broadband
network
Supports City’s S/CAP goals and
future demand
 100% residential
electrification
 Upgrade existing
substations,
replace transformers,
convert existing 4 kVa lines
to 12 kVa to increase
capacity and meet
future demand.

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INFORMATIONAL UPDATES
Topics to address prior to construction
 Pilot aligning fiber and grid modernization project to inform on • Pole make-ready and replacement
• Material lead time and warehousing
• Internal resources to implement and coordinate projects  Initial Study for CEQA in progress to evaluate potential impacts • Identify physical, biological, social and economic factors • Provide mitigation efforts
 Joint Pole Ownership Coordination with AT&T in progress • Approximately 5,550 poles shared with AT&T
• Upcoming replacements and coordination will overwhelm staff • Eliminated Northern California Joint Pole Association membership option  Contract Amendments
• VIP Powerline – power and fiber construction
• MP Nexlevel– substructure and fiber construction
• Magellan/Entrust– power and fiber engineering design
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Pilot Map Overlay with Phase 1 & Areas of Interest
Pilot Area Map to align Grid Modernization with FTTP
(1,224 customers and 409 poles)
Proposed Phase 1 FTTP Map (Additional 5,560
customers and 1,241 poles)
Areas of Interest Map based on Lower Construction
Cost, Higher Density, Less Competition, Higher
Customer Interest
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Pilot Project Plan (draft outline subject to change)
 Pre-construction
• Aerial Power Make Ready Engineering - Feb 2024
• Materials Ordering/Warehousing - Feb 2024
• CEQA Approval - Apr 2024
• Fiber Hut at Colorado Power Station - Oct 2024
 Construction
• Power: Mar 2024 - Oct 2024
• Fiber: Jun 2024 - Feb 2025
 Operations & Customer Outreach
• Operations Support Systems “OSS”
• Business Support Systems “BSS”
• Marketing/Event(s)
• Community Meeting(s)
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Q&A
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City Council
Staff Report
Report Type: SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: December 18, 2023
Report #:2312-2345
TITLE
Proclamation Honoring Herb Borock for his Service to the City of Palo Alto

ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Herb Borock Proclamation
APPROVED BY:

Mahealani Ah Yun
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Proclamation

Commending Herb Borock
WHEREAS, Herb Borock began his community activism in the fall of 1968 as a volunteer helping with a petition campaign to qualify Senator Eugene McCarthy as a write-in candidate for the Presidential election, which led to his coordinating the local precinct organization for the re-election of Senator Alan Cranston; and
WHEREAS, also in the fall of 1968, Herb Borock registered for a course on the Strategy and Tactics of Confrontation Politics at the Midpeninsula Free University that led to his participation in successful mass political movements against classified research at Stanford and ROTC at Stanford; and
WHEREAS, Herb Borock participated in the Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) where he served as Parliamentarian of the ASSU Senate, a member of the Nominations Committee, and an alternate to the Stanford Judicial Council; and WHEREAS, in the fall of 1969, Herb Borock was Northern California’s coordinator of a petition campaign to lower the voting age to 18; and
WHEREAS, following the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, Herb Borock coordinated the initiative petition campaign to place a rent relief initiative measure on the ballot that obtained the required 12% valid signatures of registered voters in three-and-a-half weeks; and WHEREAS, Herb Borock was treasurer of both the Palo Alto Citizens for Rent Relief and Palo Alto Area Democratic Association (1978- 79); a District- level delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention for Senator Ted Kennedy; Coordinator of the Baylands Conservation Committee (1980-81); publicity Chairman of the Palo Alto Civic League (1982-83); Chairman of the Midpeninsula Freeze Campaign (1982- 85); member of the California Democratic Party Platform Task Force on World Peace and International Relations (1983-84); member of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Peace Center (1983-85) where he served as Secretary in 1984, Chairman in 1985 and Treasurer from 1985-87; and was a member of the Executive Board of Urban Ministry of Palo Alto (1999-2000); and
WHEREAS, Herb Borock currently focuses his community activities on Palo Alto City Council where he is a frequent advocate to encourage City officials to comply with the Conflict of Interest laws, the Public Records Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, and the Brown Act; to Item AA1
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require City Council appointed committees, boards, and commissions to be advisory to the Council; and for the City Council to provide proper oversight of Council Appointed Officers; and WHEREAS, Herb Borock has written articles on local political issues in the Stanford Daily, the monthly Grapevine newspaper, and the Palo Alto Weekly. He also contributed articles to The People’s Almanac (Doubleday: 1975), the People’s Almanac #2 (Bantam Books: 1978), Big Brother and the Holding Company: The World Behind Watergate (Ramparts Press: 1974), and In These Times.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Lydia Kou, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto on behalf of the City Council commend and honor Herb Borock’s many decades of devotion, institutional knowledge, and service to the City of Palo Alto.

PRESENTED: December 18, 2023

______________________________
Lydia Kou
Mayor
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City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: Planning and Development Services
Meeting Date: December 18, 2023
Report #:2312-2388
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 the City Council receive public comment and take the following actions:

1. Adopt a resolution updating the Land Use and Design Element of the Comprehensive Plan to be consistent with Programs 1.1A and 1.1B of the Housing Element.

2. Adopt on second reading the attached housing element implementation ordinance that includes a clarifying revision related to a building facade modulation requirement for properties located in the Housing Focus Area.

3. Provide direction to staff if any other revisions to the ordinance are required, including changes that would be addressed in a subsequent new ordinance at a future date.

BACKGROUND
On November 13, 2023, the City Council adopted, on first reading, an ordinance amending the zoning code to implement programs in the City’s adopted Housing Element. These changes are necessary to ensure that properties the City is relying on to plan for its regional housing needs can support the projected unit density and feasibly redevelop for housing. The statutory deadline to execute the zoning amendments is January 31, 2024. The ordinance becomes effective on the 31st day following a second reading of the ordinance and therefore should be adopted in December to meet the deadline.

On December 11, 2023, a property owner representative for a housing development at 3150 El Camino Real (Subject Property) requested the ordinance be pulled from the consent calendar to consider the following points:

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1. A request to increase the height at which a step-back is required in the Housing Focus Area from 55 feet to 59 feet along El Camino Real;

2. A request to increase the allowed floor area ratio in the Housing Focus Area from 4.0 to

4.5; and,

3. Clarification on how a building modulation requirement in the Housing Focus Area for portions of a building that exceed 250 feet in length would be interpreted.

Staff subsequently met with the public speaker, conducted additional analysis and found that the building modulation requirement was duplicative of an existing design standard; as a result, staff have removed the requirement from the attached ordinance. Because this does not result in a substantive change, it can be accomplished without triggering a new first reading. Staff considers the other requests substantive policy changes, which if the Council agreed and wanted to advance, would require the ordinance to be reintroduced on first reading.

Staff also met with representatives for the property located at 3400 El Camino Real after the subject ordinance was pulled from the consent calendar. The representatives expressed continued concern about the Planning and Transportation Commission recommendation, which was adopted by the City Council, regarding the setback and transitional height for properties in the Housing Focus Area adjacent to low density and R1 zoned properties. The representatives noted an interest in asking the Council to revisit this provision if the ordinance were being reconsidered.

Given the statutory deadline to implement required zoning changes by the end of January, staff recommends the Council proceed with the second reading, with the recommended modification, and provide direction as appropriate on the other requests.

A resolution amending the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan is also attached for adoption. As explained in the December 11, 2023 report, the text to be amended was included on November 13, but the actual resolution was inadvertently omitted. It is included here for formal adoption.

