City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Planning and Development Services
Meeting Date: April 6, 2026
Report #:2510-5343
TITLE
Approval of a Final Map for the Properties Located at 4335 and 4345 El Camino Real to Allow for a Condominium Subdivision to Create Eight Units on a 17,406-Square-Foot Parcel and to Create 21 Units on a 41,370-Square-Foot Parcel and the Naming of Three Private Streets Associated With the Development (25PLN-00160). CEQA Status: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 (In-fill Development). Zoning District: CS (Service Commercial).
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend the City Council take the following actions:
1. Consider the project exempt from CEQA in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15532 (in-fill) as documented in Attachment C;
2. Approve the final subdivision map, which follows the approved Vesting Tentative Map, for the previously approved residential project at 4345 El Camino Real, pursuant to Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) Section 21.16 and the Subdivision Map Act; and
3. Approve the street names Fiesta Court, Maria Court, and Antonia Court as recommended by the Palo Alto Historical Association for the three new private streets as reflected in the Final Map.
BACKGROUND
On May 23, 2024, SummerHill Homes, on behalf of Cesano Inc. (the applicant), filed a Vesting Tentative Map application [24PLN-00153] to allow eight residential condominium units on the existing, 17,406-square-foot parcel located at 4335 El Camino Real, and 21 residential condominium units on the existing, 41,370-square-foot parcel located at 4345 El Camino Real, for a total of 29 condominium units. This was filed concurrently with a Streamlined Housing Development review application [23PLN-00152] for construction of a 29-unit residential townhome project. Four units of which would be provided at below market rate and made affordable to moderate income households (80-120% of Area Median Income). In accordance with the Vesting Tentative Map section of the PAMC (Section 21.13), the map application was
deferred until all other entitlements were approved. The Director of Planning and Development Services approved the associated entitlement for the site improvements on February 19, 2025, following a public hearing with the Architectural Review Board (ARB) on September 19, 2024.1 Subsequently, Council approved the Vesting Tentative Map on March 17, 20252 following a recommendation of approval from the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) on February 26, 2025.3
Project Description
On July 3, 2025, the applicant filed a Final Map application [25PLN-00160]. The Final Map application is the second of a two-phased process to subdivide the eight residential condominium units on the existing, 17,406-square-foot parcel located at 4335 El Camino Real, and 21 residential condominium units on the existing, 41,370-square-foot parcel located at 4345 El Camino Real, for a total of 29 condominium units, and create three associated private streets. A location map is included in Attachment A.
The Final Map is the official, legal document that is recorded with the County that establishes the property lines, streets, and easements within the subdivision. The Final Map must be prepared under the direction of a registered civil engineer or a licensed land surveyor and be based on a survey. Approval of a Final Map is ministerial if the Final Map is in substantive compliance with the approved Vesting Tentative Map and the subdivider has satisfied the conditions of approval attached to the tentative map. While many cities delegate approval of the Final Map to the City Engineer, under PAMC Section 21.16.240, the City Council is responsible for the approval. To finalize the subdivision of the condominium units, the Applicant must also apply to the California Bureau of Real Estate. The condominium units would be accessed from three new private streets off of Cesano Court.
ANALYSIS
The Final Map is the document containing the statements, acknowledgements, and agreements from the property owner, surveyor, City officials and beneficiaries that the Final Map is in conformance with all applicable regulations and the approved Vesting Tentative Map. There are no policy implications related to the approval of the Final Map, since the map is consistent with the approved Vesting Tentative Map.
1 September 19, 2024 ARB Staff Report, item 2:
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=458&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto 2 March 17, 2025 Council Staff Report, item 9:
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=5829&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto 3 February 26, 2025 PTC Staff Report, item 2:
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=7629&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto The proposed condominium subdivision also includes private streets for vehicular access to the units. In accordance with City’s Street Naming policy (Resolution 57397), the Palo Alto Historical Association selected proposed street names for the new private streets, for Council consideration and approval. The Palo Alto Historical Association’s proposed street names for the three streets are Fiesta Lane (or Fiesta Court), Maria Court, and Antonia Court. Fiesta Lane is a reference to the former Fiesta Lanes bowling alley, which was built in 1954 and located nearby at 4329 El Camino Real. However, Fiesta Court better fits the City’s naming policy for the hierarchy of street types, as this is a dead-end street, and is therefore staff’s recommendation.
Maria and Antonia Court are references to Maria Antonia Garcia Robles. The land these streets are on were previously a part of the Rancho Rincon de San Francisquito, which was purchased by the Robles family in 1847. Maria and her husband Secundino Robles had 29 children and five of her daughters were also named Maria.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
There are no fiscal impacts associated with the processing of this application as all fees are paid by the developer in accordance with the City’s fee schedule for processing of a final map.
Development impacts fees associated with the proposed improvement are estimated at $2,118,286, in addition to the public art in-lieu fees. Although fees are allowed to be deferred in accordance with state and local regulations. The applicant has expressed an intent to pay these fees prior to building permit issuance for each of the buildings. Therefore, these fees are anticipated to be realized in this fiscal year.
The project, as proposed, would impact local tax revenues due to the removal of the existing commercial uses at the site. The loss of these uses would result in an nominal annual loss of revenue when compared to the total sales tax revenue for the City in fiscal year (FY) 2022.
Offsetting the loss is the expectation that new development will result in increased property tax assessed valuation (AV) though the magnitude of this increase is unknown. The added AV will have a one percent additional property tax assessment. The City would receive approximately
9.4% of that additional property tax.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Although not required, notice of this meeting was published in a local paper and mailed to owners and occupants of property within 600 feet of the subject property at least ten days in advance. Notice of a meeting for this project was published in the Daily Post on March 27, 2026, which is 12 days in advance of the meeting. Postcard mailing occurred on March 26, 2026, which is 13 days in advance of the meeting.
7 Resolution 5739: https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=55538&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed action is ministerial and CEQA does not apply. The housing development project was previously evaluated in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act and found to be exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 (In-fill Development).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Location Map
Attachment B: Record of Land Use Action Vesting Tentative Map Attachment C: Project Plans & Environmental Documents
APPROVED BY:
Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director