Council to Consider Major Land Use Proposals
After a fairly quiet election season on the city policy front, the final month of the legislative year is packed with council action and community meetings. City Council will dive into the lame duck session with major land use decisions, including:
- a proposed housing ordinance that would loosen development standards and parking requirements throughout the zoning code (November 26);
- repeal or revision of the two laws that currently stand in the way of converting the 75-unit President Hotel Apartments to a boutique hotel (December 3);
Monday, November 26th, the City Council will vote on a proposed Housing Ordinance that directly impacts our neighborhoods with more congestion and parking woes. Why would anyone want that?
The proposed Ordinance has many flaws:
- a “trickle-down” strategy that will largely profit developers and produce little or no housing or benefits for renters.
- proposed parking reductions for multi-unit housing will put more cars on our already-clogged neighborhood streets.
- reduces the on-site open space requirements for multi-unit housing, putting more pressure on our stressed public parks, which already fall short of Federal guidelines for open space per resident.
- Thorough economic and environmental impact studies have not been done.
- Reforms such as not allowing office growth on land suitable for housing are being ignored.
To learn more details, read the Commentary by Jeff Levinsky, Co-chair, Palo Alto Neighborhoods (PAN) Zoning Committee
This Council – which is a “lame-duck” group – should not decide or vote on this major zoning change, that could change neighborhoods forever, until the new Council has a chance to review the Ordinance and decide in January.
Send a message to current Council (city.council@cityofpaloalto.org) or
Speak at next Monday’s Council Meeting, 7:15 pm
Express your views on a critical Ordinance, affecting all neighborhoods.
Your support is needed and appreciated!
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