Item 8 Public Comment — Palo Alto City Council, April 13, 2026

From: Adam Schwartz
To: Council, City
Subject: YES to new homes at 3606 El Camino Real (Agenda Item #8) Date: Monday, April 13, 2026 9:53:00 AM
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To the Palo Alto City Council:

My name is Adam Schwartz. I’ve lived in Palo Alto for a decade in the University South neighborhood.

Please vote to approve the application to build 321 new homes at 3606 El Camino Real. This is Agenda Item #8 for the City Council's Regular Meeting on April 13.

These new homes can accommodate all kinds of people:
- People earning below the area median income can live in the 37 homes set at below-market rates.
-
Families with kids can move into the homes with two and three bedrooms, which are about half of the total homes.
-
Our older neighbors now living in a detached single-family home can downsize into a new apartment in their home city, and make room for a new family in their old home.
- Our children and parents can live near us in these homes. - Our civil servants and service workers can live near their jobs in these homes.

This is a great location for new homes:
-
The VTA bus line #22 has a stop near the site.
- The CalTrain at California Avenue is 1.2 miles away.
- There is a new protected bike lane right in front on El Camino Real. - There are nearby restaurants, schools, and jobs.

I appreciate all the hard work being done by our city council and city staff to build more homes in our community.

Sincerely,

Adam Schwartz
University South
From: Mircea
To: Council, City
Cc: Switzer, Steven; [email protected]; Lindsey, Stephen; Reifschneider, James; Transportation; Alison Rivera; John King; Kristan Green; Dror Katzav; Yu Wang; Liberman, Art; [email protected]; Kellie Stafford Subject: COMPREHENSIVE OPPOSITION TO PROJECTS 25PLN-00243 & 3400 ECR - Monday April 13th 2026 City Council Agenda
Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 10:07:09 PM
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Grounds for Denial: Unmitigable Threat to Public Safety, Emergency Access, and Riparian Integrity
TO: Palo Alto City Council; Architectural Review Board; Planning Department FROM: Barron Park resident and property owner since 2006: 572 Chimalus Dr. Palo Alto, CA, 94306
I. Executive Summary
This letter serves as a formal objection to the 7 parcels merger and development as submitted at 3606 El Camino Real. Under Gov. Code § 65589.5(d)(2), we contend these projects create a specific, adverse impact on public health and safety that cannot be mitigated. The "traffic dump"
from 3606 and 3400 ECR (combined 1,500+
daily trips) onto the Matadero Road bottleneck will physically obstruct emergency response and endanger student commuters on a verified high-injury corridor.

II. 20-Year Traffic Safety & Accident Data Integration
The intersection of El Camino Real (ECR) and Matadero Road is an established danger zone. In the last 20 years driving the Matadero/Barron Park stretch several times a day, I have seen the Palo Alto Fire/Ambulance department attending to a biker at the corner of ECR and Matadero-CreekSide Inn corner averaging several times a quarter. Those records are real.

High-Injury Network (HIN): A 2024 city-commissioned study found that 14% of all Palo Alto crashes occur on ECR, which comprises only 4% of the city's roads.

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20-Year Collision Trends: Over the past two decades, one-third of all bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Santa Clara County have occurred on the Palo Alto segment of ECR.

Vulnerability of Minors: Matadero Road is a designated Safe Route to School.

Historical data shows an average of one injury every month on the Palo Alto ECR corridor, frequently involving children and teenagers.

Recent Conflicts: As recently as 2024, ECR has been flagged by Caltrans as particularly prone to bike crashes. Introducing massive vehicle volume into this exact "Safe System" plan area directly violates the city's duty to protect student commuters.

III. Emergency Response Jeopardy (Barron Park Access)
Matadero Road is a Major Street Connector for the Barron Park neighborhood.

Blocking this artery will delay life-saving Fire, Police, and Ambulance services.

PAFD Performance Decline: The Palo Alto Fire Department (PAFD) 90th percentile
response time was 9:16 in 2024, failing to meet the city's 8-minute safety target.

Physical Obstruction: The 3606 ECR driveway sits within 100 feet of the ECR/Matadero corner. The resulting vehicle queuing will gridlock Matadero Road, physically preventing emergency units from Station 4 (already under-staffed via cross-staffing) from reaching Barron Park residents during medical emergencies.

No Feasible Mitigation: There is no engineering solution exists to widen the Matadero Road creek crossing without destroying the protected riparian corridor.

IV. Matadero Creek & Environmental Safety Reasons for Denial Riparian Integrity: The project footprint sits within 100 feet of the Matadero Creek bank. This proximity violates the intent of the Stream Corridor Protection Ordinance and risks bank failure.

Flood Hazard (PAMC 16.52): Subterranean parking for nearly 400 cars near an open creek bank creates unmitigable hydrostatic pressure risks during flood events.