ANALYSIS
Given the short turnaround for packet preparation, this report focuses on the specific requests made during public comment. Additional information about the ordinance is available in two prior Council reports for November 13 and December 11, 2023.1,2 1 November 13, 2023 Council Report:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meetings/ItemWithTemplateType?id=3377&meetingTemplateType=2&comp iledMeetingDocumentId=8399.
2 December 11, 2023 Council Report:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meetings/ItemWithTemplateType?id=3674&meetingTemplateType=2&comp iledMeetingDocumentId=8672.

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Stepback Height Requirement. To accommodate additional building height in the Housing Focus Area and provide reasonable transitions in scale from El Camino Real, staff recommended, and Council supported, an upper level stepback above 55 feet in height. This provision requires portions of the building above this height to be set back further from the property line or building façade.3
The Subject Property has a modest slope of about three feet downward along El Camino Real from the northern front property corner to the southern front corner. While the finished floor elevation at the first floor generally follows this change in street grade elevation, the finished floor elevation at each floor level above does not. For instance, where a second floor is planned, the floorplate is 11' 4" above the highest street corner and a floorplate of 23' 4" at the third level, and so on. A consistent floorplate is a reasonable objective that makes the design and construction process more efficient and facilitates compliance with various technical codes, including Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. This design solution, however, is not absolute and changes in floorplate elevations can be incorporated into a building. In fact, the subject project incorporates such changes in floorplate elevation in the subterranean garage deck and first floor elevations.

A representative for the project located at 3150 El Camino Real asserts a 20 foot clearance is required for the refuse collection and staging area, which is located on the side of the property that has the higher street corner elevation. Applying that clearance and employing a consistent floorplate design results in the third floor having a finished floor elevation of 23'4" above the highest street corner elevation and 26' 4" above grade the lower street corner elevation. When more floors are added that also employ a consistent floorplate elevation, it results in the fifth floor exceeding the 55 foot height for the stepback requirement at the lower street corner elevation by about four feet.

Accordingly, the project applicant requests the Council adjust the Housing Focus Area ordinance to raise the 55 foot stepback requirement to 59 feet.4 Staff does not consider the change in the stepback height from 55 feet to 59 or 60 feet to be perceptually significant from the street grade. This change would also facilitate design flexibility for other Housing Focus Area sites and result in more generous interior volume spaces.

However, when taken in combination with the allowance for parapets to extend above the height limit this change becomes more noticeable from street grade. 3 The City Council provided direction to staff on November 13 to develop standards to implement the upper level stepback based on the Council’s discussion. Staff’s response to this direction was detailed in the December 11 staff report, linked above.
4 The applicant also requested staff to consider whether the incorporation of a planter that raises the finished floor elevation at grade would qualify as the point to measure height if used to address onsite drainage. Staff has considered this request and found it is not applicable in this instance.

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Alternatively, the applicant could decide to modify the design concept. The Housing Focus Area was created with an awareness of the 3150 El Camino Real project but not designed to precisely meet each aspect of the project on file with the City. Staff anticipated some design modifications would be required to comply with the new requirements, which are substantially more generous that the base district zoning and conveys greater development potential than can be achieved from the state density bonus. Specifically, the applicant could adjust the floorplate elevations at key locations in the design to accommodate the stepback height limit.

The first and second floor spaces have generous heights, which from a design perspective is appropriate from the street elevation, but this space also does not serve retail uses, which tend to need higher floor to ceiling space. The residential units at the upper levels provide a generous, nearly 9 foot clearance that could be adjusted slightly to help achieve compliance.

The applicant could also reconsider the placement of the refuse location and staging area, or slightly depress the entrance, so that the required clearance could be provided at a lower overall height. There are likely other approaches the applicant could consider to address the perceived limitations imposed by the height restriction. While the applicant has professed that it is simply not feasible to comply with the 55 foot stepback height, staff believe there are likely creative solutions that would allow a housing development at this scale, location and with a comparable number of units, based on the Housing Focus Area proposed development standards.

Floor Area Ratio. The representative for 3150 El Camino Real, when requesting the ordinance be pulled from the consent calendar, noted an interest in seeing the City’s 4.0 floor area ratio, or FAR, be increased to 4.5 in the Housing Focus Area. The Subject Property had a 4.07 FAR when the Housing Focus Area standards were being created. A modest reduction in project floor area (less than 7,800 square feet) was anticipated with the proposed standards.5 A recent review of the project plans from the applicant suggests a minimum of 4.1 FAR is now needed for the project, as designed.

Similar to the request to change height, increasing the FAR for the Housing Focus Area is a policy consideration for Council. As noted, staff anticipated that some revisions to the subject project plans would be required when the Council adopted the ordinance. The City established the Housing Area Focus standards for several properties and did so with the intent to possibly expand these housing incentives to other properties. Increasing the floor area would apply to all properties in the Housing Focus Area.

Reducing the project floor area to achieve compliance would result in fewer housing units. As many as 12 units may be lost to achieve compliance, but potentially fewer. The total number of units proposed is 380. While every housing unit is valuable, the increase in development potential generated by the Housing Focus Area substantially increases what could be achieved 5 The lot area for the project at 3150 El Camino Real is 111,030 square feet. A 4.0 FAR would allow up to 444,120 square feet. Notably, in addition to showing a 4.07 FAR (451,507 square feet), the plans include a detailed calculation showing a total gross floor area of 441,817 square feet, which would be below 4.0 FAR.

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based on existing zoning or through the state density bonus law. If the Council wants to increase Housing Focus Area floor area, it could direct staff accordingly. Alternatively, the applicant could modify the project to comply or may elect to pursue its builder’s remedy project on file with the City.6
Building Modulation Requirement. The project representative for 3150 El Camino Real raised concern about a building modulation requirement in the Housing Focus Area. Staff has reviewed this and concurs that the language included in the ordinance is unnecessary and confusing. The intent of the provision was to carve out an exception in the Housing Focus Area from the City’s objective design standards that require a diversity of housing types for projects on larger lots. The provision also included an additional building modulation requirement for building facades in excess of 250 feet that imposed a more stringent design standard than the existing objective design standards, which was not the intent. Accordingly, staff has modified the ordinance to omit the more restrictive building modulation standard and instead require projects to comply the existing objective requirement or seek modification to the requirement from the Architectural Review Board.

This modification is a minor clarification to the ordinance and can be remedied with the attached, second reading ordinance.

FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
This action has no significant fiscal impact as it can be performed with current adopted staffing levels and consultant resources. Direction to prepare additional amendments to the Housing Focus area in advance of other initiatives, including in advance of prior Council direction to explore expanding the Housing Focus area, may result in a minor delay in other Housing Element program implementation initiatives, including work on the Housing Incentive Program, though such impacts are not expected to delay overall project timelines.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Since the subject ordinance was removed from the consent calendar by Councilmembers Tanaka, Lauing and Vice Mayor Stone, staff meet with representatives of two properties referenced in this report. Notice of this meeting was posted at least 72 hours in advance on the City’s website and posted on King Plaza at City Hall.

6 As previously reported, the outcome of a builder’s remedy project is uncertain and may result in litigation.

Moreover, the builder’s remedy project is subject to potentially 5 public hearings, including appeals after the receiving the Architectural Review Board’s recommendation and completing environmental review. By contrast, a Housing Focus Area project requires one courtesy meeting before the ARB and completion of environmental review.

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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
On November 13, 2023, the City Council adopted an Addendum to the Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that analyzed the potential environmental impacts of the 2023-2031 Draft Housing Element. The recommendation included with this report is consistent with that prior analysis; no further environmental review is required at this time.

ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Resolution Amending 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 Item AA2
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Resolution No. ____
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Land Use and Design Element of the City of Palo Alto
Comprehensive Plan to Reflect Policies and Programs adopted in the 2023-2031 Housing Element and Related Updates to the Zoning Code.

R E C I T A L S

A. On May 8, 2023, the City Council adopted the City of Palo Alto 2023 -2031 Housing Element (“Housing Element”) pursuant to Government Code Section 65585.

B. Program 1.1A of the Housing Element provides for amendments to the zoning ordinance that are necessary to accommodate the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (“RHNA”) on the inventory of housing opportunity sites provided in Appendix D to the Housing Element.

C. Program 1.1B of the Housing Element provides for additional amendments to the zoning ordinance for ROLM and GM zoned properties that exceed those required under Program

1.1A.

D. On December XX, 2023, the City Council adopted an ordinance amending Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to implement Programs 1.1A and 1.1B of the Housing Element.

E. The updates contemplated in Programs 1.1A and 1.1B of the Housing Element also require related changes to the Land Use and Design Element of the Comprehensive Plan.

F. In order to maintain consistency with the between the Land Use and Design and Housing Elements of the Comprehensive Plan, and between the Comprehensive Plan and the Palo Alto Municipal Code, the City Council desires to amend the Land Use and Design Element of the Comprehensive Plan.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto RESOLVES as follows:

SECTION 1
. The City Council finds that the public interest, health, safety and welfare of Palo Alto and the surrounding region would be furthered by Text Amendment s to the Land Use and Community Design Element.

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Comprehensive Plan

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SECTION 2. The proposed Land Use and Community Design Text Amendments are consistent with the following goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan:

Policy L-1.1: Maintain and prioritize Palo
Alto’s varied residential neighborhoods
while sustaining the vitality of its
commercial areas and public facilities.

The proposed amendments will align with the
programs and policies of the Housing Element,
which promote the production of much-needed
housing in strategic locations throughout the
City.

Policy L-1.3: Infill development in the
urban service area should be compatible
with its surroundings and the overall
scale and character of the city to ensure a
compact, efficient development pattern.

The proposed amendments will allow for the
production of housing in accordance with the
Housing Element, which envisions urban infill
development throughout the City.

Policy L-1.4: Commit to creating an
inventory of below market rate housing
for purchase and rental. Work with
neighbors, neighborhood associations,
property owners and developers to
identify barriers to infill development of
below market rate and more affordable
market rate housing and to remove these
barriers, as appropriate. Work with these
same stakeholders to identify sites and
facilitate opportunities for below market
rate housing and housing that is
affordable.

The proposed amendments implement the
Housing Element, including provision that
promote the production of below market rate
housing.

Policy L-1.5: Regulate land uses in Palo
Alto according to the land use definitions
in this Element and Map L-6
The proposed amendments ensure compliance
with this policy and modify the land use
definitions to align with past, current, and future
uses of housing opportunity sites in the City.

Policy L-1.6: Encourage land uses that
address the needs of the community and
manage change and development to
benefit the community.

The proposed amendments encourage the
production of housing, which is a local, regional,
and statewide need.

Policy L-2.3: As a key component of a
diverse, inclusive community, allow and
encourage a mix of housing types and
sizes, integrated into neighborhoods and
designed for greater affordability,
particularly smaller housing types, such
as studios, co-housing, cottages,
clustered housing, accessory dwelling
units and senior housing
The proposed amendments align with the
Housing Element, which encourages the
development of all types of housing.

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Resolution Amending
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Element of the
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Policy L-2.6: Create opportunities for new
mixed-use development consisting of
housing and retail.

The proposed amendments facilitate the
production of housing in commercial land use
designations.

SECTION 3. The City Council hereby amends Single-Family Residential land use description in the City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows (additions underlined and deletions struck through):

Single-Family Residential: This designation applies to residential neighborhoods primarily characterized by detached single -family homes, typically with one dwelling unit on each lot. Private and public schools and churches are conditional uses requiring permits. Accessory dwelling units or duplexes are allowed subject to certain size limitations and other development standards and duplexes may be allowed in select, limited areas where they would be compatible with neighborhood character and do not create traffic and parking problems.

Multiple-
Family uses may be permitted on Housing Element opportunity sites. The net density in single family areas will range from 1 to 7 units per acre, but rises to a maximum of 14 units
per acre on parcels where second units or duplexes occur , except on Housing Element opportunity sites, for which higher density standards may be specified in the Zoning Ordinance . Population densities will range from 1 to 30 persons per acre.

SECTION 4. The City Council hereby amends Multiple -Family Residential land use description in the City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows (additions
underlined):

Multiple-Family Residential: The permitted number of housing units will vary by area, depending on existing land use, proximity to major streets and public transit, distance to shopping and environmental problems. Net densities will range from 8 to 40 units and 8 to 90 persons per acre
, except on Housing Element opportunity
sites, for which higher density standards may be specified in the Zoning Ordinance.

Density should be on the lower end of the scale next to single -family residential areas. Densities higher than what is permitted may be allowed where measurable community benefits will be derived, services and facilities are available, and the net effect will be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Population densities will range up to 2.25 persons per unit by 2030.

SECTION 5. The Ci ty Council hereby amends Neighborhood Commercial land use description in the City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows (additions
underlined):

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Element of the
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Neighborhood Commercial: Includes shopping centers with offstreet parking or a cluster of street- front stores that serve the immediate neighborhood. Examples include Charleston Center, Edgewood Center and Midtown. Typical uses include supermarkets, bakeries, drugstores, variety stores, barber shops, restaurants, self- service laundries, dry cleaners and hardware stores. In locations along El Camino Real and Alma Street, residential and mixed use projects may also locate in this category. Non -residential FARs will range up to 0.4. Co nsistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s encouragement of housing near transit centers, higher density multi-family housing may be allowed in specific locations , generally within
one-half mile of high quality transit.

SECTION 6 . The City Council hereby amends Regional/Community Commercial land use description in the City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows (additions
underlined):

Regional/Community Commercial: Larger shopping centers and districts that have a wider variety of goods and services than the neighborhood shopping areas.

They rely on larger trade areas and include such uses as department stores, bookstores, furniture stores, toy stores, apparel shops, restaurants, theaters and nonretail services such as offices and banks. Examples include Stanford Shopping Center, Town and Country Village and University Avenue/Downtown. Non- retail uses such as medical and dental offices may also locate in this designation; software development may also locate Downtown. In some locations, residential and mixed use projects may also locate in this category. Non -residential FARs range from 0.35 to 2.0. Consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s encouragement of housing near transit centers, higher density multi -family housing may be allowed in specific locations, generally within one-half mile of high quality transit .

SECTION 7. The City Council hereby amends Service Commercial land use description in the City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Desi gn Element to read as follows (additions underlined):

Service Commercial: Facilities providing citywide and regional services and relying on customers arriving by car. These uses do not necessarily benefit from being in high volume pedestrian areas such as shopping centers or Downtown. Typical uses include auto services and dealerships, motels, lumberyards, appliance stores and restaurants, including fast service types. In almost all cases, these uses require good automobile and service access so that customers can safely load and unload without impeding traffic. In some locati ons, residential and mixed -use projects may be appropriate in this land use category. Examples of Service Commercial areas include San Antonio Road, El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road northeast Item AA2
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Element of the
Comprehensive Plan

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of the Bayshore Freeway. Nonresidential FARs will range up to 0.4. Consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s encouragement of housing near transit centers, higher density multi-family housing may be allowed in specific locations, generally within one-half mile of high quality transit.

