It doesn't matter what the property owners or local citizens want. The city will do it anyway because they want to enforce the ridiculous idea that people are going to use mass transit and sit around in front of buildings that offer coffee and pastries (oh, wait...that's Paris).

There should be a law that requires the city to compensate for loss of value when new rules are imposed on property owners for the benefit of the over all city.
This will make city and citizen to think hard about what they are asking for.
I remember Berkeley was a very vibrant city untill rent control went into effect.
15years later, the city became a dump. Affected property owners are minority whose rights should be protected.

The whole ABAG crew has more passion than brains.

No one's going to sit near El Camino like it's Paris. These people are totally clueless.

Require that the NEW buildings have bigger setback. Simple enough.

I like the idea of the Grand El Camino Real, but I know this will take time and planning. Won't be like Paris ever but the idea of coming up with different mixed uses. I don't the idea of taking property over to build wider sidewalks, this needs to be done when property owners want to build anew.

A idea to create small business zones and give them names that reflect the neighborhood. What does Barron Park need and willing to walk or bike too, will merchants come in and open up shop for Barron Park.

2 to 3 story buildings might have to built to have apartments, flats, shop keeper units.

Many of us Palo Altans do sit and drink coffee along El Camino at a wonderful cafe called Cafe Borrone in Menlo Park. I let my kids play along the fountain & stroll up and down the block. Exploring the widening of sidewalks is something I support along with enabling small property owners to receive variances or whatever to go beyond the current height restrictions if they are impacted. I'm happy to see these ideas out there - especially since I patron many small stores along the El Camino between East Charleston and Page Mill.

@ Mila Z. Agree with you. Urban Parks, water features, more open air markets, shop keeper units, and other features. Well lit shops and buildings would help.

It will take time, no need to take property.

Well said Mila.

Enough of the building to the sidewalk. If we continue down that path El Camino will turn into a canyon.

Mila Z et al.:

The Cafe Barrone plaza is roughly 90 ft deep. If you look at the lots size on southern El Camino, you will see that many are in the range of 100 ft deep.

P.A. Native:
A key aspect of a "canyon" is the relative height of its walls. Adding a few feet of width to the sidewalks is not going to change the perception for pedestrians when they have 15-20 ft blank walls for stretches along the sidewalk. If you look at the examples cited by the Council memo, they include Arbor Real, where the sidewalk with its adjoining landscaping is quite wide, yet pedestrians (predictably) find it un-friendly. It is not "build to sidewalk" that is the problem, but *how* one builds to the sidewalk when one does that.

Doug, since you stimulated more public interest, why not go a step further? The City Planning Department could demonstrate the dueling concepts on a half mile section of El Camino Real, perhaps centered around the higher density areas of Ventura neighborhood. On one side of ECR, show architectural renderings of wider sidewalks, pedestrian use, anticipated shops, cafes, etc. On the other side, sketch out how development with likely go forward with no changes in sidewalks, traffic lanes, etc. Two such renderings would be worth a thousand words. The ensuing debate would result in better ideas, more informed residents/voters and greater unity about the future.

ECR near Ventura has a lot of old eyesores. How do you suggest persuading owners to demolish them in return for giving up space for wider sidewalks & actually leasing to tenants who'll open "pedestrian boulevard" friendly cafes, etc?

Another consideration is the abundance of driveway curb cuts for existing businesses. As long as cars are using those driveways to get to the businesses, pedestrian safety is hard to maintain. Drive-thru fast foods, restaurants with rear parking, small businesses with off-street parking - all of that would have to go away before I'd take a leisurely stroll along El Camino, just to enjoy the fumes from cars & buses.

@ Neilsen Buchanan.

I agree with your idea.

Lived and visited European cities, not all had wide salkwalks but did have nice features and very well lit.

Personally don't think we should be going after those kinds of high density. Every city I have seen has neighborhoods outside the city center.

We aren't Central Paris, copying this doesn't make sense and yes those density won't work. In reality some places might be good for 4 to 5 story but not everywhere.

2 to 3 stories buildings.

First floor. Shop or living unit.
Second Floor Office or living unit.
Third Floor if needed. Office or living unit.

It could be all three, enogh small businesses losing space for larger needs.

