BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Palo Alto City Council tonight (Aug. 17) unanimously approved an eight-story, 228-apartment building on San Antonio Road, despite concerns about traffic safety.
“This seems to be right place in the city for this kind of height and density,” Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims said.
Council also voted to accelerate plans to add a bike lane on San Antonio Road, where the city is planning for thousands of new homes.
Two neighbors said the road already experiences grid lock, and they’re worried about fire trucks and ambulances reaching their homes during commute times.
“It’s not safe to add all these people … Think of all the possible kitchen fires,” resident Joan Larrabee said.
Developer Gary Johnson of Acclaim Companies invoked the Builder’s Remedy, a provision in state law that allows developers to ignore local rules on height, density and design.
Council encouraged Johnson to have upper floors go further back from the street so San Antonio Road doesn’t feel like a tunnel.
“This modest measure can have a great deal of favorable impact,” Councilman Pat Burt said.
But Johnson and his architect said that would make the apartments too narrow.
“We’re trying to maximize our square footage,” Johnson said.
The building will reach 85 feet in height at 762 San Antonio Road.
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