Ecological Impact: The cumulative density and runoff from both projects pose a "quantifiable risk" to the creek's habitat and downstream flood capacity.

V. Final Legal Conclusion
The Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) already voted 3-2 to recommend denial based on these "serious public health problems." We urge the City Council to prioritize Safe Routes to School and Barron Park emergency access over inappropriate density and the City Council should grant no project driveways that would dump more cars on Matadero Rd. when El Camino Real Driveway Access exists and is implementable today. Developer cares more about the building's appearance on ECR —which resembles a shoebox anyway—than the integrating a driveway on ECR which will protect the safety of Barron Park school children, residents' daily traffic and emergency responders.

As a Barron Park property owner and resident since 2006, I urge you to deny the size of this project and demand that driveways be placed on El Camino Real. Builder's remedy does not override the safety and health of Palo Alto residents; this is a clear fact and finding here. Stand up for Palo Alto residents who elected you to protect us while building safe housing.

I want you to be left with reading this article and think what you will be voting for:

Two Fatal Collisions in Palo Alto and Los Altos Hills within a Week — Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
Per the article link above: "Over the past decade, one-third of bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Santa Clara County have occurred on El Camino Real in Palo Alto. Shockingly, this statistic translates to an average of one person, often a child or teenager, being injured each month in Palo Alto." Thanks
Mircea Voskerician
572 Chimalus Dr. Palo Alto
Actionable Steps for Council Members
Request a Police/Fire Department/Ambulance Response Records Audit:

Formally request a 20-year collision log specifically for the ECR/Matadero corner.

This will be an eye-opener.

Mandate a Cumulative Access Study: Model the simultaneous "morning peak" and " evening peak" output and input from both development driveways including 3400 ECR (existing hotel or new proposed development) on Matadero Road.

From: John King
To: Council, City
Subject: Barron Park Association letter re :3606 El Camino Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 4:06:40 AM
Attachments: BPA_Letter_re_3606 El Camino.pdf
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
Please find a letter approved by the Barron Park Association board regarding the proposed 3606 El Camino Real, Palo Alto development.

Please include for the upcoming council discussions about the neighborhood concerns of the proposal.

Respectfully submitted,
John W. King
President
Barron Park Association
724 Barron Avenue
Palo Alto, CA. 94306
[email protected]
650-483-2710
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1 Dear Palo Alto City Council,
The Barron Park Association Board of Directors is writing to express neighborhood concerns regarding the proposed development at 3606 El Camino Real. We agree with the Planning and Transportation Commission’s recent decision not to approve the proposed lot consolidation due to the lack of sufficient information related to its suitability.

Our primary concern focuses on traffic and safety. Entrances and exits for the 321-unit development should not be located on Barron Park’s small, residential streets. Given the magnitude of this project — representing approximately a 20% increase in Barron Park’s residential density — access points must be placed on El Camino Real rather than on narrow neighborhood streets. Barron Park includes narrow, single-lane streets, many without sidewalks or shoulders. These streets cannot safely accommodate a substantial increase in vehicular traffic seeking to bypass gridlocked intersections near the proposed development’s side-street driveways. (See the example photos below.)
Matadero Avenue is designated as a Safe Routes to School corridor, a Palo Alto Bike Boulevard, and an Emergency Vehicle Access Route. Maintaining safety and accessibility on Matadero and its feeder streets is critical. Increased congestion from a large development would directly compromise pedestrian, cyclist, automobile, and emergency vehicle safety.

Barron Park also faces unique infrastructure limitations. Vehicular access is restricted on the north and west by Stanford Research Park, Rivian, Varian, Bol Park, and the V A Hospital.

Matadero and Los Robles serve as primary entrances and exits, yet both dead-end at Bol Park and the V A. In emergency situations, these constraints present serious concerns. Large-scale projects must include plans that do not further restrict emergency access. 2 The neighborhood remains burdened by overhead utility wires, increasing fire risk in an area already constrained by limited evacuation routes. Adding significant density without addressing this vulnerability exacerbates safety risks to current residents who have very limited emergency exits from Barron Park.

Additionally, the intersection of El Camino and Matadero is already hazardous. Traffic now frequently backs up onto El Camino, blocks crosswalks, and creates gridlock conditions. This would worsen with the primary driveway for 3606 ECR less than 100 ft from the intersection.

There is, of course, no right turn on red in either direction. Introducing additional vehicle volume from a 321-unit development will worsen congestion and heighten safety risks for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

While the City anticipates reduced automobile use due to proximity to ECR, this has not been the experience in Barron Park. Over the past twenty years, automobile traffic has steadily increased.

Streets adjacent to ECR are routinely fully parked overnight. Despite an active cycling community, most residents rely on cars for employment, groceries, medical care, schools, and daily needs. Reliable alternative transportation options remain limited.

