[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6534691,"mediaKeyId","3527138-c4baf14f95ffc6938abc83ba1ee04f1b","parentId",3527138,"title","Palo Alto council holds interviews for Architectural Review Board candidates; appointments set for June 2","audioSeconds",3691,"startMs",234000,"endMs",3925000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527138-c4baf14f95ffc6938abc83ba1ee04f1b&start=234&end=3925","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527138-c4baf14f95ffc6938abc83ba1ee04f1b/thumbnail_234000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6534691/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-council-holds-interviews-for-Architectural-Review-Board-candidates-appointments-set-for-June-2","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534691-191f54d3aabf3e1265b688fbc62d0fdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775407411&Signature=ZvUL74WPPOLvGsKKCXjUktIawLt8iCVrTyjQXSShJCensmtLDDFoL0rQTsW8uew15-vTdZOBmitatGF1kIG9QSWhiYx1C3Wpcp4uyExI656rPunXDRnQk9MlyHdOE7nk-dtB8tgO5Pwq5muOqMptYEk42qHgNTs5WNEOYoWGQ7nF1xgr7~xrqEfzy3PQ2NCmxNwbdQOfODBMzRE2f46qad2zN9pfhs9ugSCNZc1aB6zsuwy5FYGb407fq-iUfxx8-nJb1OuSf6j2poQZWzo3YgergShySKBA2Vcp78tLRJkieUGsLktWRO9Is7yRZO~z1M0GlgZKRBW-DYw~vIuPww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Palo Alto City","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","PALO ALTO — The City Council conducted interviews Tuesday for candidates seeking appointment to the Architectural Review Board (ARB), hearing eight applications in the extended recruitment for three seats expiring March 31, 2028.

Procedural note: The clerk said eight candidates had been invited to interview; six attended. \"Our first candidate, Matthew Kelly, unfortunately, had reached out to staff to officially withdraw his application,\" the city clerk said at the start of the item. Staff also noted city appointments are scheduled for the June 2 council meeting.

Who spoke: Candidates who gave opening statements and answered questions included Martin Jodrick (local design‑build practitioner and founder of Mindframing), Ashutosh Gupta (licensed architect with experience in sustainable design), Caitlin Putt (resident with a technical and MBA background), Navin Govind (architect/urban designer with public‑sector experience), Bai Shu (licensed architect with large‑project entitlement experience), and Grace Lee (architect/landscape designer and former ARB member). Several council members asked questions about contextual design, public engagement and balancing development with neighborhood character.

Themes from interviews: Candidates emphasized a mix of technical experience and community perspective. Martin Jodrick said ARB could \"do more to publicize the reasons for their decisions\" and help define what \"craftsmanship\" means in Palo Alto. Ashutosh Gupta stressed human‑scale design and outdoor spaces on transit corridors. Several candidates described working with multiple jurisdictions and the value of streamlining objective design standards to reduce friction in permitting.

Next steps: Appointments are scheduled for the June 2 City Council meeting; council will consider public comment and the clerk's report in making final appointments.