Think small. University students and the benefits of biking or walking. Neighbors who want to see small friendly businesses.

Each neighborhood has needs other then larger chain stores. Cafes, restaurants, hairdressers, ATM, coffee shops, dry cleaners, insurance agent, dentist, Subway, florist, Laundromat, and etc.

Don't know, I drive for a living and see loads neighborhood serving businesses.

The two big problems here are first that palo alto allowed developers to build right up to the edge of the existing sidewalk. There is no set back to work with. Second is that many developers put blank walls facing the street. It doesn't matter what you put up if it has a flat blank wall going up from the sidewalk people will not want to walk there.

What does barron park need? We need a grocery store/supermarket. We had one but the cit allowed a developer to convert the area to a video rental store and amJamba juice place. We also need a bookstore, variety store, shoe store, second hand store. We had all these once, but gradually they disappeared.

I remember the All American Market, the Italian Restaurant near the Vet, also The Gap store.

Grocery stores have disappeared over the years but the ones that have remained are either larger or upscale.

Bookstores have off with record stores and along video rental stores.

Shoe stores with shoe repair shops are few, why? We live in throw away world. Wal Mart, Target and the chains killed those businesses.

Ready to wear vs the Tailor or the Dressmaker.

Full Self Service vs the Butcher.

Big Box vs Ma and Pop.

We live in a sea of Wal Marts, Home Depots, Safeway, Whole Foods, Ross, Target, Walgreens, McDonald's and Starbucks. Uniformity, sameness, parking lots and big blank walls.

Along the same lines as the poster above regarding the struggles of local businesses, If I cannot ride my bike to buy it, I generally will get it from Amazon if can. My fellow drivers have made it so unbearable to deal with them
on the roads at times, that I resist many local trips. If I can wait two days and have it delivered to my doorstep free of charge, why would I want to go out and become involved in the morass of road rudeness and selfishness?
I think many opt for this route of home delivery rather than local retail if at all possible.

On sunday, i walked alon ECR from los altos ave to page mill, fot a total of 2 hours.
Here is what I found.
1. Encountered one biker along ECR. But there were MANY bikers along Arasteradero, sone almisr run over me.
2. Busiest shops are the Starbucks, and a few eateries. Did not see bikes at the sites.
3. Nearly all new developments are almost right up to the 6ft, maybe 10ft side walks.
These buildings will there for 50years! Why don't we ask them to cut back to 18 ft?
Thsee buildins have no stepped backs on uoper floors.
4. MANY older properties are right next to 6ft wide walks, why should the rebuild just to loose more space and revenue? Why should they be asked to sacrifice while thses new buiding are the cause of concerns?
5. The are some building looking abandoned, did owner want it that way? Why are some retail shops struggling and close on weekends? Arre you going to walk to shopping and carry them home?
6. The exercise shop had many parking spaces, but it was not open.
I wondered if the custemers drove to exercise or walk to it?

Any way, we should all take avwalk down ECR.
It certainly feels good to be a CEO naking a decision,
but CEO should walk around the work place and talk to the working ranks.

Very cerncerned citizen.

I commend you for walking along El Camino and doing some actual observations. However, this is not about the El Camino we see today but the El Camino we want to see in 10 years or so. Not to many people walk or bike on El Camino now, but imagine what it could be like if we changed out policies. Wider sidewalks are not enough by themselves, but they are part of the picture. If we wait until we can do everything at once we will never accomplish anything, Doug Moran. We need to do what we can when we can, and work on all the important items.

The Kings Highway could be the next "route 66". 'Cars'(the movie) was modeled on what is now 'Historic 66' that I traveled as a child.

University is 'Downtown', not ECR, which is also designated *Highway 82*.

BTW
We are NOT Europe. Our cities are CENTURIES younger.

@Seer, when government make changes at the expense of small group, you need to do your due deligence. I am all for improving ECR, but who is paying?
I am posting because I have done my walking, did you?

Real estate attorney/mogul Michael Alcheck at last night's Planning Commission killed any attempt to make changes on El Camino.
He was supported by development advocate Tanaka.

The Council members who voted for Alcheck to be on the Planning Commission were

Voting For Michael Alcheck:
Burt,Espinosa,Klein,Price,Scharff, Shepherd

See page 1,Council Action Minutes of 07-23-12