Housing Element
Implementation
Ordinance Amending
Titles 18 and 21 of
PAMC
City Council Hearing
January 21, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
2 Title 18 (Zoning Ordinance) Amendments
• Council Housing Element Ordinance Priorities 2024:
o Housing Element Program 1.5A (Stanford University Lands) o Housing Element Program 3.6D (Expedited Project Review) o Housing Element Program 4.1A (Replacement Housing)
o Housing Element Program 6.5C (Alternate Housing)
o Housing Element Program 6.5D-G (Alternate Housing)
• Housing Element - Program Implementation Target
Completion: January 31, 2025
3 1.5A: STANFORD UNIVERSITY LANDS
• PAMC Section 18.20.030 to Permit Multiple-
Family Residential in Research Park (RP and RP(5)) zones. o Housing is currently allowed with a CUP , this change allows housing as a permitted use
o A CUP is still required for housing units within 600 feet of a certain hazardous facilities and precluded within
300 feet consistent with City’s Hazardous Materials
Ordinance (PAMC Section 18.42.200).
4 3.6D: EXPEDITED PROJECT REVIEW
• PAMC Section 18.77.070 (c) and (d) to limit the number of hearings for housing projects before the ARB
o Current regulations allow up to three public meetings by the ARB
o Proposed ordinance sets a new maximum of two
meetings for housing development unless additional
meetings are requested by the applicant.
o Amendment supports housing application streamlining.
5 4.1A: REPLACEMENT HOUSING
• PAMC Section 18.40.160 to include a new subsection(a)(3) o Requires replacement of protected units (residential unit that is subject to rent control to levels affordable to very- low or low-income persons or families).
o Required by State law contained in the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 as amended by AB 1218.
6 6.5 ALTERNATE HOUSING
PAMC Section 18.14.060
• 6.5 C (Group Homes): Group Homes (housing shared by
unrelated persons with disability) to be treated as a by-right use in residential zones.
• 6.5 D (Affordable and Supportive Housing):
o Affordable Housing (housing offered at an affordable
cost) as a by-right use on Higher Education and Religious Lands.
o Supportive Housing (housing occupied by target
population with no limit to length of stay) meeting
the State Law requirements to be treated as a by-right
use where multifamily and mixed uses are permitted.
7 6.5: ALTERNATE HOUSING (continued)
PAMC Section 18.14.060
• 6.5 E (Low Barrier Navigation Centers): Low Barrier
Navigation Centers (housing first, temporary, low barrier, service-enriched centers that help homeless individuals and families to obtain permanent housing.
• These uses would be allowed by-right use in zones where multifamily and mixed uses are permitted.
7 6.5: ALTERNATE HOUSING (continued)
PAMC Section 18.14.060
• 6.5 F (Emergency Shelters): (housing for homes with limited supportive services)
o Emergency Shelter for homeless projects to be reviewed ministerially.
o Updating PAMC Section 18.20.040: Site Development
Standards per requirements of Government Code Section
65583.
8 6.5: ALTERNATE HOUSING (continued)
• 6.5G (Farmworker Housing): PAMC Section 18.28.040 to
allow Farmworker Housing (living space for agricultural workers) as a "Permitted” use in theAdditional OS and
AC Districts.
o PAMC Section 18.28.070 to ensure that no discretionary permit would be required for farmworker housing of up
to 36 beds or 12 units in AC zones.
o PAMC Section 18.28.080 to ensureFarmworker housing
with six or fewer people in OS zones is treated as a
single-family use and does not require a discretionary
permit.
9 Title 21 (Subdivision and Other Divisions of Land)
• During the review of the Housing Element, leading up to certification, HCD informed staff that modifications were required to the City’s SB 9 regulations for compliance with State law based on the most recent HCD guidance.
• Amending PAMC Section 21.10.040(d) removing note: “Newly created lot lines shall not render an existing structure noncomplying in any respect" to allow for urban lot splits even in instances where existing structures or lot lines would otherwise prohibit a lot split.
10 Discussion and action on this item will be segmented to allow for recusals due to conflicts related to Stanford University real property interests.
1. Staff Presentation
2. Request for Disclosures/Conflicts of Interest
3. Public Comment
4. Recusals
5. Questions / Deliberation / Action
• Stanford University-Related ordinance changes in the Research Park • Portions of Section 2 in Attachment A
6. Recused Member(s) Return
7. Questions / Deliberation / Action
• balance of the ordinance
Council Deliberation
11 Staff recommends the City Council adopt the Draft Ordinance Amending Section
18.20.030 of the PAMC Title 18 (Zoning) to implement components of Housing Element Program 1.5A (Stanford University Lands).
Recommended Motion (Part 1)
Housing Element Program 1.5 A: Stanford University Lands 12 Staff recommends the City Council adopt an ordinance amending PAMC Title 18 (Zoning Ordinance) to implement components of the Housing Element Programs 3.6D (Expedited Project Review), 4.1A (Replacement Housing), and 6.5C-G (Alternate Housing), and amending Title 21 (Subdivision and Other Divisions of Land) to incorporate changes as directed by Housing and Community Development (HCD) related to Senate Bill 9 implementation.
Recommended Motion (Part 2)
Housing Element Programs 3.6 D, 4.1A, 6.5 (C - G) and SB 9 Vishnu Krishnan
Senior Planner
[email protected]
(650) 329-2425