Item 17 Public Comment — Palo Alto City Council, April 7, 2025

From: holzemer/hernandez
To: Council, City
Subject: Item 17, Support for SB 457
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 10:35:50 AM
Dear Council Members,
Tonight you can send an important message to Sacramento and our state legislators by supporting and sponsoring State Senator Josh Becker's SB457. I believe this critical legislation to ensure that residents still have a voice in how land use issues are decided and their thoughts are not ignored by those who wish to destroy local control.

I urge the Council to support and be a sponsor of this "common sense" legislation and help Senator Becker in getting this Bill passed.

Vote "yes" on supporting SB 457!
Terry Holzemer
2581 Park Blvd. #Y211
Palo Alto, CA 94306
From: Tom
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 8:46:05 AM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo Alto resident who supports more housing in our city and across the region, I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

SB 457 protects cities like Palo Alto that are working in good faith to plan for housing and helps ensure that the Builder’s Remedy projects create well-planned housing—not severely oversized developments or commercial projects disguised as housing proposals.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Thomas Patterson
318 Leland Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
From: Deborah Goldeen
To: Council, City
Subject: 660 University Ave.

Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025 8:29:23 PM
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In case you all haven’t caught wind of it, council chambers will be filled tomorrow with people who have dedicated themselves to bringing an end the housing mandates and the builders remedy that goes with them. I’m betting council will have to listen to an hour or more of public comment. I don’t have it in me to add to that misery.

But if you all are considering putting City of Palo Alto staff and resources into the fight to undo SB’s 9&10, how on earth does the city justify its failure to approve 660 University? This sets a new record of hypocrisy for the city. The developers already went way above and beyond to accommodate city requests. This last refusal was nothing more than the neighbors don’t want it.

When you’ve got the city gung ho for a lawsuit against the state and at the same time failing to approve good projects that are not seventeen stories tall, why is it you all feel you are deserving of respect? Deborah Goldeen, Birch St., 94306
From: [email protected]
To: Council, City
Cc: Lait, Jonathan; Shikada, Ed
Subject: I join with pro housing groups across California in opposing SB457 Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025 12:30:06 PM
Attachments: Oppose SB457.docx
YIMBY SB 457 - Oppose.pdf
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Dear Mayor Lauing and council members,
I join with YIMBY Action and pro housing groups across California in writing Senator Becker to oppose SB457.

Stephen Levy
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Hon. Josh Becker
Senate State Capitol, Room 1021
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Senator Becker (Josh),
I am writing to join with authentic pro housing groups from all across California in opposing SB457.

Provisions in this bill, outlined by Yimby Action, will allow local jurisdictions to deny existing housing applications at a time when the state desperately needs more, not less, housing to support equity and environmental goals and provide more customers for our struggling local businesses.

Besides codifying ant—housing provisions, SB457 will lead to a waste of staff and council time and associated costs including probable legal costs in defending almost certain lawsuits.

Moreover, legislation designed to mitigate negative impacts of SB457 was recently approved and needs time to see the impacts.

If you or the committee are worried about the application at 80 Williow in Menlo Park, I believe there must be narrower approaches than s statewide invitation to deny housing applications. As a regional economist, I do not believe 80 Willow is a viable application given the large office vacancy rate, the lagging Bay Area job market and the poor location of the site for access.

I believe SB457 points us in the wrong direction for meeting important state goals.

Thank you for your consideration,
Steve
Apr 1, 2025
Hon. Josh Becker
Senate
State Capitol, Room 1021
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Oppose SB 457
Dear Senator Becker,
On behalf of YIMBY Action, we respectfully oppose SB 457, which proposes to alter the deﬁnitions and timelines around “deemed complete” housing applications and housing element compliance in ways that threaten to undermine the Housing Accountability Act (HAA) and reduce accountability for local jurisdictions.

YIMBY Action is a network of over 50,000 pro-housing activists ﬁghting for more inclusive housing policies. Our vision is an integrated society where every person has access to a safe, aﬀordable home near jobs, services, and opportunity. We ﬁght for 1 better housing policies because we want to reduce poverty, end homelessness, eliminate racial segregation, create jobs, and stop climate change.

