May 19, 2025 www.paloalto.gov
788-796 San Antonio
Avenue
Pre-screening
Presenter
Emily Kallas, Senior Planner
2 COUNCIL PRE-SCREENING PROCESS
• Required for legislative changes, including rezonings, before a formal application.
• Provides early feedback only; no formal decisions are made.
• Councilmembers are expected to refrain from forming
firm opinions, as the proposal may return for future
formal action.
3 • Prescreening for a proposal to rezone from Commercial Service (CS) to Planned Home Zoning (PHZ) to allow for:
o Construction of 168 rental units in an eight-story structure with above grade parking
o Replaces the Housing Incentive Program (HIP) project approved in 2021 (19PLN-00079)
CONCEPTUAL PROJECT
4 PROJECT LOCATION
Location
• San Antonio Road near Leghorn
Street
• In the Housing Incentive Program
(HIP) area
Other nearby housing projects
• 762 San Antonio
• 800 San Antonio
• 824 San Antonio
• 3997 Fabian
COMPARISON TO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROJECT
5 Previously Approved Project Proposed Prescreening
Unit Count 102 (ownership units) 168 (rental units)
Setbacks Complies with Special Setback and Zoning
Code
No change
Height 49 ft 5 in 85 ft
FAR 2.0:1 (86,614 sf) 3.31:1 (189,884 sf)
Retail Space 1,802 sf 0 sf
Parking 126 spaces (avg. 1.25 spaces per unit) 73 spaces (avg. 0.43 spaces per unit) Unit Mix 32 studio, 66 1-bed, 4 2-bed 47 studio, 90 1-bed, 31 2-bed BMR Distribution 6 very-low, 5 low, 4 moderate TBD
COMPARISON TO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROJECT
6 COMPARISON TO NEIGHBORING PROPOSED PROJECT
7 788 Proposed Prescreening
(Current Study Session Discussion)
800 Proposed Prescreening
(Next Study Session Discussion)
Unit Count 168 (rental units) 120 (undecided if owner or rental) Setbacks Complies with CS zoning district, including
special setback
Below grade encroachment into San Antonio
Road special setback
Height 85 ft 60 ft 8 in
FAR 3.31:1 (189,884 sf) 3.0:1 (114,888 sf)
Retail Space 0 sf 1,087 sf
Parking 73 spaces 179 spaces
Unit Mix 47 studio, 90 1-bed, 31 2-bed 23 studio, 41 1-bed, 50 2-bed, 6 3-bed BMR Distribution TBD (20% of units at 80% AMI) TBD (20% of units at 80% AMI) 8 Project Timing
• In advance of the San Antonio
Coordinate Area Plan
Scale and Design
• Proposed height 3 stories taller
than 800 San Antonio
• Does not include step-backs
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
Parking and Services
• Reduced parking
• No on-site commercial use
Housing Tenure and Affordability
• BMR not specified
• Ownership vs. Rental
9 BELOW MARKET RATE PHZ OPTIONS
Council endorsed four PHZ BMR options:
• 20% BMR evenly distributed across all income levels
• 20% BMR weighed distribution (average 80% AMI, and no less than 15% of actual units)
• 10% units at Very-Low Income (31-50% AMI) plus full payment of Housing Impact Fees
• Off site housing, provided in a concurrent project with 100% BMR units 9 RECOMMENDED MOTION
Staff recommends that Council conduct a prescreening and provide informal comments regarding the applicant’s request to rezone the properties at 788-796 San Antonio from Service Commercial (CS) to a Planned Home Zoning (PHZ).
Comments provided during the prescreening process are not binding on the City or the applicant.
Emily Kallas, AICP
Senior Planner
[email protected]
650-617-3125