May 11, 2026 www.paloalto.gov
3781 El Camino Real
(Builder’s Remedy)
City Council
Presenter:
Steven Switzer, Senior Planner
Zoning:
(CN) Neighborhood Commercial
(RM-30) Medium Density Multiple-
Family Residence District
Adjacent Land Uses:
• Commercial
• Residential
PROJECT LOCATION
1 PROJECT OVERVIEW
• Demo 10,100 sf of commercial space across four (4) parcels • Demo 14 residential units
• Construct multi-family residential rental project with 183 units • Seven (7) stories high (83 feet tall)
• Unit Mix:
• Studio (24 Units)
• 1 Bedroom (100 units)
• 2 Bedrooms (45 units)
• 3 Bedrooms (14 Units)
• 23 BMR units (>13% minimum), Affordable to 50-80% AMI • 215 parking spaces (183 EV) (36 Tandem)
• 144 long term bike spaces
• Lot Merger (Merging four parcels)
2 February 15, 2024 Senate Bill (SB) 330 pre-application submitted (24PLN-00048) June 10, 2024 Major ARB application submitted (24PLN-00161) September 22, 2025 Applicant requested consideration under Assembly Bill (AB) 130 (Public Resources Code Section 21080.66)
January 15, 2026 ARB (Recommended Approval 3-0)
May 11, 2026 City Council
BACKGROUND
3 • Recommended Approval (3-0) and that City Council consider the following conditions of approval:
• Add third elevator to the northeast wing of the structure. • Add door to the parking garage from the bike room.*
• Add an off-street loading space.
• Improve the parking garage screening to neighbors.*
• Recess the entrance along El Camino Real to ensure an 8 -foot clearance when doors are open.*
• Expand 3rd-floor balconies, where possible.*
• Streamline balcony materials to reduce transparency.* • Reduce the visual massing of the structure
• Provide detailed courtyard sections explaining the spa and plantings. *Items in bold were incorporated into the design.
BACKGROUND (January 15, 2026 – ARB Recommendation)
4 STATE LAW CONSTRAINTS
• “Builder’s Remedy” project as defined in Assembly Bill (AB) 1893.
• The project may not be denied based on inconsistency with the Zoning Ordinance or Comprehensive Plan land use.
• The project could be denied on finding a specific adverse impact on public health or safety that cannot be mitigated or avoided. • The City may only require compliance with objective standards that would apply to the project if it were proposed on a site that allows the density requested.
• This project, with a proposed 3.22:1 overall FAR and 152 du/ac density, would be permitted in the El Camino Real Focus Area. 5 • State Density Bonus Law allows the applicant waivers and/or concessions from applicable standards.
• AB 130 exempts infill housing projects from CEQA and sets strict timelines for City review and decision.
• (Informational Purposes only) Conformance with:
• El Camino Real Focus Area Development Standards
• Objective Design Standards
• El Camino Real Design Guidelines
STATE LAW CONSTRAINTS
6 CEQA STATUS
Exempt Pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB) 130 (Public Resources Code Section 21080.66).
• Statutory Exemption
• Permanent five (5) hearing limit on housing projects
• Sets timelines for Tribal Consultation
(60 days or 135 days)
• 30 days to approve/disapprove projects after Tribal
Consultation
7 RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends that City Council:
1. Consider the project exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 130 (Public Resources Code Section 21080.66); and
2. Approve the Major Architectural Review applications based on findings and subject to conditions of approval in the Draft Record of Land Use Action (RLUA) in Attachment B.
8 STEVEN SWITZER
Senior Planner
[email protected]
650-329-2321
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