SECTION 8. The City Council hereby amends Service Commercial land use description in the City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows (additions underlined):

Service Commercial: Facilities providing citywide and regional services and relying on customers arriving by car. These uses do not necessarily benefit from being in high volume pedestrian areas such as shopping centers or Downtown. Typical uses include auto services and dealerships, motels, lumberyards, appliance stores and restaurants, including fast service types. In almost all cases, these uses require good automobile and service access so that customers can safely load and unload without impeding traffic. In some locations, residential and mixed -use projects may be appropriate i n this land use category. Examples of Service Commercial areas include San Antonio Road, El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road northeast of the Bayshore Freeway. Nonresidential FARs will range up to 0.4. Consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s encouragement of housing near transit centers, higher density multi-family housing may be allowed in specific locations , generally within
one-half mile of high quality transit.

SECTION 9. The City Council hereby amends Mixed Use land use description in the City of Pa lo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows (additions underlined):

Mixed Use: The Mixed Use designation is intended to promote pedestrian - oriented places that layer compatible land uses, public amenities and utilit ies together at various scales and intensities. The designation allows for multiple functions within the same building or adjacent to one another in the same general vicinity to foster a mix of uses that encourages people to live, work, play and shop in cl ose proximity. Most typically, mixed -use developments have retail on the ground floor and residences above. This category includes Live/Work, Retail/Office, Residential/Retail and Residential/Office development. FARs will range up to 1.15, although development located along transit corridors or near multi-modal centers will range up to 2.0 FAR with up to 3.0 FAR possible where higher FAR would be an incentive to meet community goals such as providing affordable housing. The FAR above 1.15 must be used for residential purposes. Up to 100% of FAR may be used for residential purposes in a Planned Community zone. Consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s encouragement of housing near Item AA2
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transit centers, higher density multi -family housing may be allowed in specific locations, generally within one-half mile of high quality transit.

SECTION 10. The City Council hereby amends Research/Office Park land use description in the City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Community Design Element to read as follows (additions underlined):

Research/Office Park: Office, research and manufacturing establishments whose operations are buffered from adjacent residential uses. Stanford Research Park is an example. Other uses that may be included are educational institutions and child care facilities. Compatible commercial service uses such as banks and restaurants and residential or mixed -uses that would benefit from the proximity to employment centers, will also be allowed. Additional uses, including retail services, commercial recreation, churches and private clubs may also be located in Research/Office Park areas, but only if they are found to be compatible with the surrounding area through the conditional use permit process. In some locations, residential and mixed -use projects may also locate in this category. Maximum allowable FAR ranges from 0.3 to 0.5, depending on site conditions. Consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, multi -family housing may be allowed in specific locations.

On Housing Element opportunity sites, FAR will typically range from

1.25 to 2.5, as specified in the Zoning Ordinance. Higher FARs may be feasible within one-half mile of high quality transit, as specified in the Zoning Ordinance.

SECTION 11. The City Council hereby amends Light Industrial land use description in the City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Commu nity Design Element to read as follows (additions underlined):

Light Industrial: Wholesale and storage warehouses and the manufacturing, processing, repairing and packaging of goods. Emission of fumes, noise, smoke, or other pollutants is strictly controlled. Examples include portions of the area south of Oregon Avenue between El Camino Real and Alma Street that historically have included these land uses, and the San Antonio Road industrial area. Compatible residential and mixed use projects may also be lo cated in this category. FAR will range up to 0.5.

On Housing Element opportunity sites, FAR will typically range from 1.5 to 2.5, as specified in the Zoning Ordinance. Higher FARs may be feasible within one-half mile of high quality transit. Consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s encouragement of housing near transit centers, higher density multi-family housing may be allowed in specific locations, generally within one-half mile of high quality transit.

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Element of the
Comprehensive Plan

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SECTION 12. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the City prepared an Addendum to the 2017 Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR), analyzing the potential environmental impacts of the 2023 -2031 Housing Element. On May 8, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution 10107, finding that the Addendum and the 2017 EIR adequately analyzed the environmental impacts of the Housing Element, including Programs

1.1A and 1.1B of the Housing Element, which this resolution implements.

INTRODUCED AND PASSED:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTENTIONS:

ATTEST:

__________________________ _____________________________ City Clerk Mayor

APPROVED AS TO FORM APPROVED

__________________________ __________________________ Assistant City Attorney City Manager

__________________________
Director of Planning and
Development Services

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Land Use and Design
Element of the
Comprehensive Plan

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Exhibit A: Existing and Proposed Comprehensive Plan Land Use Designations

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Land Use and Design
Element of the
Comprehensive Plan

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Ordinance No. _____
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Adopting Chapter 18.14 (Housing Incentives) and Amending Various Chapters of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Implement Programs 1.1A and 1.1B of the City of Palo Alto 2023-2031 Housing Element

The Council of the City of Palo Alto ORDAINS as follows:

SECTION 1. Findings and Declara�ons.

(a) On May 8, 2023, the City Council adopted the City of Palo Alto 2023-2031 Housing Element (“Housing Element”) pursuant to Government Code Sec�on 65585. (b) Program 1.1A of the Housing Element provides for amendments to the zoning ordinance that are necessary to accommodate the City’s Regional Housing Needs Alloca�on (“RHNA”) on the inventory of housing opportunity sites provided in Appendix D to the Housing Element. (c) Program 1.1B of the Housing Element provides for addi�onal amendments to the zoning ordinance for ROLM and GM zoned proper�es that exceed those required under Program 1.1A. (d) Government Code Sec�ons 65583 and 65588 require that the City complete its rezoning of sites under Program 1.1A by January 31, 2024, which is one year from the statutory deadline for adop�on of the Housing Element.
(e) This ordinance implements Programs 1.1A and 1.1B of the Housing Element, resul�ng in an inventory of sites suitable and available for development that is sufficient to meet the City’s RHNA during the Housing Element planning period.

SECTION 2. Chapter 18.14 (Housing Incen�ves) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is added to read as follows:

CHAPTER 18.14: HOUSING INCENTIVES

18.14.010 Purpose

This chapter implements the regional housing needs strategy (RHNA) of the City’s Comprehensive Plan Housing Element to rezone opportunity sites; facilitates housing produc�on; affirma�vely furthers fair housing; and provides incen�ves for housing development, especially below-market rate housing.

18.14.020 Housing Element Opportunity Sites

This subsec�on implements the rezoning required to meet the RHNA in the 2023-2031 Housing Element, pursuant to Appendix D. Regula�ons iden�fied in Table 1 and Table 2 modify and replace development standards provided in base zoning district and applicable combining district regula�ons.

a) Applicability
: This subsec�on applies to Housing Development Projects, as defined in Government Code Sec�on 65589.5, on Housing Element opportunity sites listed in Appendix D Item AA2
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Adopting Amendments to
Title 18 to Implement
Housing Element Program

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and on sites within the GM/ROLM and El Camino Real Focus Areas depicted in Figure 1 and Figure 3.

b) Permited Uses: Refer to the base zoning district and applicable combining districts for allowed uses, except:

(1) Exclusively residen�al uses are permited on all Housing Element opportunity sites. (2) Combining district use regula�ons shall not apply to exclusively residen�al projects on housing opportunity sites designated in Appendix D of the Housing Element to accommodate lower income households.
(3) Sites zoned to allow mixed use development and are iden�fied in Appendix D of the Housing Element as suitable for lower income households, must be developed with a minimum of two-thirds residen�al floor area.

c) Development Standards: Refer to base zoning district and applicable combining districts for development standards except:

(1) Residen�al uses on R-1 zoned sites (faith-based ins�tu�ons) shall be subject to the development standards for the RM-30 zoning district, pursuant to Chapter 18.13.040, except that Maximum FAR shall be 1.25 and minimum density shall be 20 units per acre. (2) RM-20, RM-30, RM-40, CN, CS, CC, CC(2), CD-C, and CD-N zoned sites as modified by Table 1 (3) GM, ROLM, and RP zoned sites as modified by Table 2
(4) PF zoned sites shall meet the following development standards:
(A) Downtown sites: CD-C standards, pursuant to Table 1 below (B) California Avenue sites: CC(2) standards, pursuant to Table 1 below (5) Specific Stanford University-owned sites and El Camino Real Focus Area sites may, as an alterna�ve to State Density Bonus Law, meet base district regula�ons as modified by Table 3.

