Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Council approves builder'remedy conversion of 2100 King Road to 145 townhomes
Loading...
Summary
The council approved a builder'remedy housing project that converts an 11-acre office park near the Baylands into 145 for-sale townhomes with 19 below-market-rate units; staff found CEQA consistency with plan-level EIR and imposed conditions including parkland-improvement obligations and tree mitigation.
The Palo Alto City Council voted unanimously March 16 to approve a site-and-design conditional use permit, vesting tentative map and parkland improvement ordinance allowing the conversion of an 11-acre office site at 2100 King Road into 145 for-sale townhomes.
Planning staff briefed council on the project site, zoning (research-office and limited manufacturing near the Baylands and the Embarcadero combining district), and the project's public-review history, including unanimous planning commission approvals. Staff described the proposal to demolish four office buildings and construct 59 buildings with 145 townhomes (3'story units, 42 feet high), a mix of three- and four-bedroom homes, 19 below-market-rate (BMR) units and about 90,402 square feet of usable open space. Parking was described as 333 spaces proposed versus 290 required, with 290 garage spaces and 43 on-street spaces noted. The project requests waivers and concessions under state density-bonus law and includes grading to raise site levels out of the floodplain and substantial tree removals with a proposed replacement program.
Developer Michael Cohen (Strata Investment Group) described design priorities oriented to first-time family homebuyers, a central commons, native planting (projected 63% native species among replacement plantings) and adherence to many ARB and commission recommendations. Staff and the applicant explained how state law constrains discretionary review of builder's-remedy applications, noting the city may only require compliance with applicable objective standards.
Public commenters raised concerns about airport-influence area deed restrictions, liquefaction and seismic mitigation, housing typology (townhomes versus multifamily), impacts to floodplain habitat and tree removals; supporters emphasized first'time-homebuyer opportunity and proximity to open space and transit.
Council members discussed BMR distribution, safe routes to school and transportation impacts across Highway 101, tree mitigation timing and enforcement obligations. Taking into account staff findings and conditions (including parkland dedication/parkland improvement obligations and CEQA consistency with the city'wide plan-level certified EIR), council adopted the staff recommendation and approved the project by roll call vote.
The approval includes the record of land use action conditions and a revised draft record. Council directed continued coordination with transportation staff and school-district partners to evaluate safe routes for future residents. The motion carried unanimously.
