City project
San Antonio Road Area Plan
Area-planning effort for the San Antonio Road area.
- Current status
- Advisory-group process underway
- Location
- San Antonio Road area
August 19, 2026: Housing-capacity update
The area includes 53 Housing Element sites with capacity for 1,559 units, including 614 lower-income units. Policy and zoning alternatives were described as potentially supporting 3,800 to 7,400 units at full buildout.
Read related coverageJune 8, 2026 City Council direction
Staff reported that City Council discussed the plan on June 8, 2026 and recommended additional studies for the core scenario developed from its study session.
Read related coverageJune 8, 2026: Core scenario endorsed and Phase 3 analysis authorized
Council endorsed the core scenario as the basis for further analysis and authorized the transportation work plan. The adopted direction includes analysis of jobs-to-jobs commercial replacement alongside square-footage-based scenarios.
Read related coverageJune 1, 2026 SB 79 planning discussion
Staff stated the plan would incorporate recommendations related to SB 79.
Read related coverageMay 27, 2026 Prohousing application discussion
Commissioners asked whether the draft application's preliminary capacity range of 3,800 to 7,400 units would bind the City. Staff said the figures were clearly proposed and could be adjusted later.
Read related coverageApril 6, 2026 study-session update
Staff opened a study session seeking feedback to narrow land-use and mobility alternatives. Staff anticipated returning in June 2026 for decisions on alternatives, before the end of 2026 with policy recommendations and plan-design analysis, and in the first half of 2028 for final plan consideration and adoption.
Read related coverageMarch 25, 2026 land use and transportation alternatives study session
Staff presented plan alternatives and requested feedback on plan direction, subarea classifications, residential density and height tiers, location-based height variation, and office/R&D scenarios in the CTI area. Staff expects policy development after Phase 2, further hearings near the end of 2026, environmental review and draft-plan finalization in 2027, and adoption in the first half of 2028. Staff sought high-level feedback on land use, parks, ground-floor retail, and mobility alternatives. The planning horizon is 20 to 25 years; Council is expected to vote on principal alternatives in June, followed by development of detailed policies and zoning for Commission review in the fall. Commissioners provided initial feedback on subarea boundaries, residential density and height, office redevelopment, parks, retail, and mobility. Staff said high-rise residential development is currently more expensive than 60- or 90-foot construction and that residential development between 90 and 160 feet generally lacks sufficient return on investment; office economics differ. Commissioners discussed park sizing and acquisition, development height and density-bonus exposure, retail concentration, and separated walking and biking facilities. Commissioners continued providing feedback on development intensity, retail, parks, pedestrian connections, parking, transit access, and street design alternatives. Commissioners discussed subarea land-use, height, park, and mobility alternatives, including phased bicycle improvements. Commissioners discussed station access, coordination with Mountain View, CTI retail and office uses, roadway design, and possible transportation effects of US 101 improvements. Staff said future work would provide more detail on appropriate CTI street sections.
Read related coverageMarch 24, 2026: Parks and Recreation Commission feedback on outdoor-space alternatives
Staff presented outdoor-space and mobility alternatives, including potential neighborhood parks, mini parks, pedestrian and bicycle connections, and strategies for the CTI area and the Fabian Way/Maxar site. The Commission emphasized sufficient, usable, accessible parkland and safe connections.
Read related coverageMarch 19, 2026: Architectural Review Board study-session feedback
The Board discussed land-use, height, open-space, retail, parking, connectivity, and mobility alternatives. Feedback emphasized protected bicycle facilities, connected public open spaces, context-sensitive height transitions, and flexible but coordinated redevelopment standards.
Read related coverageMarch 17, 2026 land use and transportation alternatives study session
Staff presented preliminary land-use and mobility alternatives, including potential housing, parks, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, transit access, and intersection improvements. Feedback from commissions and the public will inform an April 6 City Council study session; subsequent Council decisions are currently scheduled for June. Staff expects to return later in 2026 for policy discussion and intends to complete the plan in early 2028. Commission discussion addressed housing affordability, transportation and school access, displacement, coordination with Mountain View, and environmental risks. Staff said a future CEQA review would assess environmental impacts and mitigation.