Ending: The council thanked candidates and staff and noted that final ARB appointments will take place at the June 2 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council interviewed six candidates for three open seats on the Architectural Review Board and heard a clerk report that one applicant withdrew. Final appointments were scheduled for the June 2 council meeting.","taxTitle","Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California","taxId",3867,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6534695,"Palo Alto council votes unanimously to join San Francisco lawsuit challenging federal immigration directives",48,9211000,9259000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527138-c4baf14f95ffc6938abc83ba1ee04f1b&start=9211&end=9259","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527138-c4baf14f95ffc6938abc83ba1ee04f1b/thumbnail_9211000.jpg","/articles/6534695/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-council-votes-unanimously-to-join-San-Francisco-lawsuit-challenging-federal-immigration-directives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534695-7aadde759403e4376b5a09d221cd2e16/orig.mp4?Expires=1775407411&Signature=FX~bJ6MyRQnGfxaOeP5SMhTujyDH52HjrE2CkPsFW4kYUvzS2Ecff-mzxPC6oLRshPzqgPJicz4cp863ziG4giIhWdnkiKf1a3U1HWnwqJdTUGZ9WsCEbFlw~ZJqBDjrUJ5MbGc-a82VHNXYl8NMdcR~4SFoaWx8gLLFP-7FooEyth52~JXIW48rtf3cPNB6MhbyxVmhV0TeMHT5gZHhcw6FcP~6dDUxcGEQw98GUn19sua4kiQ0eOJrq4gorWk~B5I~v8RYEXJUSvpAD12zJGiGEmYiPHUh6Kx72AqmFg~QZ-obgsa55eMhedeoOcmV0pY22y7JFL9k9ZTh1-o7xA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PALO ALTO — After returning from a closed session on Tuesday evening, the Palo Alto City Council announced it had directed the city attorney to take the necessary steps to join the City and County of San Francisco in a federal lawsuit challenging recent federal executive orders and administrative directives relating to immigration enforcement.

Mayor Loughing reported the council's direction to join the litigation, naming the case as City and County of San Francisco v. Trump, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, case number 25‑cv‑1350. \"This challenges federal executive orders and administrative directives that threaten to withhold federal funds and initiate enforcement action against state and local government entities,\" the mayor said. The council characterized the action as taken \"in compliance with the California Values Act.\"

The vote was unanimous, 7–0. Council members did not elaborate on the timetable for joining the litigation or the exact procedural steps for filing the City's notice of intervention or related pleading, but staff said the direction authorizes the city attorney to proceed.","After closed session, the City Council directed the city attorney to join City and County of San Francisco's litigation challenging federal directives that threaten to withhold funds from jurisdictions limiting local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Vote was 7–0.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6534700,"Council sends Palo Alto Commons expansion back to planning commission after neighbors raise concerns",4147,10671000,14818000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527138-c4baf14f95ffc6938abc83ba1ee04f1b&start=10671&end=14818","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527138-c4baf14f95ffc6938abc83ba1ee04f1b/thumbnail_10671000.jpg","/articles/6534700/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Council-sends-Palo-Alto-Commons-expansion-back-to-planning-commission-after-neighbors-raise-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534700-a7c24e215b12cd367604b7997852ea04/orig.mp4?Expires=1775407411&Signature=HIn3-Mid9IE4yF~QOeuo4SNXH7g4eGOVHYu395ul0G1r4upkbqd~8hvgjw6d45jnQf~aPRanHPfAsDr--biUZr92GKPWpwssST-Z-PzxHlVYw3rXDtgG3qbbTZUtAjYGxKYoiwQB1bNo6BnDuj7Na1teisuIyWOGCRYTwN49DN6Cirx5B-IBeDjPSREd7wangDTrPOkcUVAUsTrmyzY~6B4H1EjMMzQcKEhuVqxDyxSJnWSfhpzKV1lJcq0QhXqfoC1Un0bHi5ftKcxTZDdmAGiesxcxLlEpOxDuebK6wF7-MhJ3EzlH57uLpRHPuc5BsCHDo~UQ3Zb5j5PT6ucphQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PALO ALTO — The City Council on Tuesday voted 4–3 to send a contested planned-community amendment for Palo Alto Commons (4075 El Camino Way) back to the Planning & Transportation Commission for further design review, after months of neighbor complaints about parking, privacy and daylighting.

The substitute motion, carried by a 4–3 roll call, directs staff and the applicant to develop revised plans that would reduce or relocate third‑floor additions that face homes on Wilkie Way and to study options for projects in the 11–13 unit range that remove the most impactful upper‑floor units facing the rear yards. \"The intent would be the ones that are closer, whatever that means…those would be removed,\" Council member Burt said during debate.

