From: Jimmy Kang
To: Council, City
Subject: Letter of Support for 2951 El Camino
Date: Monday, March 11, 2024 10:31:39 AM
Attachments: attachment 1.pdf
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Jimmy
From: Thomas Agramonte
To: Council, City
Subject: Re: Agenda Item #8 March 4th meeting
Date: Monday, March 4, 2024 4:03:21 PM
Attachments: PA City Council Letter for 2951 ECR .pdf
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Attached is a PDF of the prior email. Thank you.
On Sun, Mar 3, 2024 at 11:01 PM Thomas Agramonte <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Palo Alto City Council,
On behalf of the Agramonte Family, a four-generation Palo Alto family and landowners of 2951 El Camino Real (ECR) and 470 Olive Avenue. We are writing regarding Agenda Item 8 of the March 4th City Council Meeting. We ask the City Council to extend the Housing Focus Area to the East Side of ECR and to collaboratively work with landowners, developers, the planning department and the community to find a balance for the City of Palo Alto that respects the desperate need for housing by making guidelines that support economically viable multifamily residential development. I am 30 years old and grew up in this community playing sports and I do not have a single friend or teammate that still lives here. We need more housing to allow to the people who work in this community, grow up in this community, provide for this community a place to live in this community.
Below are points we would like to convey to the City Council and ask that you make decisions for the betterment of our community.
1. We request the City of Palo Alto implement a Housing Focus Area on the East side of El Camino to promote high-density multifamily development, which would include 2905 El Camino, 2951 El Camino, 2999 El Camio, and 470 Olive (the “Project”). Implementing this Focus Area supports the City of Palo Alto’s Housing Element objectives, including high- density multifamily housing located along transit corridors, within ½ mile of Caltrain, and on underutilized sites.
2. We request the City mirror the East Side Focus Area’s zoning standards, including a maximum height of 85’ and Floor Area Ratio of 4.0. However, a 35’ height transition zone must be no greater than 75’. A transition zone of greater than 75’ would render this and other projects unfeasible. Of note, Palo Alto City Planning Staff and expert consultants supported a 75’ transition zone for the Housing Focus Areas, due to similar feasibility concerns.
3. The proposed Project would provide affordable housing units at 50% of AMI, allowing local teachers, first responders and city staff who serve in the community, to live in community.
4. We strongly recommend the City of Palo Alto implement a Housing Focus Area for the East side of El Camino, including this Project, in support of the Housing Element objectives to create over 6000 new housing units by 2031.
Thank you!
Best,
Thomas Agramonte