This bill makes two concerning changes to existing housing law. First, it weakens the HAA by redeﬁning “deemed complete” in a way that retroactively strips protections from builder’s remedy projects that ﬁled preliminary applications but have not yet received ﬁnal approval by January 1, 2026. This change is contrary to the intent of SB 330 and will disrupt a signiﬁcant number of ongoing projects, creating unnecessary uncertainty and opening the door for bad-faith disapprovals.

Second, SB 457 undermines the housing element law by deeming housing elements “substantially compliant” on the date of local adoption—before the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has completed its independent review.

This eﬀectively sidelines HCD’s role and incentivizes local governments to adopt inadequate housing elements without fear of immediate consequence, gutting a critical mechanism for state enforcement.

California’s housing crisis demands stronger tools for accountability—not rollbacks that embolden obstruction. SB 457 would enable more cities to sidestep their obligations under state law, delaying or outright denying urgently needed housing.

For these reasons, we must respectfully oppose SB 457.

Sincerely,
YIMBY Action advocates for welcoming communities where everyone can thrive.
yimbyaction.org
2 Laura Foote
YIMBY Action, Executive Director
Sarah Bell
East Bay YIMBY, Volunteer Lead
David Watson
Mountain View YIMBY, Volunteer Lead
Mike Chen
Northern Neighbors, Volunteer Lead
Jeremy Levine
Peninsula for Everyone, Volunteer Lead
YIMBY Action advocates for welcoming communities where everyone can thrive.
yimbyaction.org
3 Robert Fruchtman
San Francisco YIMBY, Volunteer Lead
Rafa Sonnenfeld
Santa Cruz YIMBY, Volunteer Lead
Adrian Covert
Santa Rosa YIMBY, Volunteer Lead
Kevin Buchanan
SLOCo YIMBY, Volunteer Lead
Jane Natoli
Grow The Richmond, Volunteer Lead
YIMBY Action advocates for welcoming communities where everyone can thrive.
yimbyaction.org
4 Cassandra Douglas
Ventura County YIMBY, Volunteer Lead
Andrew Slocum
YIMBY Los Angeles, Volunteer Lead
Ilya Gurin
South Bay YIMBY, Volunteer Lead
Ryan O’Connell
Napa-Solano for Everyone, Volunteer Lead
YIMBY Action advocates for welcoming communities where everyone can thrive.
yimbyaction.org
5 From: Julia Weber
To: Council, City
Subject: SB 457
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025 9:03:33 AM
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Dear City Council,
Please endorse the bill in Sacramento that will close the loopholes that would let the project at Sunset Magazine’s old site be built. The prevention of that project should be top most priority .

I support a project that fits with existing heights and masses.

Julia Weber and Jeff Weber
3325 Cowper Street,
Palo Alto, Ca 94306
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From: susan chamberlain
To: Council, City
Subject: Please sponsor SB 457 - Strengthen State Housing Law Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025 8:26:42 AM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo Alto resident who supports more housing in our city and across the region, I’m writing to urge you to sponsor SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

Please take a strong stand on this legislation by sponsoring SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Thank you,
Susan Chamberlain
From: Kathryn Hug
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Friday, April 4, 2025 5:05:12 PM
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Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Kathryn H. Hug
391 Oxford Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306
From: Annette Glanckopf
To: Council, City; Clerk, City
Subject: Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Friday, April 4, 2025 4:31:17 PM
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!
Dear Council Members,
Although I hate form letters, this one seems to hit the mark.

I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

SB 457 protects cities like Palo Alto that are working in good faith to plan for housing and helps ensure that the Builder’s Remedy projects create well-planned housing— not severely oversized developments or commercial projects disguised as housing proposals.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Annette Glanckopf
Bryant Street
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From: [email protected]
To: Council, City
Cc: Lait, Jonathan; Shikada, Ed
Subject: SB457
Date: Friday, April 4, 2025 3:12:48 PM
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Dear Mayor Lauing, council members and staff,
Thank you Director Lait for sharing a list of applications that filed under Builder's Remedy, though some are pursuing other approaches with staff.

Even so, the list contains hundreds if not more housing units including hundreds of BMR units.

Since there are many ways to oppose 80 Willow (I do not support the project as proposed), there was no need to subject BR application from San Diego to our northern border unless the intent was to deny other applications.

I am interested in which BR applications IN PALO ALTO that council members intend to deny if SB457 passes and is found not in conflict with state law.

