Council OKs seven-story building over traffic concerns

""This is going to be a big building, and it's really going to change the neighborhood for better or worse," Councilman Keith Reckdahl said before the 6-0 vote."

""At certain times of day it's complete chaos, and bikes are innovating in all sorts of ways - wrong lane, in the gutters," resident Dan Adams said."

""We're talking about a building that's vastly out of scale with the street it's being built on," teacher and resident Kerri Jung said."

""Tonight feels like such a triumph for all of us," Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims said."

The Palo Alto City Council approved a seven-story, 321-unit apartment building on El Camino Real. Neighbors expressed concerns about traffic flow and bicyclist safety, particularly on narrow streets designated as safe routes to school. The developer will conduct a traffic analysis to improve surrounding roads. The project, which will replace 38 apartments, is seen as significantly altering the neighborhood. Council members acknowledged the developer's cooperation with city regulations despite the use of the Builder's Remedy to bypass local zoning rules.

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