We respectfully urge the Council to ensure that:

1.All resident entrances and exits be located on El Camino Real.

2.Emergency access and evacuation constraints be addressed prior to approval.

3.Infrastructure and fire safety risks be mitigated.

4.Architectural design strive to be compatible with the existing neighborhood and design standards per the ARB request for improvements to the building front face.

5.Appropriate setbacks, terracing, and landscaping be incorporated to create meaningful transition zones between higher-density buildings and smaller nearby residences.
3 Palo Alto has demonstrated that new developments can be thoughtfully integrated into established neighborhoods. We rely on the City Council and City Commissions to approve projects that enhance, rather than compromise, the safety and character of Barron Park for both current and future residents.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Board of Directors of the Barron Park Association
bpapaloalto.org
Example on a Typical Day: Matadero Avenue Opening Onto El Camino Location of photos: Matadero Avenue with ECR in the background. The proposed apartment driveway is approximately where the brown UPS truck is parked (on the right).

Notice the absent shoulder on the north side of Matadero (on the left in both photos), and the unsafe pedestrian/cyclist zone on the south side (on the right in both photos) due to parked cars.

It is not unusual to have one lane blocked by a mail or delivery truck. As a designated Safe Route to School, Palo Alto Bike Boulevard, and an Emergency Vehicle Access Route, bikes may take the lane with autos, but this is especially hazardous to young children inexperienced with traffic.

Also, notice that cars passing large, parked delivery trucks (here, UPS and Amazon) must use both lanes for pedestrian safety. As you see in the photo on the right, the white car approaching us has moved into the opposite lane to avoid a parked truck. 4 From: Penny Brennan
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Vote "NO" on Approval of the 3606 El Camino Project Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 4:28:14 PM
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Dear Councilmembers,

I urge you to vote "NO" on approval of the 3606 El Camino project.

Each time I read the letters, and listen to the presentations, of the developers and supporters of this project, I have to wonder whether they have ever personally visited the site of the proposed project, including personally walking or driving along the streets that border it, especially during early morning and late afternoon commute times. Historically, the project's developers have paid little attention to potential negative impacts of this very tall, very high- density building on its surrounding environment, especially its negative traffic and safety impacts on Barron Park and Ventura residents. In my opinion, City Council should not approve this project until the negative traffic and safety impacts of this project are thoroughly understood and then mitigated through correction of the building's current design flaws.

In earlier letters I detailed my concerns about traffic and public health and safety hazards posed by the ill-siting of the building's main ingress/egress (on narrow, busy Matadero Avenue). Another ingress/egress of concern is sited on Kendall Avenue, at the other side of the building. All of the building's garbage/recycling/compost pick-ups are planned to occur there. At the Architectural Review Board meeting developers told us that there would be garbage pick-ups two times a week from the Kendall side of the building. (Which is, perhaps, an underestimate, given > 1,000 people will reside in the building?) A twice-weekly pick-up practice would entail six refuse truck pick-ups per week: two each for landfill, recycling, and composting disposal. Even a minimum twice-weekly pick-up practice will frequently block traffic, and endanger bicyclists and pedestrians, on the very narrow, twisting Kendall Avenue six times a week. The landfill, recycling, and composting trucks will have no easy way of turning around to return to El Camino and will make their way through Barron Park streets in the early morning, possibly corresponding with student bicyclists and pedestrians making their way to the Barron Park Elementary, Fletcher Middle, Gunn High, and other schools in the Barron Park neighborhood. This consideration underscores the importance of a thorough traffic safety analysis of the proposed 3606 El Camino project and provides another public health and safety grounds for City Council to oppose the 3606 El Camino project.

In an email dated January 19, 2026, I asked Albert Yang, Palo Alto City Attorney, about public safety as legal grounds for the City of Palo Alto to oppose the 3606 El Camino Builder's Remedy project. Paragraph 5 of his March 31, 2026 email response states, "...In the case of the hazards to bicyclists and pedestrians, the City’s Office of Transportation has not identified any objective, written public health or safety standards that the project violates." My response to that statement is: Of course it has not. To my knowledge, the City's Office of Transportation has never vetted the 3606 El Camino project for violation of public health or safety standards. I think that City Council should request that the Office of Transportation do so, and that it should furthermore formulate objective, written public health and safety standards that can be used by the City to protect residents of Palo Alto from serious transportation-related public health and safety violations such as those posed by the 3606 El Camino Builder's Remedy project.

Thank you for considering my concerns.

Sincerely,
Penny Brennan, PhD
Ventura Neighborhood
From: Simon Manka
To: Council, City; City Mgr
Subject: Support for 3606 El Camino Real Housing Project Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 5:18:29 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
I am writing to express my support for the proposed housing development at 3606 El Camino Real.

Palo Alto urgently needs more housing, and this project is exactly the kind of infill development the city should be encouraging. Adding new multifamily homes along a major corridor like El Camino Real is a smart way to create more housing opportunities while making efficient use of existing urban land.

