City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Planning and Development Services
Meeting Date: April 7, 2025
Report #:2503-4352
TITLE
SECOND READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) Title 18 (Zoning) to Modify the Housing Incentive Program, Affordable Housing Incentive Program, and Retail Preservation Ordinance (Housing Element Programs 3.3A, B, and D; 3.4A-D; and
6.2A). (FIRST READING: March 3, 2025, PASSED 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims absent)
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt on second reading the attached housing element implementation ordinance to modify the Housing Incentive Program, Affordable Housing Incentive Program, and Retail Preservation Ordinance.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On March 3, 2025, the City Council adopted, on first reading, an ordinance amending the zoning code to implement programs in the City’s adopted Housing Element that modify the Housing Incentive Program, Affordable Housing Incentive Program, and Retail Preservation Ordinance.
The City Council’s motion and revisions in response to this motion are summarized below.
March 3, 2025 City Council Motion Revisions to Ordinance/Resolution
1. Modify the retail node to extend
along El Camino Real from Page Mill
Road to the southern City boundary,
and refer to the Planning &
Transportation Commission for
further discussion and
recommendation to City Council
Revised PAMC Chapter 18.40.180(c)(4)(E) Figure 5.
As shown in Attachment B, this map change
creates an "interim" node, extending from Page
Mill Road to the southern City boundary where the
Retail Preservation Ordinance will continue to
apply, until such time as the Planning and
Transportation Commission recommends and the
City Council determines refined node locations.
Future changes to the map may be made by
resolution or by administrative action of the
Planning Director.
2. Exclude auto dealerships (AD
overlay) near El Camino Real and
Charleston Road from the HIP
Program
Revised Ch. 18.14.030(b), Housing Incentive
Program applicability section, to exempt sites on El
Camino Real subject to the auto dealership (AD)
combining district regulations in Chapter 18.30(F)
from eligibility from the HIP.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Amendments to Title 18 to Implement Housing Element Programs 3.3_3.4_6.2A Attachment B: Retail Nodes on El Camino Real Subject to Retail Preservation APPROVED BY:
Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director