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Palo Alto council hears prescreening for 158‑unit project at Town & Country’s north lot
Summary
Developers presented plans to rezone 44 & 88 Encina Avenue for two seven‑story rental buildings totaling 158 units; staff emphasized the hearing was prescreening only and raised concerns about height, lot coverage, utilities and traffic. Council praised design but pressed for parking, circulation and utility solutions.
Developers behind Town & Country Village’s north parking lot told the Palo Alto City Council on Feb. 2 they want to rezone 44 and 88 Encina Avenue to allow two seven‑story rental buildings totaling 158 units, while city staff and council members flagged parking, utilities and circulation as outstanding issues.
At a study session presentation, Claire Raybould of the city’s planning staff said the prescreening is intended for early feedback and “no formal decisions are made at these … study sessions.” The conceptual design proposes heights up to 85 feet in a district that currently allows 50 feet, floor‑area ratios of roughly 2.41–2.86 where the district limit is much lower, and lot coverage substantially above the typical 50 percent threshold. Under state law changes going into effect July 1, 2026, staff noted, projects may be allowed higher limits in some instances (SB 79).
Patrick Flynn, senior vice president…
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