I appreciate that this proposal would replace underutilized properties with a substantial residential project that can help address the city’s housing shortage. Thoughtful projects like this are important to Palo Alto’s long-term future, affordability, and sustainability.

I encourage the City Council to approve the 3606 El Camino Real project.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Simon Manka
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From: Melanie Bentley
To: Council, City
Cc: Switzer, Steven
Subject: 3606 El Camino Real Support
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026 11:44:53 AM
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To the Members of the Palo Alto City Council,
My name is Melanie Bentley and I am writing in support of3606 El Camino Real. I work locally as a nurse at Stanford in the Pediatric ICU, and one of the most common issues I hear about from new staff is the lack of housing options in the area.

My colleagues and I work long and stressful hours, and many of us also face the additional burden of a long commute. There is a real need for quality, local housing options that are near our work and provide the kind of wellness amenities that help us decompress after a shift.

Having a modern, reliable place to live close to the hospital would make a world of difference for the healthcare community. It allows us to focus on our patients rather than the time spent in traffic, and it helps our staff feel more connected to the community we serve. This project is a sensible use of the El Camino corridor and provides exactly the type of housing we need to support our local workforce. I hope you will approve this development on Monday.

Sincerely,
Melanie Bentley
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From: Amy Thomson
To: Council, City
Subject: Support for 3606 El Camino Real
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026 2:14:54 PM
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Palo Alto city council,
My name is Amy Thomson and I'm the policy director for the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition. One of our priority campaigns over the last 20 years has been reimagining El Camino Real to be a complete street with abundant and affordable housing.

Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family friendly apartments to our community. The shortage of homes in San Mateo County and the state hurts our vulnerable residents first and foremost. We need to support homes along transit- and resource-rich corridors like El Camino Real in Palo Alto.

Thank you for your vote to support the future Bay Area we deserve - one with safe streets and access to homes.

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From: Tony Montini
To: Council, City
Cc: Switzer, Steven
Subject: 3606 El Camino Real
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026 2:57:18 PM
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To the Palo Alto City Council and Staff,
I am writing to express my support for the 3606 El Camino Real project. Although I reside in San Jose, for my entire life Palo Alto has been an extension of my hometown.

I have great memories in Palo Alto, including happy hours at Miyake’s, sports at the Old Pro, and trivia nights at the Nut House. I now understand that there is a lack of newer, high- quality housing options. I still visit frequently, and when a friend mentioned that there was a new housing project being proposed, I wanted to make my voice heard. Sadly, many of the businesses I mentioned have since closed, but I believe that when you bring in a new generation of young professionals (which happens when you create new housing), you create the customer base needed for new and hip businesses to emerge.

By approving this project, you are creating a reason for the next generation of professionals to stay in Palo Alto rather than looking elsewhere for modern housing, as I did. I hope to see this project move forward.

Sincerely,
Tony Montini
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From: Art Liberman
To: Council, City
Subject: Reject 3606 El Camino unless the developer makes changes Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026 3:33:41 PM
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Council -
The plans for 3606 El Camino indicate the entry and exit from parking for all the apartments going onto neighboring streets and not onto El Camino. Please ensure that the developer revises the plans to have entrances and exits on El Camino. The Creekside Inn project, across Matadero Avenue from this project, initially had exit and entrance from the parking on Matadero Avenue, but they changed their plans to have entrance and exit from El Camino. something similar needs to change for this project as well. Please do not approve this project in its current form.

Matadero Avenue is a narrow street with one traffic lane in each direction. It is a collector street, being one of only two streets that go in and out of Barron Park with signalized intersections on El Camino. Furthermore, Matadero Ave.is a designated Bicycle Boulevard by the City of Palo Alto Office of Transportation. The plans indicate that the other entrance and exit from the parking for this project is proposed to be on Kendall Ave., which is also a very narrow street. Both Matadero Ave and Kendall Ave are classified as "safe routes" for children who walk and ride bikes to and from Barron Park School. Here is a link to a pdf of the map. barron-park-elementary-walk-roll-map- 2022.pdf). While the Builder has proposed these plans as 'builder's remedy', California state laws state that the safety of individuals is paramount.

The possibility of likelihood of serious congestion at the intersection of Matadero Ave and El Camino has created concern among residents in Barron Park. Because of the Bicycle Lanes on El Camino, the City of Palo Alto has instituted No Right Turn on Red at this and every signalized intersection with El Camino. Unless this housing plan is changed, i think you and anyone with any knowledge of the neighborhood would know that the backup and gridlock on Matadero Avenue would become horrendous each and every morning! The roadway would become paralyzed. In fact, it could become so bad that people living at 3606 El Camino may not be able to leave their apartments.

