News Subscribe to Our Newsletter Sign up for Email Updates CGF In the News Press Inquiries Past Articles Calendar			Palo Alto Weekly December 11, 2002   Ridge top protection  becomes foothills issue Stanford, county and city wrangle over foothill development limits By Don Kazak The focus of future development in the Stanford hills,  although not much will be allowed over the next decade, is centering on  protecting ridge tops and view sheds from development. That's being translated into what, if anything, Stanford should be allowed  to build at the 200-foot elevation level or higher in the hills. Both  the city of Palo Alto and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District,  along with environmental groups, don't want anything built above the 200-foot  level. The Santa Clara County Planning Commission is now wrestling with that  issue, which it will revisit in February after having a first discussion  last week. About 10 percent of Stanford's 1,843 acres of foothills in Santa Clara  County are below 200 feet, and that may not leave the university and the  county enough options for the 15,000 square feet of foothills buildings  Stanford is allowed under its general use permit. "I'm a little uncomfortable saying nothing should be built above  200 feet," said Planning Commissioner Lydia Tan, who lives in Palo  Alto. "It's the crux of the issue that's been going on between Stanford  and the environmental community, and we need to get it right." The county's planning staff has been directed to come back to the commission  with some options on several issues, including the 200-foot elevation  requirement. For Tan, that means finding a way to "encourage"  Stanford to stay below that elevation with its development, or possibly  have a higher level of scrutiny for any project proposed above that elevation. Tan said the commission needs more detailed analysis of the ability to  develop in the Stanford hills. For instance, any area with a slope of  greater than 60 percent would not be developable, but the commission doesn't  know how many of the 1,843 acres fall into that category. The decision to take more time was applauded by Denice Dade of the Committee  for Green Foothills. "It's a positive sign," Dade said. "They want to look at  protections for the foothills. They'll take more time and do it right." Another issue raised by Palo Alto officials, among others, is the review  of individual Stanford projects under the GUP. As it stands now, any foothills  development will be reviewed by the county's Architectural and Site Approval  (ASA) committee, which consists of four planning staff members and one  commission member. Some think any foothills development should be reviewed  by the Planning Commission itself, although ASA decisions can be appealed  to the commission. Stanford officials accepted the delay. "Zoning matters are always complicated," said Larry Horton,  Stanford's director of community and government relations. Horton added  the 200-foot elevation issue is "very important" to Stanford,  so there would be likely resistance to any attempt by the county to limit  development to below that level. Added scrutiny is what several others want, including the Committee for  Green Foothills, the Stanford Open Space Alliance, the Midpeninsula Regional  Open Space District, and the city of Palo Alto. "We remained quite concerned about several aspects" of the proposed  zoning, said Nonette Hanko, a open-space district board member and Palo  Alto resident. "The (Stanford) Community Plan recognizes the Stanford  foothills are vitally important." The open space district wants development  to be limited to below the 200-foot elevation level. Hanko also said the  county should follow the city of Palo Alto open space zoning and regulation  as a model for the Stanford hills. But communication between the county planning staff and city officials  has been frustrating -- at least for the city. Officials say the county  hasn't responded to several city concerns to their satisfaction. "The proposed zoning is important to the city because it is within  the city's sphere of influence," Councilman Jim Burch told the commission  last week. The city is also recommending that foothills development be  limited to below the 200-foot elevation level. The county Planning Commission is scheduled to discuss the issue at its  meeting at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 6 in San Jose. After the commission makes its  recommendations, they will go to the county Board of Supervisors for final  action.  Don Kazak can be e-mailed at dkazak@paweekly.com Page last updated December 12, 2002 .