I find the discussion of the Willow application does not help me understand what are the intents and implications for Palo Alto where I live.
thanks
Stephen Levy
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From: [email protected]
To: Council, City
Subject: Support SB 457
Date: Friday, April 4, 2025 1:18:35 PM
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Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Stephen Rosenblum
Old Palo Alto
From: Chris Lillios
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 - Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Friday, April 4, 2025 12:20:20 PM
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i
Dear Palo Alto City Council,

As a Palo Alto resident who supports more housing in our city and across the region, I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Chris Lillios
225 Fulton St
Palo Alto, CA

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From: Beth Guislin
To: Council, City
Subject: Please endorse SB457
Date: Friday, April 4, 2025 11:44:37 AM
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I am a long-time Palo Alto resident. Please endorse SB457.

Thank you.

Ramona Guislin
Middlefield Rd.

From: Anne Email
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457
Date: Friday, April 4, 2025 10:26:38 AM
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i
Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo resident I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Anne Zoucha McGee
1290 Dana Avenue
Palo Alto, California 94301
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From: Reid Kleckner
To: Council, City
Subject: SB 457 is not a priority for our city
Date: Friday, April 4, 2025 9:01:29 AM
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Hi Council members,
I was disappointed to hear that our city council and staff are spending time considering sponsoring SB 457. Regardless of how one feels about the builder's remedy, for Palo Alto, this bill is litigating the past. This bill has no forward-looking impact on any of the city's 2025 priorities:

Implementing Housing Strategies for Social & Economic Balance Climate Action & Adaptation, and Natural Environment Protection Economic Development & Retail Vibrancy
Public Safety, Wellness & Belonging
I urge you to vote no or abstain from any vote on sponsoring this bill at the state level. Now that our city has an approved Housing Element, sponsoring this bill has no impact on our city, so far as I'm aware, and we shouldn't be spending our scarce attentional resources on it.

To focus on the merits of the proposed bill, as I understand it, it removes the accountability mechanism from the HE process without replacing it with anything. Cities can self-approve their plans, and block home building in their community to further exacerbate income inequality in the otherwise great state of California. The builder's remedy is controversial, imperfect, and admittedly unpopular, but it is bad governance inconsistent with the housing abundance agenda to remove an accountability mechanism with no replacement. I am disappointed in our state senator Josh Becker for proposing this bill.

Thanks,
Reid
From: Scott O"Neil
To: Council, City
Subject: SB 457 Sponsorship
Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025 10:56:37 PM
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i
City Councilmembers,
If Sen. Becker wanted to write a narrow bill targeting “flagrant fouls”, he could have, but he did not. SB 457 would instead functionally end the builder’s remedy, statewide, in three different ways.[1] So that is the debate we must have –not one about a single application in Menlo.

Indeed, if SB 467 were a bill that narrowly targeted outliers like Willow, I would not comment.

It is better strategy for the pro-housing movement to let Willow be neutralized. But here we are.

Unfortunately, I do not know the minds of the Council well enough to be sure that there aren’t four votes for whom the end of the builder’s remedy in Malibu is a feature and not a bug, no matter how much litigation the transition triggers. I hope there aren’t, and the debate reflects the stakes and merits, and that Palo Alto does not sponsor the bill.

But if there are four or more votes in favor, then I want to suggest this is a rare time when a protest vote may be effectual. If this bill does win sponsorship on Monday, then that does not decide the law –but the vote tally will help frame the debate in Sacramento that does.

Let me be blunt: if you vote to sponsor this bill, you cannot stop your name from being used to promote it. It would be true that you voted to give Sausalito all the tools it needs to roll back their upzoning, renege their sixth cycle housing commitments, and then rest easy knowing they can avoid accountability under the builder’s remedy.

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Instead, I respectfully ask that you use your vote to send the strongest possible message to Sacramento that compliance with state housing law ought to continue to matter in unincorporated Orange County, and everywhere else.

Thank you.
-Scott O’Neil
P.S.
[1] These are the overbroad ways the bill assaults the builder’s remedy throughout California:

Cities already abuse completeness determinations up and down the state, so letting a city-attested incompleteness determination influence BR applicability gives them tremendous power. Developers would know an application can be “incomplete” however long a city needs while seeking compliance.