Housing Development Projects that u�lize State Density Bonus Law shall be subject to base district standards or standards provided in Tables 1 and 2, as applicable. Addi�onally, El Camino Real Focus Area sites shall:
(A) Complete Major Architectural Review pursuant to Sec�on 18.77.020 (B) Provide 20% of total units as on-site below-market rate housing affordable to households earning up to 80% of AMI. This requirement shall apply in place of the basic requirements set forth in Sec�ons 16.65.030 and 16.65.040. (6) Combining district design and development standards shall not apply to exclusively residen�al projects on housing opportunity sites designated in Appendix D of the Housing Element to accommodate lower income households.
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Adopting Amendments to
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Table 1
Housing Element Opportunity Site Development Standards (Residen�al and Commercial Mixed Use Districts)
Base Zoning
District
Maximum FAR (1)
Minimum
Landscape
Coverage
Residen�al Density (du/ac)(4)
Other
Development
Standards Residen�al Total Minimum Maximum
CC(2) 1.5 2.0 (3) 20
See base district
regula�ons:

18.16.060
See base district
regula�ons:

18.16.060
CC 1.25 1.25 (3) 20
CS (El Camino
Real) 1.25 1.25 (3) 20
CS (Other) 1.25 1.25 (3) 20 See HE Appendix D
CN (El Camino
Real) 1.25 1.25 30% (3) 20
See base district
regula�ons:

18.16.060
CN (Other) 1.25 1.25 30% (3) 20 See HE Appendix D
CD-C 2.0 2.0 (2)
(3)
20 See base district
regula�ons:

18.18.060
See base district
regula�ons:

18.18.060
CD-N 1.5 1.5 (3) 20 See HE Appendix D
RP 1.25 1.25
(3)
25 None; 40 du/ac
an�cipated
See base district
regula�ons:

18.20.040
RM-40 1.5 1.5 (3) 31
See HE Appendix D
See base district
regula�ons:

18.13.040
RM-30 1.25 1.25 (3) 20
RM-20 1.25 1.25
See

18.13.040 20

(1) Nothing in this table increases the non-residen�al floor area permited in any district. (2) FAR may be increased with transfer of development rights; see Chapter 18.18 for details. (3) Landscape coverage may be provided above the ground-floor. If standard is not specified, refer to base district regula�ons.
(4) Where no maximum density is provided in terms of du/ac, maximum density shall be determined by es�ma�ng the realis�c development capacity of the site based on the objec�ve development standards applicable to the project. Where noted, refer to Housing Element Appendix D: Sites Inventory for specified densi�es.
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Table 2
GM/ROLM Focus Area Development Standards for Housing Development Projects Only Base Zoning
District
Maximum FAR
Minimum
Landscape
Coverage
Maximum
Lot
Coverage
Residen�al Density
(du/ac)(2)
Maximum
Height
Minimum
Residen�al
Parking
Ra�os
Other
Development
Standards Residen�al
Total
(3) Minimum Maximum
GM (Focus
Area, Figure
1) 2.5 2.5 20% (1) 70% 40
None; 90
du/ac
an�cipated 60
1 space per
studio/1-bed;

1.5 spaces per
2-bed+
See base
district
regula�ons:

18.20.040
GM (Other
Opportunity
Sites) 1.5 1.5 30% (1) 70% 25
None; See
HE Appendix
D for
an�cipated
densi�es
See

18.20.040 No change
ROLM
(Focus
Area, Figure
1) 2.5 2.5 20% (1) 70% 40
None; 90
du/ac
an�cipated 60
1 space per
studio/1-bed;

1.5 spaces per
2-bed+
ROLM
(Other
Opportunity
Sites) 1.5 1.5 (1) 70% 25
None; 50
du/ac
an�cipated 45 No change

(1) Landscape coverage may be provided above the ground-floor. If standard is not specified, refer to base district regula�ons.
(2) These sites do not provide a maximum density in terms of du/ac; however, an�cipated densi�es have been determined by es�ma�ng the realis�c development capacity of the site based on the objec�ve development standards applicable to the project. Where referenced, the densi�es specified in Housing Element Appendix D: Sites Inventory represent an�cipated densi�es based on realis�c development capaci�es.
(3) Nothing in this table increases the non-residen�al floor area permited in any district. //
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Figure 1: GM/ROLM Housing Element Focus Area

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Table 3
Site-Specific Development Standards (Stanford-Owned Sites & El Camino Real Focus Area) Loca�on
Pasteur Dr. & 1100 Welch Rd. (1)(3)
(Figure 2)
El Camino Real Focus Area (1)
(Figure 3)
Minimum Front Setback 15 feet See base district regula�ons Minimum Setback See base district regula�ons:

18.13.040
See base district regula�ons,
except:

For sites with a property line
abu�ng a low density
residen�al (RE, R2, or RMD) or
R1 single family residen�al
district: 20 feet
Maximum FAR 3.5 (Total) 4.0 (Total)
Maximum Site/Landscape
Coverage
(2) (2)
Maximum Lot Coverage 60% 70%
Maximum Density (du/ac) None None
Maximum Height(6) 85 85
Daylight Plane Sand Hill Rd. frontage only: ini�al
height 60 feet above grade at the
Sand Hill Rd. setback line and a
45-degree angle
See base district regula�ons for
standards for daylight planes
Height Transi�ons n/a Within 100 � of low density
residen�al (RE, R2, or RMD) or
R1 single family zone district
property line: 35 �.

Between 100 and 150 � of low
density or R1 zone district
property line: 45 �.

Upper Story Step Back None El Camino Real frontage above 55 feet in height: minimum 6
foot step-back from lower
façade, for a minimum 70% of
the façade length; and average
setback from the property line
for the en�re façade shall be 20
feet
(7)
See Figure 4.

Open Space 100 sq. �/unit (any combina�on
of common and/or private)
100 sq. �/unit (any combina�on
of common and/or private)
Minimum Residen�al Parking
(5)

0.5 spaces/unit 1 space/unit
(Per AB2097: 0 space/unit within
½ mile of Caltrain)
Other Development Standards See base district regula�ons:

18.13.040
See base district regula�ons
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Design Criteria/Standards Compliance with Objec�ve
Design Standards pursuant to
Chapter 18.24 (4)
Architectural Review and
compliance with either
Objec�ve Design Standards
pursuant to Chapter 18.24 or
Context-Based Design Criteria
pursuant to base district
regula�ons. (4)

(1) Site locations as defined in the 2023-2031 Housing Element (2) Permitted above the ground-floor. If standard is not specified, refer to base district regulations. (3) Housing may be developed in phases and individual phases may not meet all standards.

