Palo Alto council hears prescreening for 414 California Avenue rezoning; no binding action taken

City Council members on Sept. 15 reviewed a prescreening request to rezone 414 California Avenue from community commercial to Planned Home Zoning to allow a six‑story building with ground‑floor retail and 37 housing units. The prescreening is an early, nonbinding step; council members gave informal feedback but took no formal vote.

The proposal would redevelop the former Bank of the West site near the California Avenue Caltrain station into a mixed‑use project with 14 rental units, 23 condominiums, about 16,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space and below‑grade parking. Senior planner Emily Callas told the council the conceptual design would exceed several development limits under the city's Housing Incentive Program: proposed height of 83 feet where 60 feet is the program maximum, a proposed floor‑area ratio of 3.57:1 where 2.6:1 would be allowed, and reduced or zero setbacks on Mimosa Lane where five feet is required.

Staff also said the project proposes 88 parking spaces (including credits tied to the…