Planning & Transportation Commission - September 11, 2024

Commission sends 10-unit Encina plan to architectural review

The Planning & Transportation Commission voted 7-0 to send the conceptual Planned Home Zone proposal for 70 Encina Avenue to the Architectural Review Board for further design work. Staff said the project would return to the commission after architectural review and before the commission makes a recommendation to the City Council.

The proposal would replace surface parking on two contiguous parcels with a three-story condominium development containing 10 homes, including two below-market-rate units. Commissioners supported considering housing at the site because of its proximity to services, transit and bicycle facilities, but said the design needed substantial refinement.

Staff identified requested exceptions including a floor area ratio of 1.86, compared with 1.25 otherwise allowed for the housing-inventory site; 58% lot coverage, compared with 50% otherwise allowed; and a three-inch rear setback, compared with 10 feet otherwise required. Commissioners called for greater setbacks, more landscaping and trees, additional usable open space and improvements to the central courtyard.

Commissioners and staff also opposed proposed Encina Avenue bulb-outs that would accommodate utilities and street trees but remove street parking. Commissioners said the bulb-outs could interfere with bicycle connectivity and should not be used to support vehicle queuing at the project's gate. Further review will also address bicycle parking, trash collection, fire access and questions about whether the below-market-rate units and their parking are equivalent to the market-rate units.

Public comment was mixed. Representatives of Town & Country Shopping Center interests raised concerns about delivery and refuse noise, parking overflow, buffering and architectural compatibility. A representative of the landowners supported housing on the underused parking site, citing nearby transit and services and the inclusion of below-market-rate homes.

Caltrans begins El Camino Real repaving

Caltrans began repaving El Camino Real during the week of the meeting, starting between the Menlo Park city limits and Stanford Avenue, city staff reported. The initial segment was expected to take up to two weeks before work moved south.

Staff could not confirm the detailed scope or timing of later work, including a reported fall 2025 timeline and final striping plans. Parking restrictions and whether parking could be temporarily restored during construction also remained unresolved. Staff said it would provide additional details, while commissioners requested continuing milestone updates and noted that weather could affect schedule estimates.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting packet