However, upon completion the project as a whole must conform to these standards. Individual parcels shall be deed restricted to address standards that are met in aggregate, but not on a parcel-by-parcel basis. In addition, for each phase, the applicant shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Director, that the overall site is capable of meeting all standards upon completion of the project as a whole.
(4) Except, the following objective design standards shall be modified to meet the realistic capacity identified in the Housing Element:
(a.) 18.24.050(b)(5): Diversity of Housing Types shall not apply. (b.) 18.24.060(b)(7): Parking/Loading/Utilities, shall be replaced with the following standard:

Above grade structured parking levels facing a public right-of-way or publicly accessible open space/path with the exception of vehicular alleys, shall compose no more than 50% of any public frontage. Garage façades fronting on public right-of-way shall be screened with decorative architectural screening (e.g. perforated metal panels, murals), lined with habitable uses, or screened with landscaping (e.g., green wall, climbing vines). (5) Projects providing fewer than 50% of the parking spaces that would be required under Section

18.52.040 shall develop and implement a transportation demand management plan containing, at a minimum: free transit passes for residents; and provision of outlets appropriately spaced for e-bike charging at 20% of bicycle parking spaces.
(6) Railings and parapets shall be excluded from height calculations in this Table 3 only to the extent they are required for health and safety standards in Titles 15 and 16 of this code. (7) Average setback from the property line may be calculated by taking the area between the property line and the upper façade. This area, in square feet, shall be greater than or equal to the façade length multiplied by 20. Example: 200-foot façade length x 20-foot average setback = minimum 4,000 sq. ft. area of setback per floor. For purposes of this calculation, portions of the upper façade with a setback greater than 40 feet shall be treated as if the façade is located at 40 feet from the property line. For purposes of this calculation, roof projections and eaves up to four feet in depth shall be excluded.
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Figure 2: Pasteur Drive Focus Area

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Figure 3: El Camino Real Focus Area

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Figure 4: Upper Story Step Back (El Camino Real Focus Area)

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above 55’
85’ maximum height
minimum sidewalk width12’property line
face of curb
15’
property line
20’ average stepback
average stepback calculation
uses building areas within a
40’ stepback
portions of buildings
more than 40 feet from
the property line shall be
counted as 40 feet
average stepback20’
Yx20 feet averagebuilding stepback above 55 feet

BUILDING AREA
Y
(not pictured)
6' minimum
stepback from
façade for ≥70%
of façade below
≥
Figure 4: Upper Story Step Back (El Camino Real Focus Area) Figure 4b
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18.14.030 Housing Incen�ve Program (Reserved)

18.14.040 Affordable Housing Incen�ve Program (Reserved)

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SECTION 3. Sec�on 18.12.030 (Land Uses) of Chapter 18.12 (R-1 Single-Family Residen�al District) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is amended to read as follows (CHANGES SHOWN IN UNDERLINE STRIKEOUT):

18.12.030 Land Uses

The permited and condi�onally permited uses for the single family residen�al districts are shown in Table 1:

Table 1
PERMITTED AND CONDITIONAL R-1 RESIDENTIAL USES
R-1 and all R-1
Subdistricts
Subject to Regula�ons in:
[. . .]

RESIDENTIAL USES
Single-Family P
Two-Family use, under one ownership P 18.42.180
Mobile Homes P 18.42.180
Mul�ple-Family P(2) 18.14.020
Residen�al Care Homes P
[. . .]

(1) An Accessory Dwelling Unit or a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit associated with a single-family residence on a lot is permited, subject to the provisions of Chapter 18.09. (2) Housing Element opportunity sites (faith-based ins�tu�ons) only.

SECTION 4.

Sec�on 18.12.040 (Development Standards) of Chapter 18.12 (R-1 Single-Family Residen�al District) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:

18.12.040 Development Standards

(a) Site Specifica�ons, Building Size, Height and Bulk, and Residen�al Density The development standards for the R-1 district and the R-1 subdistricts are shown in Table 2, except:

(1) To the extent such standards may be modified by Sec�on 18.42.180 for two-family uses pursuant to California Government Code Sec�on 65852.21 (SB 9, 2021; (2)
On Housing Element opportunity sites (faith-based ins�tu�ons): development standards for Mul�ple-Family uses are iden�fied in Sec�on 18.14.020, which states that sites shall meet the development standards for the RM-30 zoning district, except that Maximum FAR shall be 1.25.

[. . .]

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SECTION 5. Chapter 18.13: MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RM-20, RM-30 AND RM-40) DISTRICTS

[. . .]

18.13.040 Development Standards

(a) Site Specifica�ons, Building Size and Bulk, and Residen�al Density

The site development regula�ons in Table 2 shall apply in the mul�ple-family residence districts, provided that more restric�ve regula�ons may be recommended by the Architectural Review Board and approved by the Director of Planning and Development Services, pursuant to the regula�ons set forth in Chapter 18.76, and the objec�ve design standards set forth in Chapter 18.24.

Except that sites
designated as Housing Element Opportunity Sites shall meet the development standards specified in Chapter 18.14.020.

Table 2
Mul�ple Family Residen�al Development Table
RM-20 RM-30 RM-40
Subject to
regula�ons in:
[. . .]
Maximum Site Coverage:

Base 35% 40% 45%
Addi�onal area permited to be covered by
covered pa�os or overhangs otherwise in
compliance with all applicable laws
5% 5% 5%
Maximum Floor Area Ra�o (FAR)(4) 0.5:1 0.6:1 1.0:1
Residen�al Density (units)
Maximum number of units per acre(3) 20 30 40 18.13.040(g)

18.14.020
Minimum number of units per acre(8) 11 16 21 18.14.020
Minimum Site Open Space(5) (percent) 35 30 20 18.13.040(e)

18.14.020
Minimum Usable Open Space (sf per unit)(5) 150 150 150 Minimum common open space (sf per unit) 75 75 75 18.13.040(e) Minimum private open space (sf per unit) 50 50 50
Performance Criteria See provisions of Chapter 18.23 Ch. 18.23 Landscape Requirements 18.40.130
Parking(6) See provisions of Chapter 18.52 Ch. 18.52

[. . .]
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SECTION 6. Chapter 18.20: OFFICE, RESEARCH, AND MANUFACTURING (MOR, ROLM, RP , AND GM) [. . .]

18.20.030 Land Uses
(a) Permited and Condi�onally Permited Land Uses
Table 1 lists the land uses permited or condi�onally permited in the industrial and manufacturing districts.

Table 1
Industrial/Manufacturing District Land Uses
[P = Permited Use CUP = Condi�onal Use Permit Required]

MOR ROLM

ROLM(E)
RP
RP(5)
GM Subject to Regula�ons
in Chapter:
[. . .]

RESIDENTIAL USES
Single-Family Not permited 18.20.040(b)
Two-Family Not permited
Mul�ple-Family (Housing
Element Opportunity Site) P P P

18.14.020
Mul�ple-Family (Other
Sites) CUP CUP(1) CUP CUP(1)

18.14.020
Residen�al Care Homes P CUP CUP CUP 18.23.100(B)
[. . .]

(1) Adjacent to Bayshore Freeway and generally bounded by East Charleston Road and Loma Verde Avenue (see Figure 1), subject to CUP
[. . .]