The developer has created these plans without any meetings or discussions or interactions with the residents of the Barron Park neighborhood. The BPA Board has written a long and thoughtful letter to the Council, opposing the plans.

Thank you all for your service to residents of Palo Alto.

Art Liberman
Resident of Barron Park and
member of PABAC

From: Bill Fitch
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8:

Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 9:52:03 AM
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Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Bill Fitch and I live in Evergreen Park.

Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward.
.

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Bill Fitch
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From: Barb V
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: supporting multi-family housing Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 9:52:43 AM
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Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Barb Voss and I live in Palo Alto Redwoods (4250 El Camino Real).

I know first-hand the struggle for educators like me to find housing in Palo Alto, as I recently went through a housing transition. The location of the proposed housing is great - accessible to transit and central to major services. It will be a great addition to the El Camino corridor and contribute to the continued revitalization of this area.

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Barb Voss
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From: Pat Kinney
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 10:00:39 AM
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Esteemed Palo Alto City Council,
My name is Patricia Kinney and I live in the Duveneck/St Francis neighborhood, formerly in the Ventura neighborhood.

Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward.

This location is close to transportation, parks and schools, and would be an ideal location for families.

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Patricia Kinney
From: Fred Kohler
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 10:19:12 AM
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Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is [INSERT NAME] and I live in [INSERT NEIGHBORHOOD].

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
[INSERT NAME]
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From: Lori wainen linberg
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: [Please support more affordable housing Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 10:08:07 AM
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Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Lori Linberg
and I live in Palo Alto
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward.

Presently, in our area, EMTs, ER technicians, surgical technicians, radiological technicians, phlebotomist, CNA‘s, childcare workers, teachers, teachers, assistants and janitors, as well as many other fields cannot afford housing in the area. We cannot afford communities without these important services. They deserve to have a home where their children can grow up with Hope and a place to play outside in the same joys that everyone else has. They are contributing to the well-being of our communities and we would be lost without them and we’re losing them on a regular basis. In fact, we’re even losing doctors in the area because of the high cost of living.

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Lori W Linberg
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From: Rob Schreiber
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: Approval of 3606 El Camino housing development Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 10:29:23 AM
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i
The project at 3606 El Camino has so much going for it.

It has a builder who can and will build it; it "pencils out".

It addresses parking.

It will replace a completely underused, blighted stretch of the depressing, embarrassing South Palo Alto El Camino.

It will bring over 300 younger, less wealthy individuals and families into our ever more economically homogeneous city, add demand for retail and services, reduce the commute times for these new residents, and add students to the public schools, which should continue to be at the core of what makes this city special.

Please vote to approve it. No objection based on bicycling or other secondary considerations should be allowed to delay or derail it. We need housing and we need investment and we need redevelopment of antiquated decaying streets. We need these things now.

Thank you for considering these things before deciding.

Rob Schreiber
(A resident of Greenmeadow)
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From: bitew tisase
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 10:39:37 AM
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!
Dear Members of the City Council,
I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed housing development that includes 321 homes, with 122 two-bedroom units and 38 three-bedroom units.

This proposal represents an important opportunity to provide much-needed family-sized housing in our community. Too often, new developments focus primarily on smaller units, leaving limited options for families who wish to live and grow in our city. By including a significant number of two- and three-bedroom homes, this project helps address that gap and supports a more inclusive and balanced community.

I am concerned that the Planning Commission recommended denial despite the project being consistent with state housing law. Moving forward with this development would not only align with those legal requirements but also help the City avoid potential legal risks. More importantly, it would demonstrate a commitment to planning for future generations and ensuring that families of all sizes have the opportunity to live here.

Family-friendly, multi-family housing is both necessary and achievable, and this project is a clear example of that potential. I respectfully urge the City Council to approve this proposal and take a meaningful step toward This message could be suspicious
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expanding housing opportunities in our community.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
BITEW Tisase
From: Susan Setterholm
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 10:46:09 AM
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Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Susan Setterholm] and I lived in the Greenbrae.

Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to the community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward.

I want my son to be able to live in Palo Alto and educate his family in the school district.

Thank you for supporting more homes in the community,
Susan Setterholm
From: Gina Dalma
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 11:19:41 AM
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Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Gina Dalma and I live in Midtown. Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward.

We need more affordable housing in our community to ensure it remains vibrant and diverse.

Gina D. Dalma
e: [email protected]
p: (980) 722.2660
Let’s connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/gina-dalma/0/53/b47/en From: Sarah J. Bell
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: Please approve 3606 El Camino
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 12:41:04 PM
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i
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Sarah Bell and I've lived in Palo Alto on and off since 2005.

When I first arrived in Palo Alto, you could rent a really nice two-bedroom apartment in downtown for 1,800 a month. Nowadays, a one bedroom will easily cost double that amount.

We need to build more housing so that the next generation of college grads and young families can afford to live here.