In combination with the self-certification provisions, no developer would try. A city could self-adopt an Element to clear their deemed-incomplete builder’s remedy applications.

A city could say an application had not “Incurred substantial liability in good faith reliance upon the local agency approval.” Those words mean whatever a city wants them to mean unless a developer wants to face years of carrying costs litigating "substantial”.

If anyone wants you to believe this is a bill about 80 Willow, I respectfully ask you to read the very short set of changes
while asking yourself what in that text could restrict application to a project like 80 Willow.

From: John Selling
To: Council, City
Subject: SB457
Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025 6:16:11 PM
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Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
John Selling, 678 Hawthorne Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
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From: [email protected]
To: Council, City
Subject: in support of SB467
Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025 3:48:54 PM
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Dear City of Palo Alto Council members
I urge you to support Senator Becker’s SB467. It will help ameliorate some of the worst parts of the “Builders Remedy”. The Builders Remedy emboldened H17 to propose a truly monstrous development at the former Sunset Magazine site called “Willow Park”. This project if built will adversely affect and harm both communities on either side of the creek.

I attended the February 22nd Community Meeting. I agree with Julie Lythcott-Haims that housing is needed, but that the Willow Park development is not the answer. It would actually create a net loss of housing because of the huge amount of office space proposed as compared to housing.

If passed SB457 will help us repel projects such as that proposed by H17.

Thank you
Julianne Adams Frizzell
Landscape Architect
1175 Channing Ave
Virus-free.www.avg.com
From: Thomas Rindfleisch
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025 2:50:19 PM
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I support our city’s efforts to develop our state-certified Housing Element to build more affordable housing. When state housing laws are misused, like in the 39-story project at 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park and the 17- story project at Mollie Stone’s, it damages public trust and could provoke anti-housing sentiment that sets back real progress for years. The Menlo Park project is especially troubling in that it is within a 100-year flood zone for San Francisquito Creek and may include a multilevel underground parking structure that would extend well below the bottom of the stream bed. These can cause serious hydrological problems that would endanger the stability of the tower structure.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely, Tom Rindfleisch 31 Tevis Pl, Palo Alto
From: Laura L. Breyfogle
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025 2:02:29 PM
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Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Laura Breyfogle
754 Palo Alto Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301

From: Tim O"Konski
To: Council, City
Subject: My support SB457
Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025 1:28:24 PM
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Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Tim O'Konski / Palo Alto resident and homeowner for more than 42 years From: Augusta Belle Charles LLC
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025 1:15:41 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo Alto property owner who supports more housing in our city and across the region, I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Property owner
465 Ruthven Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
From: Adam Dohner
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025 9:51:55 AM
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Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Adam Dohner
320 Guinda St. Palo Alto, 94301
From: Arthur Keller
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 9:22:57 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo Alto resident who supports more housing in our city and across the region, I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Arthur Keller
3881 Corina Way
From: Christy Junkerman
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 9:02:41 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo Alto resident who supports more housing in our city and across th= e region, I=E2=80=99m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation au= thored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing= loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

I support our city=E2=80=99s efforts to develop our state-certified Housing= Element to build more affordable housing. When state housing laws are misu= sed, like in the 39-story project at 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park and the 1= 7-story project at Mollie Stone=E2=80=99s, it damages public trust and coul= d provoke anti-housing sentiment that sets back real progress for years.

SB 457 protects cities like Palo Alto that are working in good faith to pla= n for housing and helps ensure that the Builder=E2=80=99s Remedy projects c= reate well-planned housing=E2=80=94not severely oversized developments or c= ommercial projects disguised as housing proposals.

Please add Palo Alto=E2=80=99s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart,= reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyo= ne.