Why it matters: The project would add new assisted‑living/medical units to an existing campus. Neighbors and council members said the central issues are long‑running: on‑site parking has not matched prior expectations; staff said a prior TDM (transportation demand management) plan was not fully implemented and the applicant has since proposed a new TDM targeting at least a 20% reduction in peak‑hour vehicle trips through incentives. Neighbors said cars continue to spill onto Wilkie Way.

Key facts and actions
- The council reviewed a staff recommendation that supported the applicant's proposed 16 additional units but rejected the Planning & Transportation Commission's recommendation to limit the addition to seven rear‑facing units. After debate, Council member Burt moved a substitute to return the proposal to PTC for designs with 11–13 units that reduce third‑floor impacts; the motion carried 4–3.
- The substitute motion was seconded and then passed on a roll call (yes votes: Council members Lythcott Haines, Venker, Liu and Burt; no votes: Rechdal, Stone, Mayor Loughing). The clerk recorded the result as \"Motion carries 4 to 3.\"

TDM and parking enforcement: Staff and council discussed that a new TDM plan dated January promises a 20% weekday peak‑hour trip reduction via carpool incentives and transit subsidies, and that the city has improved internal tracking of TDM conditions through its land‑use database (Accela). Director Laid said staff will set a calendaring tickler so annual TDM monitoring required by the PC can actually be pursued. \"We have more improved TDM monitoring programs now…we'll be able to ensure that,\" a staff member said during council discussion.

Neighborhood trust and compliance: Several council members cited long‑standing trust issues between neighbors and the applicant. Neighbors presented photographs showing a temporary orange bollard blocking a disabled parking space at the front of the site; applicant representatives explained the cone was used during short maintenance or loading operations and said they have instituted daily checks and staff education to prevent that practice going forward.

Design alternatives: A number of council members expressed support for a compromise between the applicant and neighbors. Several suggested an alternative that would remove the third‑floor units closest to Wilkie Way and preserve more of the units facing El Camino Real or other interior lots — a configuration the applicant said might be economically feasible in a larger set of units (an on‑the‑fly option from the floor proposed 13 units; staff said an immediate redesign would need new plans and could take several months).

Next steps: The council's substitute motion sends the project back to PTC for review of revised plans in the 11–13 unit range that reduce impacts on adjacent backyards. Staff said a return could take two to three months for commission review and then additional time to return to council, depending on when complete plans are submitted.

Ending: Council members stressed that a revised plan must include enforceable TDM measures and reporting requirements and suggested the city consider stronger self‑certification and penalties if conditions of approval are not met. \"I would like to see a much tighter compliance, with monthly reporting…to ensure whatever is agreed to is actually adhered to,\" Council member Lythcott Haines said.","City Council voted 4–3 to refer a proposed expansion of Palo Alto Commons back to the Planning & Transportation Commission for redesign options that would move new units away from Wilkie Way neighbors. The substitute motion asks staff and applicant to explore projects with 11–13 units that avoid upper-floor additions facing backyards.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6534705,"Palo Alto council approves updates to El Camino Real focus area, with changes and recusal votes",6315,15003000,21318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527138-c4baf14f95ffc6938abc83ba1ee04f1b&start=15003&end=21318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527138-c4baf14f95ffc6938abc83ba1ee04f1b/thumbnail_15003000.jpg","/articles/6534705/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-council-approves-updates-to-El-Camino-Real-focus-area-with-changes-and-recusal-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534705-818c876a926ab9c954082043ae2518d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775407411&Signature=Abf4vHUveo1UY0afC1x~kzzDwHwikUHmexkbJqTC7AUY9NnXEqcHXy4NR~TL615lTDnfeITL3J3O4euhk4s29mJNBtSFOdykitDIgsIk1KjcNeexz2B~k1xlNAbRq55O7NB6y8OieXhk0k74Stuo-tZWh78w7jAizGncMs8EjU0ZLOF-8NOLiRY-eEjmS7BPHOoexQONhiXAB9PyaNnGcsyPokeSZkFigypzWHbWUNrsGUzJu9-3A8mf2MWZtWxfVibbRtbl4VNSYpTuTGeg2gXL~r2tuj80aoNLk8r0F2yJkPkH-z9abmRosnXflddmAJ9uQNlCBLNuKLq0f9ELMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PALO ALTO — The Palo Alto City Council on Tuesday approved revisions to the El Camino Real housing focus-area zoning that raise maximum allowable density and change several development standards, saying the updates are designed to speed housing production near transit.

