ARB provides detailed design feedback on proposed 145‑unit townhome project near Baylands; no formal recommendation

The Palo Alto Architectural Review Board on Thursday gave detailed design and policy feedback on a proposed 145‑unit, for‑sale townhome development on an 11‑acre site near the Baylands, but did not take a formal vote because the item was presented as a study session.

City staff described the project as a site‑and‑design and conditional‑use application to demolish four existing commercial buildings and build 65 three‑story structures containing a total of 145 townhomes, with a mix of 75 four‑bedroom units and 70 three‑bedroom units. The applicant, Straud Investment Group, said 19 units (13%) would be deed‑restricted to households at or below 60% of area median income. Staff noted the project has been processed under state rules (SB 330) and that the developer invoked a ‘‘builder’s remedy’’ pathway under California Government Code section 65589.5(d)(5) (Assembly Bill 1893), which restricts discretionary denials and limits review to objective standards.

Michael Cohen, founding partner of Straud Investment Group, described the proposal as a family‑oriented neighborhood with two‑car garages for all units, roof decks and private yards for many homes. "We’ve elected to develop 145 single‑family for‑sale townhomes in large part because there is a massive undersupply of homes for first‑time homebuyers in Palo Alto," Cohen said.

Design team members presented an overall plan showing a central green, two…