3705 Haven Ave.

March Capital Management is proposing to comprehensively redevelop the 0.66 acre project site at 3705 Haven Avenue. The Planning Commission determined the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and approved a use permit for bonus level development and modifications to the R-MU design standards, an architectural control permit, and a Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Agreement on February 24, 2025.

The approved project includes the demolition of an existing 10,361-square-foot, single-story commercial building and construction of an eight-story, 112-unit, multi-family rental apartment building, with associated open space, podium parking, and infrastructure improvements, utilizing the City’s density bonus allowance in exchange for community amenities. The project utilizes State Density Bonus Law, which allows for an increase in density when below market rate (BMR) housing units are provided. The approved project includes 14 BMR units available to a mix of very-low, and moderate-income households, inclusive of the 15 percent inclusionary BMR unit requirement (10 units), three additional BMR units to comply with the City’s community amenity requirement, and one additional BMR unit affordable to a moderate income household.

The overall proposal includes:

Total dwelling units: 112 (all for rent)
Below market rate (BMR) units: 10 very-low income and 4 moderate-income units
Total proposed gross floor area: 120,460 square feet
Floor Area Ratio (FAR): 4.10
Proposed building height: Approximately, 93 feet (8 stories)
Total parking spaces:
- Vehicular spaces: 56
- Bike Parking (short-term): 168
- Bike Parking (long-term): 17
Open space: 10,764 square feet
Publicly accessible open space: 4,670 square feet

Current status

On February 24, 2025, the Planning Commission determined the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and adopted resolutions approving the requested entitlements for the project. The Planning Commission's actions were not appealed to the City Council.

Environmental review

On October 12, 2022, the applicant submitted a housing development project for 99 units and approximately 5,718 square feet of commercial space. The Planning Commission first reviewed the application on December 18, 2023 as part of a study session and a scoping meeting for an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) to evaluate the project’s impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”).

On March 22, 2024, the applicant submitted revised plans proposing to remove the commercial space and develop a residential project with 112 rental apartment units. The City and its CEQA consultant evaluated the revised scope and determined that the project would qualify to be evaluated under the Community Plan Exemption (“CPE”) from CEQA. The CPE, codified in Public Resources Code Section 21083.3 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15183, helps streamline the environmental review process for projects that are consistent with the land use and density designations in community plans, zoning regulations, or general plan policies that have been analyzed in a certified EIR. The project is consistent with ConnectMenlo (the City’s General Plan Update) and the City’s zoning designation, which were covered under the ConnectMenlo EIR and the Housing Element Update Subsequent EIR, so any further environmental review would be limited to impacts that are “peculiar” to the project or the project site. The City prepared a CPE checklist documenting that no such peculiar impacts exist and confirming that the CPE applies. The checklist and supporting documents are now available.

Notice of preparation

The release of the notice of preparation began a 30-day comment period on the scope and content of the environmental impact report (EIR) to be prepared for the proposed project. The comment period ran from Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, to Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. The comment period was extended to ensure the public has time to review and provide comments given the scheduled city office closure from Monday, Dec. 25, 2023, through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.