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Figure 1: GM/ROLM Housing Element Focus Area

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18.20.040 Site Development Standards
[. . .]
(b) Development Standards for Exclusively Residen�al Uses Residen�al uses shall be permited in the MOR, RP , RP(5), ROLM, ROLM(E), and GM zoning districts, subject to the following criteria.
(1) It is the intent of these provisions that a compa�ble transi�on be provided from lower density residen�al zones to higher density residen�al or non-residen�al zones. The Village Residen�al development type should be evaluated for use in transi�on areas and will provide the greatest flexibility to provide a mix of residence types compa�ble with adjacent neighborhoods. (2) No new single-family or two-family residen�al development is permited in any of the office, research and manufacturing districts, and no new residen�al development is permited within 300 feet of an exis�ng Hazardous Materials Tier 2 use. Exis�ng single-family and two-family uses and exis�ng residen�al development within 300 feet of an exis�ng Hazardous Materials Tier 2 use shall be permited to remain, consistent with the provisions of Chapter 18.70 (Nonconforming Uses and Noncomplying Facili�es).
(3) MOR District. All mul�-family development in the MOR zoning district shall be permited subject to approval of a condi�onal use permit and compliance with the development standards prescribed for the RM-30 zoning district.
(4) RP and RP(5) Districts. All mul�-family development in the RP , and RP(5) zoning districts that is located within 150 feet of an R-E, R-1, R-2, RMD, or similar density residen�al PC zone shall be permited subject to the provisions above in 18.20.040(b)(2), approval of a condi�onal use permit, and compliance with the development standards prescribed for the RM-20 zoning district, including Village Residen�al development types. Mul�-family development in the MOR, RP , and RP(5) zoning districts that is located greater than 150 feet from an R-E, R-1, R-2, RMD, or low density residen�al PC shall be permited subject to the provisions above in 18.20.040(b)(2), approval of a condi�onal use permit, and compliance with the development standards prescribed for the RM-30 zoning district , except for sites designated as
Housing Element Opportunity Sites or Focus Areas, which are regulated by Chapter 18.14.020. (5) ROLM (E) District. All mul�-family development in the ROLM(E) zoning district shall be permited subject to the provisions above in 18.20.040(b)(2), approval of a condi�onal use permit, and compliance with the development standards prescribed for the RM-20 zoning district. (6) ROLM District. All mul�-family development in the ROLM zoning district shall be permited subject to the provisions above in 18.20.040(b)(2), approval of a condi�onal use permit, and compliance with the development standards prescribed for the RM-30 zoning district, except for sites designated as Housing Element Opportunity Sites or Focus Areas, which are regulated by Chapter 18.14.020. (7) GM District. All residen�al development is prohibited in the GM zoning district, except for sites designated as Housing Element Opportunity Sites or Focus Areas, which are regulated by Chapter

18.14.020.

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(8) Combining Districts. Combining district use regula�ons and design and development standards shall not apply to exclusively residen�al projects on Housing Element opportunity sites designated to accommodate lower income households. See Sec�on 18.14.020 for details. (c) Development Standards for Mixed (Residen�al and Nonresiden�al) Uses in the MOR, ROLM, ROLM(E), RP , and RP(5) zoning Districts
Mixed (residen�al and nonresiden�al) uses shall be permited in the MOR, ROLM, ROLM(E), RP , and RP(5) zoning districts, subject to the following criteria:
(1) It is the intent of these provisions that a compa�ble transi�on be provided from lower density residen�al zones to higher density residen�al, non-residen�al, or mixed use zones. The Village Residen�al development type should be evaluated for use in transi�on areas and will provide the greatest flexibility to provide a mix of residence types compa�ble with adjacent neighborhoods. (2) New sensi�ve receptor land uses shall not be permited within 300 feet of a Hazardous Materials Tier 2 or Tier 3 use. Exis�ng sensi�ve receptors shall be permited to remain, consistent with the provisions of Chapter 18.70 (Nonconforming Uses and Noncomplying Facili�es). (3) ROLM(E) District. Mixed (residen�al and nonresiden�al) development in the ROLM(E) zoning district shall be permited, subject to the provisions above in 18.20.040(c)(2), approval of a condi�onal use permit, determina�on that the nonresiden�al use is allowable in the district and that the residen�al component of the development complies with the development standards prescribed for the RM-20 zoning district. The maximum floor area ra�o (FAR) for mixed use development is 0.3 to 1. (4) ROLM District. Mixed (residen�al and nonresiden�al) development in the ROLM zoning district shall be permited, subject to the provisions above in 18.20.040(c)(2), approval of a condi�onal use permit, determina�on that the nonresiden�al use is allowable in the district and that the residen�al component of the development complies with the development standards prescribed for the RM-30 zoning district. The maximum floor area ra�o (FAR) for mixed use development is 0.4 to 1.

Except that
sites designated as Housing Element Opportunity Sites or Focus Areas shall meet the development standards specified in Chapter 18.14.020.
(5) GM District. Mixed use (residen�al and nonresiden�al) development is prohibited in the GM zoning district, except for sites designated as Housing Element Opportunity Sites or Focus Areas, which are regulated by Chapter 18.14.020.

In compu�ng residen�al densi�es for mixed (residen�al and nonresiden�al) uses, the density calcula�on for the residen�al use shall be based on the en�re site, including the nonresiden�al por�on of the site.
[. . .]
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SECTION 7. Chapter 18.16: NEIGHBORHOOD, COMMUNITY , AND SERVICE COMMERCIAL (CN, CC

AND CS) DISTRICTS
[. . .]

18.16.060 Development Standards
[. . .]
(b) Mixed Use and Residen�al
Table 4 specifies the development standards for new residen�al mixed use developments and residen�al developments. These developments shall be designed and constructed in compliance with the following requirements and the objec�ve design standards in Chapter 18.24,except that sites designated as Housing Element Opportunity Sites shall meet the development standards as modified in Chapter

18.14.020. Non-Housing Development Projects and Housing Development Projects that elect to deviate from one or more objec�ve standards in Chapter 18.24 shall meet the context-based design criteria outlined in Sec�on 18.16.090, provided that more restric�ve regula�ons may be recommended by the architectural review board and approved by the director of planning and development services, pursuant to Sec�on 18.76.020.

Table 4
Mixed Use and Residen�al Development Standards
CN CC CC(2) CS Subject to
regula�ons in:
[. . .]
Maximum Site Coverage 50% 50% 100% 50%
Minimum Landscape/Open Space
Coverage 35% 30% 20% 30% 18.14.020
Usable Open Space (Private and/or
Common)
150 sq � per unit (2)

18.16.090
Maximum Height (�)
Standard 35' (4) 50' 37' 50'
Por�ons of a site within 150 �. of an
abu�ng residen�al district (other than
an RM-40 or PC zone) (5)
35' 35' 35' 35' 18.08.030
Daylight Plane for lot lines abu�ng
one or more residen�al zoning
districts
Daylight plane height and slope shall be iden�cal to
those of the most restric�ve residen�al zoning district abu�ng the lot line

Residen�al Density (net) (3) 15 or 20 (9)
See sub-
sec�on
(e)
below
No maximum
30 18.16.060(i)

18.14.020
Sites on El Camino Real No maximum No maximum
Maximum Residen�al Floor Area Ra�o
(FAR) 0.5:1 (4) 0.6:1 0.6:1 18.16.065

18.14.020
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CN CC CC(2) CS Subject to
regula�ons in:
[. . .]
Maximum Nonresiden�al Floor Area
Ra�o (FAR) 0.4:1 2.0:1 0.4:1
Total Mixed Use Floor Area Ra�o (FAR) 0.9:1 (4) 2.0:1 1.0:1 18.16.065

18.14.020
Minimum Mixed Use Ground Floor
Commercial FAR (6) 0.15:1(10) 0.15:1(10)

0.25:1 (7) (10) 0.15:1 (10)
Parking See Chapters 18.52 and 18.54 (Parking) 18.52, 18.54

[. . .]
(c) Exclusively Residen�al Uses
Exclusively residen�al uses are generally prohibited in the CN, CS, CC(2) and CC zone districts, except on housing inventory sites iden�fied in the Housing Element, subject to the standards in Sec�on 18.16.060(b), and on CS and CN sites on El Camino Real and CC(2) sites, subject to the following. (1) On CS and CN sites on El Camino Real and on CC(2) sites, where the retail shopping (R) combining district or the retail preserva�on provisions of Sec�on 18.40.180 do not apply, exclusively residen�al uses are allowed subject to the standards in Sec�on 18.16.060(b) and the following addi�onal requirements:
(A) Residen�al units shall not be permited on the ground-floor of development fron�ng on El Camino Real unless set back a minimum of 15 feet from the property line or the 12-foot effec�ve sidewalk setback along the El Camino Real frontage, whichever is greater. Common areas, such as lobbies, stoops, community rooms, and work-out spaces with windows and architectural detail are permited on the ground-floor El Camino Real frontage.
(B) Parking shall be located behind buildings or below grade, or, if infeasible, screened by landscaping, low walls, or garage structures with architectural detail.

