From: Jack Farrell
To: Council, City
Subject: Public Comment 5/11/26 Council Meeting
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026 7:13:13 AM
Attachments: 3781 El Camino Real suport lette 5_11_26.docx.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.
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Good morning,
Please find attached YIMBY Law's correspondence regarding Monday's meeting of the council, specifically item 7, 3781 El Camino Real.
Sincerely,
Jack Farrell he/him
Research Attorney
267-218-1147
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YIMBY Law
2261 Market Street STE 10416
San Francisco, CA 94114
[email protected]
1 05/07 /2026
City of Palo Alto
City Council
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Re: 3781 El Camino Real [24PLN-00161]
Dear City Council of Palo Alto,
YIMBY Law is a 501( c)3 non-profit corporation, whose mission is to increase the accessibility and affordability of housing in California. YIMBY Law sues municipalities when they fail to comply with state housing laws, including the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (SB- 330). This Council has an obligation to abide by all relevant state housing laws when evaluating the above captioned proposal, including the HAA.
When complete, the proposed development at 3781 El Camino Real will include 183 units of housing, including 23 reserved for low-income residents. We join staff’s recommendation in urging this Council to follow California law by recognizing its valid AB 130 exemption from CEQA review and approving all necessary entitlements.
As your staff have already informed you, denials of Builder’s Remedy projects are limited to circumstances where the hearing body can cite specific, adverse impacts based on prewritten health and safety standards. It may not be denied based on inconsistency with Zoning designations or the Comprehensive Plan, and is subject only to ordinances or standards in place when its SB 330 pre-application was submitted. Under AB 130, Palo Alto must determine its exemption status by May 26, 2026, or it will be deemed approved.
The SB 330 pre-application vested on February 15, 2024. Palo Alto’s Housing Element was not certified as substantially compliant until August 20, 2024. The Project proposal is consistent with the provisions of the Builders’ Remedy; therefore, you must approve the application, or else make findings to the effect that the proposed project would have an adverse impact on public health and safety, as described above.
YIMBY Law, 2261 Market Street STE 10416, San Francisco, CA 94114 1 YIMBY Law
2261 Market Street STE 10416
San Francisco, CA 94114
[email protected]
2 Should Palo Alto fail to comply with the law, YIMBY Law will not hesitate to take legal action to ensure that the law is enforced. I am signing this letter both in my capacity as the Executive Director of YIMBY Law, and as a resident of California who is affected by the shortage of housing in our state.
Sincerely,
Sonja Trauss
Executive Director
YIMBY Law
YIMBY Law, 2261 Market Street STE 10416, San Francisco, CA 94114 2