Palo Alto City Council today unanimously signed off on a seven-story, 183-unit apartment building at 3781 El Camino Real, clearing the way for a small commercial plaza and about 14 existing apartments to be torn down. The Vittoria Management project will bring in a mix of junior one-bedroom through three-bedroom units and includes roughly two dozen below-market-rate homes.
Project details
The plans call for an 85-foot, seven-story building at the corner of Curtner Avenue, with 100 one-bedroom units, 45 two-bedroom units, 14 three-bedroom units and 24 junior one-bedroom units, according to San José Spotlight. City planning records show the proposal arrived as an SB330 pre-application, the developer requested an AB 130 exemption from CEQA, and the city lists about 13% of the homes as affordable, or roughly 23 units, on the project page.
Council reaction
Councilmembers largely cheered the design and the developer’s collaborative approach. Ed Lauing said the building is exactly the kind of project the El Camino Focus Area envisioned, while Julie Lythcott-Haims described it as “a partnership that’s working.” Pat Burt, however, warned residents could experience a visual “shock” as taller buildings start to line El Camino, according to San José Spotlight.
How it got here
The proposal moved through the Architectural Review while leaning on state housing laws that speed approvals when certain boxes are checked. City documents highlight the use of the Builder’s Remedy and AB 130’s CEQA exemption, which impose strict timelines on city action, per the City of Palo Alto. The Architectural Review Board voted in January to recommend sending the project to the full council, the Palo Alto Daily Post reported.
What’s next
With council approval secured, the development now heads into final plan checks and building permits before any demolition or construction can begin. No construction schedule has been announced yet, and neighbors and city officials are expected to keep pressing for design refinements as the remaining reviews play out.
