Woodside: New rules for moving historic homes Woodside: New rules for moving historic homes (March 30, 2005)

By Andrea Gemmet

Almanac Staff Writer

Woodside officials approved the change that potentially could allow historically important buildings such as the Jackling mansion to be moved from their original sites and relocated elsewhere in town despite the fact that they exceed maximum house-size rules.

The issue came up during deliberations over the George Washington Smith-designed Jackling house owned by Steve Jobs. Looking for ways to allow Mr. Jobs to get rid of the house without demolishing it, town officials required Mr. Jobs to look for someone to move the house off its Mountain Home Road location and restore it elsewhere.

At more than 17,000 square feet, the Jackling house vastly exceeds Woodside's size limits, precluding it from being relocated within Woodside.

The change in town rules would allow oversized structures that are historically significant enough to qualify for the California Register of Historic Places to receive an exception from the size limits.

The Woodside Town Council approved the change in the municipal code at the March 8 meeting on 6-0 vote, with Joe Putnam absent.

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