Planning leaders like medical clinic's proposal Planning leaders like medical clinic's proposal (January 23, 2004)

One plan puts parking in the back

By Katie Vaughn

An early step in the process to consider a medical clinic on the old Emporium site was taken last week. The Environmental Planning Commission, which advises the City Council, met on Jan. 14 to discuss the Palo Alto Medical Foundation's proposals for redeveloping the 9.14-acre site.

The foundation is seeking to construct a facility at 701 E. El Camino Real. But before the city can approve the project, it will have to amend the zoning of the land. The site was intended for retail or office buildings, but not for medical use.

Plans for the facility include offices and exam rooms for primary care and specialty physicians, an urgent care center, a laboratory and a pharmacy. The foundation has stressed that the facility, a Camino Medical Group subsidiary, will not be a hospital.

Of particular concern for some of the Environmental Planning Commissioners is the "landmark" quality of the site. The building on the parcel of land is meant to create a positive identity and a sense of orientation for the city.

Other issues considered at the meeting were how to construct a facility that will not disrupt the nearby apartments or group of heritage trees protected by the city. The commission also considered the environmental impact of the facility as well as how traffic may change in the area due to medical staff and patients traveling to the site.

Of four plans presented by Kevin Gardiner of the Van Meter Williams Pollack design firm, one in particular met with universal approval.

So far, foundation representatives, city officials and the designers agree that the building should be set at the front of the property along El Camino Real and farthest from the Americana Apartments adjacent to the site. The building would have three stories visible from El Camino Real and two from the Americana Apartments.

The plan also addresses the need for increased parking. While the current Emporium building is 233,500 square feet and offers 585 parking spots, the new facility would accommodate 250,000 square feet with 1,111 parking spots. In the favored plan, a parking structure would sit between the facility and the apartments.

"It's certainly the applicant's preference, and our feeling was the same as well," Gardiner said.

However, as the foundation, design firm, city and public continue to weigh in on the matter, that preference may change.

The commission did not take any action at its study session meeting, instead choosing to identify big-picture concerns.

"Our role now is to consider the broader land-use issues," said Commissioner David Greene, whose position as chair was replaced at the meeting by recent vice chair Paul Lesti. Commissioner Jac Siegel was chosen as the new vice chair.

Members of the commission said they will seek the public's input in future meetings. The next step in the project is a City Council study session, planned for February.

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