City project
660 University
Development application at 660 University that also remains a major ARB and zoning-change matter.
- Current status
- Under Architectural Review Board consideration; no recommendation or vote occurred before the chunk ended.
- Location
- 511 Byron Street, 660 University Avenue, 680 University Avenue, 500 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA
November 10, 2025 Council Action
City Council approved the project with modifications, restoring a 70-unit design with balconies while retaining other Planning & Transportation Commission recommendations.
Read related coverageNovember 10, 2025 public comment
Public comment addressed support for advancing the housing proposal and objections concerning traffic, parking, loading access, construction, preservation of an oak tree, and project review.
Read related coverageOctober 8, 2025: Public comment and loading-access clarification
Public comment addressed affordability, parking, traffic, setbacks, loading, and site design. The applicant stated that the proposal contains 70 units, 20% affordable housing, and a requested 13% parking reduction. In response to a commissioner question, the applicant described a possible curb cut to access a 13-foot on-site area from Byron Street for passenger pickup, move-in activity, and limited loading; taller vehicles would not fit beneath the covered area.
Read related coverageAugust 21, 2025 redesign review
Staff described a redesign following Planning and Transportation Commission feedback: 70 residential units, 1,894 square feet of office space, 78 underground parking spaces, and a building area of 68,738 square feet. The redesign moved office use from the sixth floor to the ground floor, reduced height by about four feet, and increased balconies near neighboring properties and the oak tree.
Read related coverageApril 30, 2025 postponement
Staff reported that the item had been postponed at the applicant's request to allow additional redesign.
Read related coverageApril 9, 2025 status update
Staff said the matter will be renoticed and return to the commission with information on the flood zone, underground encroachments into the special setback, and the comprehensive-plan proposal.
Read related coverageMarch 12, 2025 Planning & Transportation Commission Continuance
The Commission continued consideration to obtain further information on the Comprehensive Plan amendment, FEMA-related flood-zone requirements, parking pricing, the Middlefield Road special setback and future multimodal infrastructure, tree protection, and bird-friendly glazing.
Read related coverageDecember 5, 2024 ARB recommendation on revised design
The ARB considered a revised design that increased the building from four to six stories, added three residential units, maintained a 24-foot above-grade Middlefield Road setback, and relocated office space to the sixth floor to meet flood-related nonresidential-area requirements for below-grade parking.
Read related coverageSeptember 19, 2024 Builder Remedy status update
Staff reported that the site has a Builder Remedy application in addition to its existing major ARB and zoning-change matter.
Read related coverage
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