Bart Hechtman News Today

Five words -- universally benign but locally loaded -- fueled some of Palo Altos biggest debates of the year.

Palo Alto resident Ben Lenail received a jarring reminder of the danger that trees can pose to humans when a large oak fell on him as he and his golden retriever were out in Rinconada Park on Oct. 24.

When Palo Alto asked local churches to open their parking lots to people who live in their cars, city leaders saw it as a small solution to the giant problem of homelessness. Pleased with the results, theyre now looking to expand it.

Palo Altos plans to create a new housing hub on a stretch of El Camino Real received rave reviews this week from area developers, though some planning commissioners raised concerns about community impacts.

Palo Altos plans to create a new housing hub on a stretch of El Camino Real received rave reviews this week from area developers, though some planning commissioners raised concerns about community impacts.

As Palo Alto nears a deal with The Sobrato Organization over the redevelopment of the former cannery building on Portage Avenue, some in the community are lamenting a lost opportunity to preserve history and revitalize Ventura.

As Palo Alto nears a deal with The Sobrato Organization over the redevelopment of the former cannery building on Portage Avenue, some in the community are lamenting a lost opportunity to preserve history and revitalize Ventura.

Palo Altos planning commissioners on Wednesday threw their support behind a contentious plan to partially demolish and redevelop the former Frys Electronics building, setting the stage for final approval next month.

Seeking to untangle a zoning dispute between a group of Midtown residents and a property owner looking to build a home, Palo Altos planning commissioners backed a compromise Wednesday that is unlikely to fully satisfy either side.

After approving an ambitious plan to make room for more than 6,000 new dwellings by 2031, Palo Alto is preparing to take the scalpel to its zoning code next month with the aim of removing barriers for housing developers.