Builder’s remedy: A cautionary tale for Los Altos
The August 6th Planning Commission meeting provided Los Altos with a cautionary tale about what happens when a city loses control over its own land-use decisions. The project at 349 First St. was submitted under California’s “Builder’s Remedy,” a provision of state housing law that severely restricts a city’s ability to apply its normal zoning standards when its Housing Element is not in compliance with state requirements.
At six stories and 85 feet tall, the result will be the tallest building in downtown Los Altos. But height tells only part of the story.
