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Palo Alto planning staff propose bird‑safe window rules, dark‑sky lighting and larger stream setbacks; state laws expand single‑family development options
Summary
Planning staff previewed an ordinance to require bird‑safe glazing for some windows, a revised dark‑sky lighting ordinance, increased stream setbacks in parts of the city, and explained state laws (SB9, SB1123) that permit additional units on single‑family lots under specified conditions.
Jonathan Lee, director of Planning and Development Services, briefed the town hall on multiple planning initiatives the city expects to take to council in the coming months, and explained recent state housing laws that will affect single‑family lots.
Lee said the planning division is preparing a bird‑safe glass ordinance that would require bird‑friendly glazing or other design measures for large expanses of glass. "The ordinance... identifies the area as well as the foothills and 3 areas within 300 feet of streams as bird sensitive areas," Lee said, and added that some window sizes and a percentage of facade glazing will be specified in the ordinance. Staff expects to return to the City Council in August.
Lee also described a proposed lighting ordinance to advance dark‑sky principles by requiring shielding, curfews on new fixtures, and limits on spill light, measures intended to benefit wildlife habitat and human health. The proposed lighting ordinance is being refined for council consideration.
On stream setbacks, Lee said the planning commission considered increasing setbacks from a current 20 feet to 30–40 feet in flat areas and up to 150 feet in the foothills or Baylands for new structures; staff said exceptions for hardships and security would be included where appropriate. Residents raised concerns about how a large increase would affect established neighborhoods; Lee said staff will consider hardship exceptions and take neighborhood input as the proposal proceeds through commission and council review.
On housing, Lee summarized recent state laws affecting single‑family lots. He said the combination of earlier state actions and more recent bills means that, in many cases, single‑family lots can now host up to four units (the primary unit, accessory dwelling units, and junior ADUs), and SB1123 (effective July) allows certain vacant single‑family lots up to 1.5 acres to be developed under streamlined ministerial approval. Lee said these ministerial approvals have limited local discretion and generally do not require a full public hearing, though there may be notice requirements. He noted that SB9/SB1123 exemptions exist for properties in very high fire hazard severity zones and that unit size averaging caps (about 1,750 square feet average) apply in the state rules.
Ending: Lee said the planning team will post materials, return to the commissions and council in August and September, and will provide additional details and specifications for compliance (for example, the exact window sizes and facade percentages for bird‑safe glazing) as the draft ordinances are finalized.
