3. Zoning
Chapter 18.13.060 of the Palo Alto Code establishes “Multiple Family Context-Based Design Criteria” It states that “development in a multiple-family residential district shall be responsible to its context and compatible with adjacent development.”
“Context as used in this section is intended to indicate relationships between the site’s development to adjacent street types, surrounding land uses, and on-site or nearby natural features, such as creeks or trees. Effective transitions to these adjacent uses and features are strongly reinforced by Comprehensive Plan policies…”
“Compatibility is achieved when the apparent scale and mass of new buildings share general characteristics and establishes design linkages with the overall pattern of buildings so that the visual unity of the neighborhood or street is maintained.”
This project represents yet another step in the densification of Palo Alto in keeping with the concepts of Plan Bay Area and the Grand Boulevard initiative which envisions a multi-lane transit corridor from San Francisco to San Jose and high density housing in a ¼ mile wide strip on either side of El Camino Real. These concepts are strongly supported by non-governmental interest groups such as the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transit Council (MTC), and, of course, by the real estate developers. A similar plan is being proposed in Marin County along the 101 corridor and the opposition to it is clear.
Over the last 30 years Palo Alto has created its own problem by focusing on the development of more jobs and office space so it is logical that ABAG should require Palo Alto to provide more housing to accommodate the workers in order to reduce the impact on neighboring towns and on traffic congestion and automobile emissions. But if you look at a map of recent high density development projects in Palo Alto, the large majority of them are in the South Palo Alto area.
In 2013 when the PA City Council voted to approve the high density project on Maybell Avenue, a grassroots organization of citizens won a referendum election (Measure D) to stop the project. Reading the comments on Gennady Sheyner’s article in the PA Online it is very clear that a large number of residents would support another referendum to stop this project as well. Zoning laws were established to protect the residents, not to be ignored to enhance profits for developers.
This property is only 3/4 of an acre. For the owners to develop it with their current plan they require approval of a Zoning change, from RM 15 TO RM 30, which I believe would be opposed by the majority of Barron Square residents as well as the surrounding Community.
As I understand it, the BSHOA has requested the deed for the sale to see if the Codicil that Janet Thain included when she sold the rest of Thain way, was included by the Executor of Janet’s estate when it was sold to the Juan Trust. When that information is obtained I believe that we should “revisit” the use of that parcel in it’s entirety, & continue to follow this very closely.
The Archetect for this parcel designed the “Grey Box looking Bld:g. with the Solar panels on top”, as well as the Bldg. that Houses Starbucks & Subway. That alone causes concern for us.
Ree & Gary Dufresne
I just sent this message to Grennady Sheyner:
….Just getting to read your review of the May 15, ARB meeting. I’m concerned you didn’t include Laszlo Tokes’ very important comments made at the end of the round. He articulated the narrow substandard street, that is Thain Way, no continuous sidewalks, and other onsite private facilities that could attract ‘trespassing’ [my word]. I hope you will be able to write some addendum.
In addition, the suggestion by the ARB chair, that ‘it would be nice for children/people to meander around our sidewalks and get to know out community” is LUDICROUS. After the session, I asked him point blank if he ever visited out complex… because there are no sidewalks to meander around. If one leaves the street, they will be on private property and there are no sidewalks going into it [the complex]. Our substandard street requires our own residents to walk and bike down the middle of Thain and share it with our cars. Adding more pedestrians and bikes from a visiting property will add negatively to an already difficult situation.
thank you
Ruth Lowy
Thain Way, Barron Square
Is ARB’s approval of this ‘over the top’ project their way of punishing for defeat of the Maybell project? I hope we can stand together against this over reach of the zoning laws. Count me in.