ortola Valley residents may one day see high-density housing in the Nathhorst Triangle property at Alpine and Portola roads, if the sentiments of some Planning Commission and Town Council members take hold.
Discussion of development on the 3.5-acre property will move to the forefront soon, as the town's moratorium on new commercial and office development expires in September.
The town's requirement that businesses at Nathhorst Triangle primarily serve the needs of Portola Valley and its sphere of influences has proved increasingly difficult to meet.
As a result, the town established a moratorium on all new applications in its office and commercial zones about a year and a half ago to give the Planning Commission time to review new zoning and current ordinances.
With the September deadline looming, the Planning Commission is now discussing the benefits of rezoning the Nathhorst Triangle for a mix of high-density residential development with very limited office space.
The proposal was discussed by the Town Council February 28 when members voted to allocate $7,000 to pay for a model depicting what a high-density housing development might look like at Nathhorst. The vote to allocate funds for the model was 4 to 1, with council member Ted Driscoll dissenting.
And while the purpose of the discussion was to decide on funding for the model, it was clear from the debate that followed that the council was not in total agreement with the Planning Commission about rezoning.
"It's as if we're trying to entice the property owners to look at a development like this," Councilman Craig Brown said. And Councilman Driscoll echoed that sentiment by adding: "I'd rather see us maintain the role of regulating, not proposing."
"Where are the property owners in this? Do they want this?" Councilman Ed Davis asked.
But Councilwoman Nancy Vian agreed with the Planning Commission's direction when she said: "I happen to think that we have enough office development in our town, so I'm very interested in exploring this option."
At their March 7 meeting, Planning Commission members discussed potential new zoning and defended the town's right to set the agenda for development.
"All planning has a social element," said Planning Commission Chairman Craig Breon.
"The town has agreed that we have about as much office space as we need. That leaves us with residential development," said Commissioner Stephen Toben.
Councilwoman Vian, also in attendance at the Planning Commission's meeting, added: "We had a philosophical discussion on whether public funds should be spent on what is essentially a private development. But I was surprised by the strong feelings of some of the Town Council members about a complete rezoning of the area."
Regarding public opinion on any rezoning, Commissioner Breon said, "When we display this model showing how high-density housing might look at Nathhorst Triangle, we'll make pretty aggressive attempts to get the neighbors in to see it."
Property owners
And what do the property owners think? None voiced their opinion at either meeting.
In a telephone interview, Doug Aikens, the attorney representing one of the three property owners at Nathhorst, the McKinneys, said he was in favor of any change that might meet with the town's approval.
"Expanding the range of alternative uses gives the owners more flexibility," Mr. Aikens said. "That allows them to consider how to proceed with development," he said.
Ed Jelich, another owner, said he was concerned about the neighboring homeowners.
"I'd just as soon keep it as office and commercial zoning," he said in a telephone interview. "The neighbors are not happy about having housing back there. And my family's been in Portola Valley for 110 years now, and we don't want our neighbors to be upset."
Mr. Jelich currently has a proposal before the Planning Commission to develop his 1-plus-acre lot into office space, with a coffee shop. According to Planning Coordinator Leslie Lambert, the Planning Commission is not looking at that proposal favorably.
The third Nathhorst Triangle property owner, Terrell Slawson, didn't know about the plans afoot. "I haven't received any notification from the town about this plan to rezone, so I need more information to comment, he said.
Public hearings on the proposed changes in zoning have not yet been scheduled.