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Sarah Bell
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From: Cara Silver
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: 3606 El Camino
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 12:49:05 PM
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Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Cara Silver and I live in the midtown neighborhood.

We so desperately need more housing —anywhere it can be accommodated— for our seniors, our children and young families moving to the area. Development costs are skyrocketing and development grinding to a halt. Please do not impose additional costs on a ready and able developer.

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community!
Best,
Cara Silver
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From: [email protected]
To: Council, City
Cc: Armer, Jennifer; Raybould, Claire; Sauls, Garrett; Lait, Jonathan Subject: 3606 ECR
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 2:02:43 PM
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Dear Mayor Veenker and council members,
I write in support of the staff recommendation and in strong support of this project.

The applicant has a long-time local housing presence in Palo Alto, a strong positive reputation for caring about the long-term future of our city and has been receptive whenever possible to suggestions during this proposals road to council.

As you know, the project will provide more than 300 units in a location designated by the city for higher density housing.

Additional pluses are that all the BMR units will be for low income residents, a substantial number of larger units and the project will have additional amenities.

I listened to the PTC hearing and am aware of the stated concerns.

The staff report lays out clearly why an El Camino garage entrance is a poor idea.

While residents are entitled to their personal perspective on safety issues, I believe the applicant has addressed how the garage entrances and exits can be safely managed for pedestrians and bikers.

I encourage you to continue the council's recent strong support of housing that meets the goals set out by the city.

This proposal deserves our support.

Stephen Levy
From: Beau Heidrich
To: Council, City
Cc: Switzer, Steven
Subject: 3606 El Camino
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 2:43:16 PM
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i
City Council and Staff,
I am writing to support the project at 3606 El Camino.

This property has sat vacant for so long and I think its great someone proposed a productive use for this property. The current state of that property, which consists of a smog shop, a rusted chain-link fence guarding a field of weeds, a construction dumpster, and an abandoned office building, is an eye sore.

We are all aware of the risks involved if we fail to hit our RHNA numbers and approving a project of this scale is a necessary move to ensure the City maintains its local zoning control and doesn't lose those rights to the state again.

Another benefit of building here is that this location will support all of the people working along Page Mill, at Stanford, or within the California Ave and Downtown districts. Putting housing density where the jobs are will encourage residents to use alternative modes of transit and help reduce traffic congestion.

Sincerely,
Beau Heidrich
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From: Joseph Doniach
To: Council, City
Cc: Barbara Powell
Subject: Agenda Item 8: 3606 El Camino Real
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 3:57:11 PM
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Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Joseph Doniach and I live in Greenmeadow.

Palo Alto residents have to accept the reality that the city needs more multi family housing. There simply isn’t the space for single family housing, and the housing shortage is the primary reason for the insanely high cost of housing in the SF Bay Area. If we want to have a community that includes regular people with regular jobs, we simply MUST build more affordable housing and that necessarily will be multi family housing.

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community.

Joseph Doniach
From: Susan Kemp
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 9:22:20 PM
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Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is [INSERT NAME] and I live in [INSERT NEIGHBORHOOD].

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
[INSERT NAME]
Sent from my iPhone
From: Shane Pizzo
To: Council, City
Cc: City Mgr
Subject: Support for 3606 El Camino Real
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026 7:28:44 AM
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Members of the Palo Alto City Council,
I am writing to voice my support for the apartment building development at 3606 El Camino Real.

My family owns and manages commercial property in Palo Alto, so I drive by this site often.

Density in this location makes lots of sense to me, since it is both along El Camino and not in the middle of a neighborhood. The location has good transit and biking options nearby at California Avenue, bikeability to many commercial campuses, and good access to both 280 and 101. Altogether, it seems like a great location to add denser housing to Palo Alto.

Palo Alto, both as a rental market and housing market, has become largely unaffordable for most people. That is in no small part due to a lack of new apartments that have been added to the City housing supply over the past several decades. So it is great to see some projects finally coming forward, which will hopefully increase the supply enough to make a dent in the scarcity of housing in the area.

Please vote to approve the 3606 El Camino Real Project.

Thank you,
Shane Pizzo
Propervise, Inc.

CA DRE # 01964516
Cell - 408-891-1104
Email - [email protected]
www.propervise.com
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From: hebiux García-Bolio
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026 8:49:38 AM
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i
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Hebe García- Bolio and I live in a section 8 Apartment - Sheridan Ave.

I was homeless; found a despicable shelter and then a more humane: for women only.

Sometimes , people are not trained to treat the homeless with Dignity, Respect while we are seeking our potential .

There are those that are trained and go beyond : with Joy, Dignity and Respect.

