Item No. 23. Page 1 of 2
City Council
Supplemental Report
From: Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director Meeting Date: June 15, 2026
Item Number: 23
Report #:2606-6465
TITLE
SECOND READING and Adoption of Temporary Ordinances Implementing Senate Bill (SB) 79, and Introduction and Adoption of Interim Urgency Ordinances Excluding Certain Historic Resource Sites and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Eligible Sites from Government Code Section 65912.157 and Authorizing Corresponding Zoning Map Updates. CEQA Status: Exempt Under Government Code Section 65912.160(c)(2).
RECOMMENDATION
This supplemental report transmits updated versions of attachments B and D for Council consideration.
ANALYSIS
This report transmits updated versions of attachments B and D, which incorporate an additional clarifying provision in the proposed Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Combining District regulations. This revision is intended to confirm that property may develop at the density and residential floor area required under state law. While staff believe the proposed standards are sufficient, the compressed timeline for development of the ordinance did not permit an exhaustive review of standards otherwise applicable in the underlying zoning or analysis of unusual site configurations.
To address the potential for unanticipated conflicts between the density and floor area required for the TOD Combining District and other applicable standards, staff have added the following clarifying language to proposed Section 18.14.070, subd. (a):
”(a) The purpose of the TOD Combining District is to implement Senate Bill 79 (2025), California Government Code sections 65912.155 through 65912.162. For purposes of this section, definitions in California Government Code section 65912.156 shall apply. It is the intention of the City Council that the TOD Combining District permit development in accordance with the development
Item No. 23. Page 2 of 2
standards set forth herein. Therefore, to the extent standards contained elsewhere in this Title 18 necessarily preclude development of the densities and residential floor areas required for a site within the TOD Combining District to qualify under Government Code section 65912.161, subd. (b)(1)(A), such standards shall be applied to allow for development on that site of the densities and residential floor areas set forth in subdivision (c).” This provision would permit the Director of Planning and Development Services, in consultation with the City Attorney, to respond to unanticipated situations without requiring immediate legislative action or jeopardizing the validity of the ordinance more broadly. Pursuant to Palo Alto Municipal Code section 2.04.270, subd. (c), because this amendment retains the general scope and original intention of the temporary ordinance introduced on June 1, 2026, a new first reading would not be required.
ATTACHMENTS
Supplemental Attachment A: Temporary Ordinance for SB 79 50 Percent Option (Attachment B) Supplemental Attachment B: Interim Urgency Ordinance for SB 79 50 Percent Option (Attachment D)
APPROVED BY:
Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director