Atherton Project Files Preliminary Permits for 30 Apartments Using SB 79

Preliminary permits have been filed for a 30-unit townhouse infill development at 110 Glenwood Avenue in Atherton, San Mateo County. Cupertino-based AlphaX RE Capital is the developer behind the project, which will consist of five three-story structures, each containing housing above a ground-floor garage. SDG Architects is responsible for the design, which also incorporates outdoor terraces on the second floor and rooftop.

The application utilizes Senate Bill 79, a state law that took effect in July 2026, to streamline the approval process. This legislation upzones transit corridors across California to increase potential residential capacity. Out of the 30 proposed units, six will be designated as deed-restricted affordable housing. The one-acre property is strategically located at the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Laurel Street, close to the Menlo Park city border and the Menlo Park Caltrain Station. This project exemplifies how state legislation like SB 79 can facilitate higher-density residential development in transit-accessible areas, offering a pathway for developers to bypass certain local zoning restrictions.