Kudos to them and you!
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Hebe Garcia-Bolio
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From: Winter Dellenbach
To: Council, City
Subject: Item #8 3606 ECR
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026 12:47:45 PM
To: City Council Members
From: Winter Dellenbach
Date: 4-11-26
RE: Item #8, 3606 El Camino Real
I realize this is a builders remedy project with a density bonus and therefore limitations apply to City oversight. That said, here are some of my concerns about the 3606 El Camino Real mega-development. I welcome gaining more affordable housing in our City, but this project isn’t reasonable in its immensity, particulary given the cumulative impacts with the Creekside Inn proposed development just a few feet away.

Displacement - I hope this annoys you even half as much as it annoys me To really drive the nail into one's heel, the applicant’s proposal is to demolish 3 multifamily apartment buildings (two and three story) on Kendall which will result in eviction of 38 households. Losing one’s housing, as we know, is devastating, yet never is the word “displacement” mentioned in this packet.

If this landlord owns more than 10 units of housing, PAMC 9.68.060, Tenant Relocation Assistance payments are required to be paid by owner to each household. Payments differ as to household size with a range from about $8,000 to $20,000 in 2025, much more assistance than the owner waiving 1 months rent as seems to be proposed in the packet.

Please confirm if the owner cumulatively owns if over 10 units in the 3 apartment buildings to be demolished. If so, displaced tenants will be better positioned in seeking new housing than if PAMC

9.68.050 applies (10 or few units owned only get 1 months rent).

The Number of BMR Units
Is there anyway Council and require more than the paltry 37 BMR dwelling units (13% of 284 units with density bonus = 37)? Without the bonus, there would be 42 BMR units (13% of the 321units actually proposed = 42). This of course way under the 20% formerly required.

Unless there is a work around, this very large project will produce little affordability. If anyone thinks Sacramento cares about affordable housing, they aren’t paying attention.

Please ensure that the BMR units will be distributed throughout the project, not isolated as a group in a sort of low-income mini-ghetto.

It also seems there is an insufficient variety of unit sizes (studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms). Council has a good track record of ensuring a variety of sizes to allow for a variety of household sizes, finding that this is necessary for a healthy community. Make sure this needed variety is guaranteed.

Bike Safety
Matadero Ave. on the proposed projects north side, is a safe route to school. It is 30-feet wide for only its first 75-feet west of El Camino. It then suddenly narrows to just 18-feet as it continues into Barron Park.

The applicant proposes to widen the avenue by moving City utility vaults, poles, and removing a City street tree.

Curvy Kendall Ave. varies some from 26 feet to a bit wider.

On both Matadero and Kendall, there is to be ingress/egress for 391cars and service vehicles from the projects parking areas.

Given overflow street parking and ingress/egress issues, any shred of bike safety on Matadero will surely be lost.

This project as proposed is not safe nor do I think it can effectively be made so.

Street Parking
What is developers plan to effectively mitigate traffic and overflow parking onto neighborhood streets and its effect on Matadero’s safe route to school? There are 391 parking spaces proposed. Dollars to donuts more than 70 households out of 321 will have 2 cars with the extra on unusually narrow adjacent streets.

Loading
It is vital, given the information above, that no off-site loading zone or refuse pick-up is permitted.

Providing sufficient onsite loading or refuse pickup should be a condition of approval.

The staff report/packet states:

The project includes one required loading space for developments with more than 50 units in conformance with PAMC Chapter 18.24 objective standards.* However, the loading space is not consistently shown across plan sheets. Therefore, a condition of approval has been added to ensure that this off-site loading space is provided. Some plan sheets also show an on-street loading area for both Matadero Avenue and Kendall Avenue. Given that: 1) the loading space on Kendall Avenue is designed for refuse pickup.
*3 June 15, 2020, City Council Resolution 9894
(Palo Alto Local Transportation Impact Analysis Policy):
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=61625&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto School Route; 2) a loading space is already provided within the parking garage adjacent to the lobby; 3) additional loading spaces are not required; and 4) the applicant does not have rights to the City’s right-of-way, a condition of approval has been added requiring that the proposed loading zone on Matadero Avenue be removed on the plans submitted for building permit.

Height of Project
Adjacent to this 85-foot development are a couple of 2 story apartment buildings on Kendal. Across this curvy narrow street are some 1-story homes.

What is the plan to protect residents of these homes and 2-story apartment buildings from being overwhelmed by the bulk and 85-foot height of the proposed development? And to protect their privacy? Matadero Creek
I estimate the creek is 200 feet if measured from the inner western edge of the proposed development, not 300 feet as stated in the staff report/packet. Just saying.

From: Linnea
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026 4:15:04 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Linnea Wickstrom and I live in Monroe Park.

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Linnea Wickstrom
Sent from my iPhone
From: Amie Ashton
To: Council, City
Subject: Support for 3606 ECR!
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026 12:08:29 AM
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Mayor Veenker and Honorable City Council,
I write in support of the project at 3606 El Camino Real. We need more modern and well- equiped (AC, washing machines, energy efficient appliances, proper insulation, etc.) housing units in our city at all income levels.

