March 9, 2026 www.PaloAlto.gov
51 Encina Avenue
Pre-screening
Presenter:
Steven Switzer, 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 Expand Bonus Floor Area and Transfer of Development Right (TDR)Benefits to Historic Category 1 and 2 Buildings in the CS Zone District.
CONCEPTUAL PROJECT
4 PROJECT LOCATION
Adjacent Uses
• Palo Alto Medical Foundation campus (North)
• Peninsula Healthcare Connection (East)
• CS zoned office properties (West)
• Town & Country Village Shopping Center
(South)
Adjacent Applications
• Multi-family Housing Prescreening on Town &
Country’s parking lots.
• Conditional Use Permit for a change of use (Eating &
Drinking) at 63 & 67 Encina Avenue.
5 HISTORIC RESOURCE
• Colonial Revival Architecture
• Built in 1900
• Mary Greer O'Brine, daughter of
Captain John and Maria Louisa Soto
Coppinger Greer.
• Portion of the Ranch Rinconada del
Arroyo de San Francisquito, an 1835
Mexican land grant.
• Listed as Category 2 in 1986
• Significance under
Exploration/Settlement
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
6 Comp. Plan Goals/Policies
• Policy L-7.8 (adaptive reuse)
• Program L7.8.1 (expand historic
incentives)
• Program L7.8.3 (encourage
innovative preservation approaches)
Historic Rehabilitation
• Supports adaptive reuse of a
Category 2
• Financial constraints due to lack of
development incentives.
TDR Program
• Encourage and offset historic and seismic
rehabilitation projects
• 2003 and 2007 expansions (City owned historic
properties and SOFA residential)
• Proximity to downtown and commercial setting.
• Approx. 32,000 sf of TDRs available
• Potentially generate up to 5,000 sf of TDR
Limited Scope (Site Specific)
• Only one (1) eligible CS property
• 46 unevaluated CS properties over 50 years old.
7 CEQA STATUS
• No review under the California Environmental Quality Action (CEQA) is required for a preliminary review.
• A full review in accordance with CEQA would be initiated with the formal filing of a development application.
8 RECOMMENDED MOTION
Staff recommends that Council conduct a prescreening and provide informal comments regarding the request to expand Floor Area Bonuses and Transfer of Development Right benefits to Category 1 and 2 buildings on the City's Historic Inventory in the CS Zoning District.
Comments provided during the prescreening process are not binding on the City or the applicant.
STEVEN SWITZER
Senior Planner
[email protected]
650-329-2321