Sincerely,
Anne C. Junkerman
565 Chaucer Street
Palo Alto, Ca 94301
From: Brigitte Gassée
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 8:38:49 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo Alto resident who supports more housing in our city and across the region, I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Brigitte and Jean-Louis Gassee
459 Ruthven Ave - Palo Alto 94301
Sent from my iPhone
From: Ms Dawn Billman
To: Council, City
Cc: Shikada, Ed
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 8:34:36 PM
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i
Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo Alto resident who supports more housing in our city and across the region, I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Kindly,
Dawn Billman
1450 University Avenue
Palo Alto CA 94301
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From: Shannon Rose
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 -- Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 8:33:20 PM
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Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely
,
Shannon Rose McEntee
Shannon Rose McEntee
From: Michael Henehan
To: Council, City
Subject: SB 457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 8:21:45 PM
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Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Michael Henehan
119 Webster Street
Palo Alto
From: Virginia Smedberg
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — a Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 7:46:05 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo Alto resident who definitely supports more housing in our city and across the region, I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

I support our city’s efforts to develop our state-certified Housing Element to build more affordable housing. However, when state housing laws are misused, as in the proposed 39- story project at 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park and the 17-story project at Mollie Stone’s, it damages public trust and could provoke anti-housing sentiment that sets back real progress for years. It also can result in really badly designed developments, whose effects are impossible to reverse.

SB 457 protects cities like Palo Alto that are working in good faith to plan for housing; it also helps ensure that projects using the Builder’s Remedy actually create well-planned housing— not severely oversized developments or commercial projects disguised as housing proposals, which is what they all-too-often propose.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
virginia smedberg
441 Washington Ave
Palo Alto
EARTH without ART
is just EH
From: Tim Lindholm
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 3:32:30 PM
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Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Tim Lindholm
218 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto
34 year resident
From: Margie Stehle
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 3:31:56 PM
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Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely, Margaret Stehle 853 Garland Drive Palo Alto, CA 94303 From: Lai Wong
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 3:23:10 PM
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Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo Alto resident who supports more housing in our city and across the region, I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Lai Wong
241 Fulton St. Palo Alto, CA 94301
—----------------------------------
From: Carolyn Godfrey
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 3:07:34 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Carolyn Godfrey 211 Middlefield Road
From: Judy Grinberg
To: Council, City
Subject: Fw: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 1:53:13 PM
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Forgot my name !
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Judy Grinberg <[email protected]>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 01:45:43 PM PDT
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo Alto resident who supports more housing in our city and across the region, I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely, Judy Grinberg
From: [email protected]
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 - Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 1:52:41 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Palo Alto City Council,

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Catherine and Ralph Bredenberg
1126 Hamilton Ave.

From: [email protected]
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 1:46:41 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
From: Judy Grinberg
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 1:45:57 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.
!
Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a Palo Alto resident who supports more housing in our city and across the region, I’m writing to urge you to endorse SB 457, legislation authored by Senator Josh Becker that strengthens state housing law by closing loopholes that have been exploited to advance poorly planned projects.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
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From: John Selling
To: Council, City
Subject: SB457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 1:00:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

We who live in northeastern Palo Alto are literally in the shadow of this tower which will dramatically negatively affect our lives. Please endorse SB 457.

Thanks, John Selling
678 Hawthorne Ave
Palo Alto
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From: Heike Fischer
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 12:46:17 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

I support our city’s efforts to develop our Housing Element to build more affordable housing. When state housing laws are misused, like in the 39- story project at 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park, it damages public trust and could provoke anti-housing sentiment that sets back real progress for years.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457.

Sincerely, Heike Fischer 120 Cowper St, Palo Alto, CA 94301 From: Charles L Junkerman
To: Council, City
Subject: SB457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 12:33:50 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Charles Junkerman
565 Chaucer Street
Palo Alto 94301
From: Kelly Traver
To: Council, City
Subject: SB457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 12:26:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Palo Alto Councilmembers,
I am very grateful to Josh Becker for putting forth SB457 in order to protect both Menlo Park and Palo Alto from disastrous Builders Remedy projects like the one proposed at 80 Willow Rd. Please unite in support of this and protect our town from a monstrosity like this in our backyard.

Thank you,
Kelly Traver
678 Hawthorne Ave, Palo Alto
Sent from my iPhone
From: Roy Stehle
To: Council, City
Cc: Roy Stehle
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 11:34:38 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Roy Stehle
853 Garland Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94303-3606
P.S. My use of a passed-on message should not decrease my intent and feelings on this issue.

From: Sun Ve
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 11:17:12 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Sunitha Velpula
1494 Pitman ave., Palo Alto, CA-94301
From: S S
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Support SB 457 — Fair, Effective Housing Policy Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 11:15:59 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Srikanth Yella Singanamala
1494 Pitman ave, Palo Alto, CA-94301
From: Neilson Buchanan
To: Council, City
Subject: SB457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 10:51:17 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear City Council,
Please make certain your advice to Sen Becker includes encouragement to write and negotiate a bill which is legally sustainable.

