Portola Valley: Ann Wengert named to Planning Commission Portola Valley: Ann Wengert named to Planning Commission (February 04, 2004)

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

Ann E. Wengert of Grove Drive in Portola Valley is the town's newest planning commissioner. She was named to the five-member commission January 14 in a unanimous vote by the Town Council.

The commission advises the council on zoning issues, and approves conditional use permits and variances.

Ms. Wengert is an experienced institutional real estate investor and adviser -- mostly for large pension funds. With her partner, Ms. Wengert has participated in more than $7.5 billion in transactions, she told the Almanac. She is also a longtime executive-level volunteer with the YMCA, according to her application letter to the council.

"I think she's a real find," said Councilman Steve Toben, whose seat on the commission became vacant after he joined the council.

"She just came in so much stronger than anyone else," said Councilman Richard Merk.

Six other candidates applied for the four-year term on the commission, many with relevant experience.

"This is like judging a gymnastics competition, where the winner gets 9.95 and the loser gets 9.90," Mr. Toben said.

"I'm in awe of the quality of the applicants we've had for a position that is thankless," said Councilman Ted Driscoll.

"One solution is to expand the membership of the commission," quipped Mayor George Comstock.

The other applicants for the position were, in alphabetical order: Virginia Bacon, a 30-year resident, real estate broker and former observer of the Planning Commission for the League of Women Voters; Lee Clark, a land use attorney and opponent of the defeated Measure H, which would have rezoned parts of Nathhorst Triangle for higher-density housing; Kirk Neely, a longtime resident and physician whose family owns the Spring Ridge property in Portola Valley; Marianne Plunder, a marketing executive and current chair of the Emergency Preparedness Committee; Sally Ann Reiss, a business executive and current chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee; and Linda Weil, a public affairs consultant and co-director of the proposed accelerated town hall redesign project.

One of these may be appointed when Craig Breon makes good on his announcement at the council meeting that he will be leaving the Planning Commission some time before December.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.