The council voted 5–0 (Council members Venker and Lowing recused) to adopt staff recommendations with several amendments, including direction to staff to study and reduce a 50-foot special setback on Hansen Way to about 20 feet, allowance for certain below-grade parking encroachments subject to environmental and utility constraints, and language directing staff to return with provisions to allow hotel development in the focus area at heights comparable to housing. \"The proposal is
to expand the focus area, to make some changes to development regulations, and then update the affordable housing requirements based on some changes in state law,\" said Jean Isberg, Lexington Planning consultant, while presenting the draft ordinance to council.

Why it matters: The focus-area rules were created to steer higher-density housing to El Camino Real, a major transit corridor. Staff described the changes as intended to encourage lot consolidation, make projects more feasible and align city rules with recent state housing laws. The housing element program that created the focus area anticipated later refinements; council action Tuesday folded several of those refinements into the municipal code.

What the ordinance does: Under the draft ordinance, qualifying sites can seek higher floor-area ratios (up to four FAR) and increased height (up to 85 feet) in exchange for on-site affordability and objective design standards that speed technical review. The ordinance also standardizes how upper-story massing and the daylight plane are measured, and exempts certain lower-income units from development impact fees when projects provide at least 20% lower-income units on site.

Debate and changes: The Planning and Transportation Commission had split on one key design control: a daylight plane standard. \"The PTC had a split motion, recommending either a 45-degree plane or a steeper 30-degree plane,\" Isberg told council. Staff recommended a 45-degree standard when the focus-area project borders single-family zones; several council members agreed that 30 degrees would be too restrictive for the corridor and could reduce housing yield.

Council members also directed staff to:
- Propose reducing the special Hansen Way setback to about 20 feet and return with transportation analysis and proposed ordinance language;
- Allow below-grade parking to encroach into interior setbacks in limited circumstances, subject to utility and environmental constraints; and
- Return with recommended code language to permit hotel uses in the focus area at comparable heights to residential projects, and to clarify FAR for mixed-use projects.

Public input: Developers and housing advocates spoke in support of the ordinance. \"These updates strike an important balance, offering developers the clarity and flexibility required to build feasible projects,\" said Mark Johnson of Acclaim, which is planning a large project on El Camino. Several neighborhood speakers urged caution on specific sites and urged protections for small businesses and walkable commercial blocks.

Process and timing: Staff said the ordinance is intended to implement Housing Element Program 3.4.e and to fold several pre‑screened parcels into the focus area. Council directed staff to include three additional tier‑2 parcels fronting El Camino Real in the ordinance map and to return with any needed refinements for parcels that abut single-family zoning. Passage of the ordinance as revised requires a four‑vote majority; the council approved the measure 5–0 with two members recused.

What's next: Staff will prepare final ordinance language, study the Hansen Way setback reduction with the Office of Transportation, and draft the code text to allow hotels within the focus-area rules. The ordinance will return for the second reading with the amendments included, and staff said they would bring back details on creek/open-space crediting and the mechanics of below-grade encroachments.

Ending: Supporters said the changes could unlock hundreds of infill housing units along El Camino Real, while critics urged careful attention to neighborhood transitions and to ensuring small, walkable commercial districts are preserved where appropriate.","City Council approved amendments to the El Camino Real focus-area zoning that raise allowable density and adjust development rules, with conditions including a reduced Hanson Way setback and direction to allow hotels under certain circumstances. The vote passed 5–0 with two council members recused.","actionData","errors"]

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Palo Alto council approves updates to El Camino Real focus area, with changes and recusal votes