Palo Alto Single Family Residential Design Guidelines

Arnold Mammarella provided policy guidance, text, illustrations, captions, and schematic document layout for Palo Alto’s citywide residential design guidelines. Arnold worked with planning staff to edit the document, and staff provided final graphic design and production of the document. Alexandra Martynetz also provided illustrations.

The guidelines were a response to community concerns over the proliferation of over-scaled and poorly designed mini-mansion style homes, awkward additions, and other aspects of insensitively conceived or poorly designed two-story structures that were damaging the character of existing neighborhoods and negatively impacting neighbors’ privacy. 

Five easily understood and realistically illustrated guidelines covering streetscape, building massing, and privacy objectives were crafted to promote new construction and additions that would be compatible with the unique character of individual neighborhoods and minimize negative impacts on adjacent residences.

Partial illustrations are shown for the five guidelines (1. Site planning; 2. Neighborhood compatibility for height, mass, and scale; 3. Form and Rooflines; 4. Facades and Entries; and 5. Privacy). The complete guidelines booklet is available at the City of Palo Alto website.