(C) Combining district use regula�ons and design and development standards shall not apply to exclusively residen�al projects on Housing Element opportunity sites designated to accommodate lower income households. See Sec�on 18.14.020 for details.

SECTION 8. Chapter 18.18: DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL (CD) DISTRICT

18.18.060 Development Standards
[. . .]
(b) Mixed Use and Residen�al
Table 3 specifies the development standards for new residen�al mixed use developments and residen�al developments. Housing Development Projects shall be designed and constructed in compliance with the following requirements and the objec�ve design standards in Chapter 18.24. Non- Item AA2
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Housing Development Projects and Housing Development Projects that elect to deviate from one or more objec�ve standards in Chapter 18.24 shall meet context-based design criteria outlines in Sec�on 18.18.110, provided that more restric�ve regula�ons may be recommended by the architectural review board and approved by the director of planning and development services, pursuant to Sec�on 18.76.020:

TABLE 3

MIXED USE AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
CD-C CD-S CD-N Subject to regula�ons
in Sec�on:
[. . .]
Maximum Site Coverage No requirement 50% 50%
Minimum Landscape Open Space
Coverage 20% 30% 35% 18.14.020
Usable Open Space (Private and/or
Common)

150 sq � per unit (1) 18.18.110
Maximum Height (�)
Standard 50' 50' 35' 18.08.030
Por�ons of a site within 150 �. of an
abu�ng residen�al district (other than
an RM-40 or PC zone)(4)
40' 40' 35' 18.08.030
Daylight Plane for lot lines abu�ng
one or more residen�al zoning
districts or a residen�al PC district
Daylight plane height and slope iden�cal to those
of the most restric�ve residen�al zone abu�ng
the lot line

Residen�al Density (net)(2) No maximum 30 30 18.14.020 Maximum Weighted Average
Residen�al Unit Size(5)
1,500 sq � per
unit No maximum No maximum
Maximum Residen�al Floor Area Ra�o
(FAR) 1.0:1(3) 0.6:1(3) 0.5:1(3) 18.14.020,

18.18.065, 18.18.070
Maximum Nonresiden�al Floor Area
Ra�o (FAR) 1.0:1(3) 0.4:1 0.4:1
Total Floor Area Ra�o (FAR)(3) 2.0:1(3) 1.0:1(3) 0.9:1(3) 18.14.020,

18.18.065, 18.18.070
Parking Requirement See Chapters 18.52 and 18.54 Chs. 18.52, 18.54

[. . .]
(c) Exclusively Residen�al Uses
(1) Exclusively residen�al uses are allowed in the CD-C subdistrict, except in the ground floor (GF) combining district. However, GF combining district use regula�ons and design and development Item AA2
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standards shall not apply to exclusively residen�al projects on Housing Element opportunity sites designated to accommodate lower income households. See Sec�on 18.14.020 for details. (2) Exclusively residen�al uses are generally prohibited in the CD-N and CD-S subdistricts. Such uses are allowed, however, where a site is designated as a housing inventory site in the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan. Such sites shall be developed pursuant to the regula�ons for the mul�-family zone designa�on (RM-20, RM-30, or RM-40) iden�fied for the site in the Housing Element.

SECTION 9. Chapter 18.28 SPECIAL PURPOSE (PF, OS and AC) DISTRICTS [. . .]

18.28.040 Land Uses
Table 1 shows the permited (P) and condi�onally permited (CUP) land uses for the Special Purpose Districts.

Table 1
Land Uses
PF OS AC Subject to Regula�ons
in Chapter:
[. . .]
Single-family dwellings P
Manufactured housing (including mobile homes on
permanent founda�ons)
P 18.40.

Mul�ple-Family (Housing Element Opportunity Site) P 18.14.020 Guest ranches CUP
Residen�al care facili�es, when u�lizing exis�ng
structures on the site
CUP(1)
Residen�al Care Homes P
Residen�al use, and accessory buildings and uses
customarily incidental to permited dwellings;
provided, however, that such permited dwellings
shall be for the exclusive use of the owner or
owners, or lessee or lessor of land upon which the
permited agricultural use is conducted, and the
residence of other members of the same family and
bona fide employees of the aforemen�oned
P
[. . .]

[. . .]

18.28.050 Site Development Standards
(a) Development Standards. On Housing Element opportunity sites (City-owned parking lots):
development standards are iden�fied in Sec�on 18.14.020

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Table 2
Special Purpose District Site Development Standards
[. . .]
(b) Open Space Impervious Coverage and Floor Area
(1) Residen�al Use
The impervious coverage and floor area ra�os shall be determined based on a sliding scale calcula�on. Table 3 provides the range of allowable percentages for the calcula�on. Allowable development for other site sizes between 1 and 10 acres shall be calculated on a prorated basis between the acreages shown in Table 3. Except that on Housing Element opportunity sites (City-owned parking lots), development standards are iden�fied in Sec�on 18.14.020.

Table 3
Open Space Residen�al Impervious Coverage and Floor Area Ra�o Scale [. . .]
SECTION 10. If any sec�on, subsec�on, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or uncons�tu�onal by a decision of any court of competent jurisdic�on, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining por�ons of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each and every sec�on, subsec�on, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or uncons�tu�onal without regard to whether any por�on of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or uncons�tu�onal.

SECTION 11. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the City prepared an Addendum to the 2017 Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR), analyzing the poten�al environmental impacts of the 2023-2031 Housing Element. On May 8, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolu�on No. 10107, finding that the Addendum and the 2017 EIR adequately analyzed the environmental impacts of the Housing Element, including Program 1.1A and 1.1B of the Housing Element, which this ordinance implements.

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Item AA2
Attachment B - Ordinance
Adopting Amendments to
Title 18 to Implement
Housing Element Program

1.1 Item AA2: Staff Report
Pg.
37 Packet Pg. 526 of 527

*NOT YET APPROVED* Atachment B
24 0160131_20231214_ay16
SECTION 12. This ordinance shall be effec�ve on the thirty-first date a�er the date of its adop�on.

INTRODUCED:

PASSED:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTENTIONS:

ATTEST:

____________________________
____________________________
City Clerk Mayor

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

APPROVED:

____________________________ ____________________________ Assistant City Atorney City Manager

____________________________
Director of Planning and Development Services

Item AA2
Attachment B - Ordinance
Adopting Amendments to
Title 18 to Implement
Housing Element Program

1.1 Item AA2: Staff Report
Pg.
38 Packet Pg. 527 of 527