Palo Alto City Council Endorses 8-Story Multi-Family Housing Under Density Framework

PALO ALTO, CA — The Palo Alto City Council approved a major residential development application on Tuesday evening for an eight-story multi-family apartment building at 762 San Antonio Road, unlocking 180 transit-oriented homes in Silicon Valley.

Density Bonus Provisions and Affordable Housing Allocations

The development plan, submitted under California’s State Density Bonus Law (SB 330) and Builder’s Remedy compliance provisions, incorporates 36 permanently deed-restricted affordable units designated for low- and very-low-income households. The project replaces an aging single-story commercial strip mall with high-density electric residential units equipped with subterranean EV parking and ground-floor neighborhood retail.

Councilmembers approved the architectural review and environmental variance on a 5–2 vote, emphasizing that Palo Alto must rapidly expand multi-family residential supply to meet its state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) target of 6,086 new homes by 2031.

Neighborhood Debate and Transit Infrastructure

Nearby neighborhood associations voiced concerns regarding traffic ingress along San Antonio Road and potential shade impacts on adjacent low-density parcels. City planning staff noted that the site’s proximity to the San Antonio Caltrain station and dedicated VTA bus lanes makes it an optimal location for high-density, low-carbon workforce housing.

Silicon Valley housing advocates praised the council’s approval as a critical milestone for housing affordability in one of the nation's most constrained residential real estate markets.

Construction Timeline

Developers expect to secure final grading and building permits by early 2027, with ground-breaking targeted for spring 2027.