Thank you for publicly addressing this self-imposed conundrum. --
Neilson Buchanan
155 Bryant St
Palo Alto CA 94301
650 329-0484 home
650 537-9611 cell
From: Roy Maydan
To: Council, City
Subject: SB 457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 10:35:34 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

I am writing to urge that the city council support SB 457. I support our city’s efforts to develop our state-certified Housing Element. When state housing laws are misused, like in the 39-story project at 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park and the 17-story project at Mollie Stone’s, it damages public trust and could provoke anti-housing sentiment that sets back real progress for years.

I live in Downtown North literally on the other side of the creek from 80 Willow Road. 80 Willow Road is a disaster and Exhibit A of the flaws of Builders Remedy. SB 457 protects cities like Palo Alto that are working in good faith to plan for housing and helps ensure that the Builder’s Remedy projects create well-planned housing—not severely oversized developments or commercial projects disguised as housing proposals.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Roy Maydan
131 Byron Street
From: Anne Carpenter
To: Council, City
Subject: Urgent!
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 10:29:10 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Anne Carpenter
428 Ruthven
Palo Alto, CA 94301
From: Elizabeth Lee
To: Council, City
Subject: SB457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 10:09:39 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear PA City Council,
Please support SB457 at the next meeting. New housing must provide new affordable housing, not create the need for more of it. It also must conform with current zoning laws and so that it doesn’t make life harder for the local residents. Thanks.

Elizabeth Lee, LMFT
650 346-4071
[email protected]
Author of The House at 844 1/2 http://goo.gl/BauAk
From: Jo Ann Mandinach
To: [email protected]; Council, City Subject: support AND endorse SB45
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 10:04:37 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.
!
Dear Council,
Please support AND endorse SB457. The Willow Rd project right at the PA border is an absolute atrocity.

Just do it.

Thank you.

Jo Ann Mandinach
Palo Alto City Council is considering whether to endorse or support SB457 at their April 7th meeting.
https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2025/03/24/city-seeks-allies-for-effort-to- blunt-builders-remedy/
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From: K. de Sibour
To: Council, City
Subject: Endorsement of SB 457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 9:48:45 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Katherine de Sibour
293 Bryant St
Palo Alto, 94301
From: jeannie duisenberg
To: Council, City
Subject: Please support SB 457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 9:47:43 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Please add Palo Alto’s voice in support of SB 457. This is a smart, reasonable, and limited fix that helps housing laws work better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Jeannie Duisenberg
1664 Channing Ave, PA 94303
From: Lauren Swezey
To: Council, City
Subject: Please support SB457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 8:36:51 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear members of the City Council,
Builder’s remedy has resulted in outrageous building project proposals, such as the one proposed for 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park.

This project is an environmental nightmare. It will alter the San Francisquito Creek forever and potentially cause more serious issues with flooding in Palo Alto, turn Willow and Middlefield roads into traffic nightmares with traffic backups into downtown Palo Alto, and utilize an enormous amount of water for which the infrastructure isn’t even available. The huge towers will also shade residences in Palo Alto North and North Crescent Park, and actually cause a deficit of housing since the project will add more jobs than housing.

Please endorse SB457 - a common-sense bill that will keep housing policy fair and effective.

Thank you,
Lauren Swezey
Fulton St.

Palo Alto
From: Ray Dempsey
To: Council, City
Cc: Dempsey, Anneke
Subject: SB457 April 7th meeting.

Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 8:12:28 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Members of the Palo Alto City Council:

We hope that the City Council supports and endorses SB457 at the April 7th meeting. This area is not Manhattan and the proposed skyscrapers proposed where Menlo Park abuts Palo Alto will have a negative effect on the entire area.

Ray & Anneke Dempsey
1036 Bryant Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301
From: Bonnie Street
To: Council, City
Subject: SB457
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 7:47:15 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Please vote in favor of SP457. I am opposed to the Willow project in Menlo Park.

Sincerely,
Bonnie Street
1146 Hamilton Ave.

Palo Alto
Sent from my iPhone

Palo Alto City CouncilApril 7, 2025

Palo Alto City Council
April 7, 2025