This project will bring hundreds of larger family-sized units close to local jobs, schools, shopping, and restaurants. It will decrease our jobs/housing ratio, providing workers an opportunity to live near their jobs, mode-shift out of cars, and reduce traffic, noise, and climate/air quality impacts. This is a great project for our city in a a great place - the innovative, Council-created El Camino Real Housing Focus Area! Please encourage the applicant to provide adequate and ample bike parking. The #1 transportation-related issue I hear from renters is that there is a real lack of space to securely park bikes, especially e-bikes. Further, bike rooms need to provide power outlets (many of them) to charge e-bikes as more and more families and individuals move to a car-light lifestyle. This is something our city should do everything to support! Please approve this project without delay so we can bring these housing units online as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Amie Ashton
From: Hayden Kantor
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: build more housing in Palo Alto! Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026 1:02:18 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
I am a Palo Alto resident, who lives about half a mile from the proposed project, 3606 El Camino Real. I urge you to approve it without any modifications or delay.

This stretch of El Camino is heavily blighted. It should be a vibrant neighborhood filled with family-friendly apartments, walkable businesses (the new residents will be new customers), bike infrastructure, and transit.

Regarding this project and also the proposed housing in the San Antonio area, I do not support any height limits. I do not support the City Council or the Architectural or Planning Committee meddling with the aesthetics.

I know you are hearing from residents who live nearby with lots of concerns or quibbles. Well, I am a resident who also lives nearby who will be thrilled to see these apartments constructed.

We have to do do what is best for entire city. New housing will bring in new tax dollars, new customers for businesses, and lower housing costs.

There is substantial evidence that the policy of IZ (Inclusionary Zoning) has not worked and indeed functions as a tax of new housing, so I do not support maintaining these requirements any further. Let's remove requirements and unleash new housing to make our community more vibrant.

Thank you,
Hayden Kantor
2500 Columbia St Unit 107
Palo Alto
From: Tyler Osgood
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: Public Comment
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026 1:37:51 PM
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Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Tyler Osgood and I live on Hawthorne Ave. Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward.

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community!
Tyler Osgood
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From: Kirsten Flynn
To: Council, City
Subject: 321 unit 3606 El Camino project
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026 2:45:07 PM
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Honorable City Council Members,
I am writing as an involved life-time citizen of Palo Alto, one who has served the citizens of this city as a PTA president, Mayors Green Ribbon Task Force member, and a member of the Ventura Neighborhood CAC Committee. I currently live in the Ventura Neighborhood.

I am writing to support the PTC concerns on the safety of the project planned for 3606 El Camino Real, and thus their concerns about the merger of these parcels.

My concern are entirely around the safe routes to school program. I also have volunteered on the Safe Routes to School committee, and we MUST protect any hard won, incremental, progress we have make to safeguard this system of streets. Matadero is a safe route to school street. With the increased bicycle infrastructure on El Camino, this network becomes even more important for ALL bicyclists, recreational, student and transportation.

Additionally I am fully supportive of increased density in my neighborhood, even as 7 stories seems excessive. I look forward to welcoming new neighbors. This is because:

Even at 13% this apartment project would yield 40 affordable units.

The rest of the units would help our tremendous housing shortage, helping to balance out our jobs/housing imbalance.

Because of the cost of housing in Palo Alto, we are becoming a geriatric city (with myself as one example) This contributes to low enrollment in local schools.

Retail thrives on density, and this number of units will be a shot in the arm to local retail. Our local businesses deserve to thrive- Celias, Di Sichuan, Indo, Thai Bistro, even Green Mail, are doing a great job.

My preferences are that the City Council do what it can, within Builder’s remedy to:

Make the Safe Route To School safer, with a path past the project, for pedestrians, bicyclists and cars.

Limit height to 6 stories.

Ask that the percentage of affordable units be increased to 20% This message needs your attention
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Also, in the future, please consider ramming through some dense projects that affect Midtown, Old Palo Alto, Professorville, and Downtown. The neighborhoods in South West Palo are not the only locations ripe for re-development.

Best regards,
Kirsten Flynn
From: Alexandra Konings
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8: please approve 3606 El Camino Real Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026 3:32:02 PM
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Hello Palo Alto city council,
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward. We should not be exposing the city to legislation by rejection proposals that are protected by state law. Furthermore, having so many new homes nearby will help the Cal Ave businesses continue to thrive.

Thank you
Alexandra Konings
Homeowner in College Terrace
From: Daniel Stein
To: Council, City
Subject: Agenda Item 8
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026 4:10:57 PM
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Hello Palo Alto City Council, my name is Daniel.

Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Daniel Stein
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Palo Alto City CouncilApril 13, 2026

Palo Alto City Council
April 13, 2026