From: Palo Alto Forward
To: Council, City
Subject: 5/19 - Agenda Items #3 & #4
Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025 9:09:27 PM
Attachments: San Antonio Support Ltr (05.18.25) - Google Docs.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.
Please find our attached support letter for the two housing projects (items #3 and #4) on San Antonio that are on the agenda for Monday, May 19th.
Thank you,
--
Amie Ashton
Executive Director
Palo Alto Forward
650-793-1585
May 18, 2025
SUBJECT: Agenda Items #3 and #4 - San Antonio Road Housing Projects Honorable Mayor Lauing and Council Members,
We write in support of the projects at 788-796 San Antonio Road and 800-814 San Antonio Road. Both projects would provide much-needed housing units in our city, in an area specifically planned for growth.
The PHZ applications for the projects will take years to process, including hundreds of staff hours for the minimum four to seven (or more) public hearings, associated staff reports, public notification, packet production, and analysis. We hope these projects will be subject to a more efficient review process. They both come close to meeting the GM/ROLM zoning development standards, a designation that happens to be located across the street from these project sites.
We ask you to think creatively here, as you have with the GM/ROLM and El Camino Real Focus Area zoning changes for housing. While our housing pipeline is robust, even if every project was approved by 2026 – we would still be less than half-way to our Housing Element goal.
We simply need more units in more places across the city. The 288 units proposed as part of these two projects are a welcome addition to our housing pipeline.
Sincerely,
Amie Ashton, Executive Director
And on Behalf of the Board of Palo Alto Forward
From: [email protected]
To: Council, City; Lait, Jonathan
Subject: Agenda items 3 and 4
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025 1:02:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.
!
Dear Mayor Lauing and council members,
Applicants at 788 and 800 San Antonio are considering new applications on these sites to replace the council approved applications that were in the city's housing pipeline.
Each project would now include more housing units and have other differences from the approved projects but are on the same sites in the same location adjacent to the GM/ROLM sites
that have been identified for housing.
The applicants cite increases in the cost of construction in seeking additional units. Council is aware of the impact of recent increases in labor and construction materials costs as they have
increased construction costs for many projects that the city is pursuing. These increases may continue as a result of new tariff and immigration/deportation policies.
None of this is the fault of council or staff but the increases are an economic reality.
Since each site has a previously approved project, I hope council can give advice to applicants that move these concepts forward consistent with economic feasibility.
I am concerned that the review process will start anew and could take a long time and further increase costs. As these sites have already been reviewed, I am hopeful that council and staff can find ways to shorten the review process should the owners submit new applicaions.
I would hate to lose these sites from our housing pipeline.
Stephen Levy
Director
Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy
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From: Planning and Development Services
To: Council, City
Subject: San Antonio Area Plan - Community Advisory Group Applications Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025 4:56:53 PM
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San Antonio Road Area Plan Community Advisory Group (CAG)
Community Advisory Group (CAG) are still open through May 30! The San Antonio Road Area Plan is an initiative to reimagine land use, transportation, and community development along and around San Antonio Road. The project is scheduled to run through late 2027 or early 2028.
Community engagement is a key priority of the planning effort underway. A Community Advisory Group (CAG) will serve as an advisory body to the project team. The application process is now open! Apply by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025 to be considered.
The San Antonio Road Corridor has been designated for mixed-use residential and multi-family housing in the City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element Update. Creating new opportunities for residents, businesses, and visitors, the San Antonio Road Area Plan objectives are to establish policies, development and design standards, and to plan for necessary public infrastructure, including improving bike and pedestrian access along and across San Antonio Road.
The CAG will provide perspectives from multiple stakeholders during the planning process. The group will meet up to six times throughout the project. Meetings will be open to members of the public and held on weekday evenings for approximately 1.5 to 3 hours. Meetings are anticipated to occur over a 2-3 year period.
While not a decision-making body, the CAG will provide valuable insight and take on the following roles:
Discuss vision and principles.
Review and respond to key information collected for the plan.
Provide input on goals and policies; housing, land use, and transportation options; and key issues and trade-offs.
Provide feedback on the draft plan.
If you are interested in participating in the CAG, apply now! Apply Now!
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