Posted by Jane, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2010 at 10:54 am

Ride your bike to the trailhead and avoid the car parking problem.

Posted by brian, a resident of the Portola Valley: Central Portola Valley neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2010 at 11:36 am

hike where you live

Posted by poor moi, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2010 at 12:27 pm

Hey Brian,

I live downtown and pay property taxes to MROSD who purchased and manages OUR preserves with OUR money, and prevented development apparently next to your home. Since I can't hike where I live I don't get to hike in your world plan? Meany.

Peace, love, and understanding (and hopefully sharing too)

Posted by Trail Runner, a resident of the Woodside: Woodside Heights neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2010 at 1:06 pm

Windy Hill and Coal Mine Ridge are regional resources for people all over the Peninsula to use and enjoy, not the private domain of the privileged few in PV. Cutting off parking is a transparent way to keep people from using the open space. Elizabeth Rubin is right, the trails are part of "the underlying ethic for the culture of Portola Valley."

Posted by JC, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2010 at 1:31 pm

The other point is that I would guess that that strip is going to be hogged by contractors servicing that development, thus reducing the parking further for months.

I take it by Brian's logic that he would also be happy to do all his shopping in Portola Valley and never to go to Menlo Park or Palo Alto? To have his kids and his neighbors' home-schooled rather than to send them to Menlo-Atherton High School (which serves at least part of PV)? Never to drive or park outside PV for a job, an errand, medical care, recreation or any other resource that the area (but perhaps not PV itself) offers?

Posted by Been There, Done That, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Jan 19, 2010 at 2:09 pm

Congratulations. The Council got this one right... by accident. The Town can not deny ingress/egress access to one's property, and that's what this "make-shift parking area" does. And, if Mr. Howard Young followed his own public works rulings (dumping of street gravel illegally impedes growth of native plants), this whole "parking area" would need to be abandoned. Even the Windy Hill Preserve website map does not designate this pull-out as a parking area.

My advise is: those who wish to to hike the trails, park in the beautiful parking area on Portola Rd., but if they wish to experience the real "Windy Hill", should park themselves at a council meeting sometime.

Posted by David Boyce, Almanac staff writer, on Jan 19, 2010 at 2:47 pm
David Boyce is a member (registered user) of Almanac Online

In approving this driveway plan, the Portola Valley Town Council added a provision forbidding contractors from parking in this roadside parking area during the construction of the home at 4860 Alpine Road.

Posted by Proud PVer, a resident of the Portola Valley: Portola Valley Ranch neighborhood, on Jan 21, 2010 at 12:53 am

I do what Jane and Mike say and bike to the trailhead or walk as I live very close by. And I am utterly appalled by their comments. If I wanted to live in a place where attitudes like theirs are acceptable I would have moved to Los Altos Hills.