Palo Alto City Council debates assisted living unit proposal amid community concerns

The City Council of Palo Alto convened on May 27, 2025, to discuss a proposed development project that has sparked considerable debate among council members and residents. The meeting focused on the feasibility of constructing a new assisted living facility, with particular attention to the number of units and their impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

The discussion began with a council member questioning the economic viability of building seven units compared to a larger proposal of 16 units. Staff clarified that the fixed costs associated with construction made the seven-unit plan financially unfeasible. In response, a council member proposed a compromise of 13 units, suggesting the removal of three units on the third floor that faced neighboring properties, which could help address privacy concerns.

Council members expressed varying opinions on the proposed 13-unit plan. Some supported the idea, noting it was closer to the original 16-unit proposal and could potentially meet the needs of the community. Others, however, expressed skepticism, emphasizing the importance of considering resident feedback and the need for further review by the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC).

Council member Lythcott Hames highlighted the need for compliance and transparency from the applicant, stressing the importance of addressing community concerns regarding daylight access and parking. The council also discussed the potential timeline for revisiting the proposal, with estimates suggesting that any revisions could take several months to return to the council for consideration.

Ultimately, a substitute motion was proposed to refer the project back to the PTC for further review, focusing on the possibility of 11 to 13 units while eliminating the units adjacent to the Wilkie backyards. This motion received mixed support, with some council members advocating for a quicker resolution while others preferred to wait for a more thorough examination of the revised plans.

The meeting concluded without a definitive decision, as council members recognized the complexity of the issues at hand and the need for further deliberation. The council plans to revisit the proposal in the future, aiming to balance the interests of the developer with the concerns of local residents.