Palo Alto to Protect Single-Story, Eichler-Tract Neighborhood

The Los Arboles neighborhood in Palo Alto is characterized by single-story homes designed by mid-century homebuilder Joseph Eichler, and neighborhood residents want it to remain that way. Gennady Sheyner of Palo Alto Weekly reports that the Palo Alto City Council approved the request by residents to prevent the construction of new, two-story homes in Los Arboles after 80 percent of residents signed a petition to create a "single story overlay zone."

The council was just as united as the neighbors in approving the single-story overlay. Councilman Tom DuBois cited the high level of support (no one spoke in opposition to the zone change) and said he hopes to see other neighborhoods come forward with their own requests for single-story overlays soon. He noted, however, that while the zoning designation prohibits two-story homes, it does not mandate that new homes follow the Eichler style.

Sheyner reports that several other Eichler-style neighborhoods in the city have applied for similar overlay zones. More importantly  the mayor and City Council have supported the consideration of "design-oriented overlay districts" that could require new homes "to facilitate construction of Eichler-style homes in a small portion of the city where such homes are prevalent," similar to zoning requirements in the city of Cupertino.