Planning & Transportation Commission - March 12, 2025

Commission delays recommendation on 660 University project

The Planning & Transportation Commission voted 4-2 to continue its review of a proposed six-story mixed-use redevelopment at 660 University Ave., making no recommendation to the City Council. The proposal includes 66 rental homes, including 14 below-market-rate units and three units for extremely low-income households, approximately 9,000 square feet of office space and 78 parking stalls. Bryna Chang, Allen Akin, Kevin Ji and Doria Summa supported the continuance; Bart Hechtman and Forest Peterson opposed it.

Staff had recommended that the commission support a Comprehensive Plan amendment, planned community and planned home zoning, and a Record of Land Use Action. Staff also said the final environmental impact report found no new significant impacts. Commissioners supporting further review sought a separate analysis of the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment, which would allow existing commercial uses in certain multifamily residential areas to remain through a planned community process. They requested a map and more information about other areas that could be affected.

The commission also requested engineering analysis and consideration of an easement for the 24-foot special setback along Middlefield Road. The project's underground garage would extend beneath that setback, prompting concern that it could constrain future transit, bicycle, traffic-signal, utility or other multimodal improvements. The applicant indicated a willingness to explore garage adjustments to preserve capacity for future infrastructure.

Other requested follow-up includes consideration of tying unbundled monthly parking charges to residential preferential parking permit costs, clarification of whether a 25% nonresidential threshold is a FEMA building requirement or an insurance-related condition, additional protection for the adjacent coast live oak and bird-friendly glass on the sixth floor and balconies. Hechtman and Peterson favored advancing the current proposal, with Hechtman cautioning that a pending 88-unit builder's remedy application could produce a less favorable outcome. No return date was set; the continued hearing will require 20 days of notice.

Commission moves El Camino Real ordinance review to March 26

The commission voted 6-0-1 to continue consideration of proposed El Camino Real Focus Area zoning amendments until March 26. The proposed ordinance would amend Chapter 18.14 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to implement Housing Element Program 3.4E. The commission did not make a recommendation on the ordinance at the March 12 meeting.

Group speakers gain up to 15 minutes under revised rules

The commission unanimously revised its procedural rules to provide five minutes for each speaker on agendized and non-agendized matters, with the chair authorized to reduce the limit to two minutes. A spokesperson representing a group of five or more may receive as much as 15 minutes, which the chair may reduce to 10 minutes.

A second unanimous action allows requests to speak until five minutes after the end of an applicant presentation. Commissioners considered reducing applicant presentation time from 15 minutes to 10 minutes, but the adopted changes did not alter that limit.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting packet