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Palo Alto planning commission backs 145‑unit Baylands townhome project, adds dark‑sky and tree conditions
Summary
The Planning & Transportation Commission unanimously recommended the site‑and‑design approval of an 11‑acre Baylands conversion to 145 townhomes, asking staff to add a dark‑sky condition and to work with the developer to increase native tree planting while noting floodplain and tree‑removal issues.
The Palo Alto Planning & Transportation Commission voted 7–0 to recommend approval of a proposed 145‑unit townhome development on an 11‑acre former office park in the Baylands, with commissioners adding a condition to require compliance with the city’s new dark‑sky ordinance and asking staff to work with the developer to increase the percentage of native trees.
Planning staff opened the hearing by describing the proposal and the environmental review. Staff said the project is consistent with the comprehensive plan and recommended the commission find the project exempt under CEQA Guidelines §15183 and forward a site‑and‑design permit, vesting tentative map and related approvals to council. Staff also said the applicant is pursuing a CLOMAR and then a LOMAR with FEMA to document that the site has been raised out of the floodplain so buyers can obtain flood insurance.
Developer Michael Cohen of Strata Investment Group told commissioners the project…
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