Read related coverageMarch 25, 2026 planned study session
Staff reported that the commission would discuss alternatives and provide input for Council consideration at its next meeting. Staff reported that the upcoming study sessions would consider components of alternatives and provide input for City Council consideration.
Read related coverageFebruary 25, 2026: Public-engagement update
A community survey is online through March 29, and a community workshop is scheduled for March 5 at 6:00 p.m. at JCC Palo Alto on Fabian Way.
Read related coverageFebruary 11, 2026: Study session anticipated
Staff said the plan was expected to return for a study session, followed by discussion of the retail revitalization ordinance that evening.
Read related coverageJanuary 24, 2026: Listed as a preliminary 2026 objective
Staff included land-use and transportation alternatives for the area among preliminary 2026 objectives.
Read related coverageJanuary 12, 2026 update
Staff reported that work had begun and multiple meetings were scheduled during the quarter.
Read related coverageOctober 22, 2025 coordination discussion with SB 79
Staff said the ongoing plan should continue and that SB 79 analysis could be incorporated when a final plan later returns to Council.
Read related coverageOctober 6, 2025: Study-session introduction
Planning staff and the consultant team began the study-session presentation. Staff presented the Existing Conditions Assessment and received preliminary council feedback on land-use and mobility priorities. Staff anticipated bringing land-use and mobility alternatives forward in winter, selecting a preferred alternative by June 2026, then completing environmental review and the plan by 2028.
Read related coverageSeptember 18, 2025: Existing Conditions Analysis Feedback
The Architectural Review Board reviewed the existing-conditions summary and provided preliminary feedback on redevelopment potential, housing intensity, industrial displacement, open space, retail, infrastructure, and multimodal circulation.
Read related coverageSeptember 10, 2025 Planning & Transportation Commission feedback
The Commission reviewed the existing-conditions summary and gave preliminary feedback emphasizing safety, traffic operations, climate resilience, affordable housing, business retention, open space, and coordination with Mountain View.
Read related coverageAugust 21, 2025 advisory-group update
The advisory group held its first community meeting, introducing members and identifying initial issues and opportunities. The stated timeline is three years with six meetings total; an Architectural Review Board presentation is anticipated in September.
Read related coverageAugust 18, 2025 public-engagement update
Staff announced an August 19, 2025 community advisory group meeting, an online survey, and an October 23, 2025 community workshop.
Read related coverageJuly 30, 2025: Upcoming initial Commission discussion
Staff gave advance notice that the Commission would receive an initial-work, outreach, and next-steps discussion on September 10, 2025.
Read related coverageJuly 22, 2025 progress report
Staff reported that a community advisory group and technical advisory group have been established. The commission chair is to represent the commission on the community advisory group; the first meeting was scheduled for August 19, 2025.
Read related coverageJuly 9, 2025 commissioner announcement
A commissioner announced plans to participate and report back after the first meeting.
Read related coverageMay 19, 2025 update
Staff said prior Housing Element zoning intentionally did not extend further changes in this area in order not to get ahead of the pending plan. Staff said right-of-way needs, including possible open space, bike lanes, bus lanes, and other multimodal improvements, require further study.
Read related coverageMay 5, 2025 advisory-group recruitment update
The City Manager announced recruitment for a community advisory group; volunteer applications are due May 30, 2025.
Read related coverageApril 17, 2025: ARB availability for area-plan review
Staff identified the area plan as an active City Council priority to which the Board would provide advice when needed.
Read related coverage2025 proposed milestones
Staff identified a council contract and community advisory committee in Q2, followed by community outreach and engagement through Q3.
Read related coverageMarch 12, 2025 update
Staff reported that City Council approved the consultant contract to begin work on March 10, 2025, and that a kickoff meeting would occur soon. Staff reported that City Council approved the consultant contract to begin work on the plan.
Read related coverageJanuary 25, 2025: Initial priority discussion
Members emphasized urgency to complete planning before additional development is built and discussed the need for coherent infrastructure and public-space planning.
Read related coverageJanuary 16, 2025 update
Staff said a consultant contract was expected to go to Council within the next couple of months to begin assembling project components.
Read related coverageOctober 21, 2024 update
Staff said it was informing applicants of the planned area process and anticipated returning for consultant selection in January or February 2025. Staff described a two-year schedule as ambitious.
Read related coverage
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