Portola Valley Notes: Resident challenges approval of Sequoias' expansion plan Portola Valley Notes: Resident challenges approval of Sequoias' expansion plan (October 06, 2004)

Jon Silver, a former Portola Valley Town Council member, has appealed a Planning Commission's September 1 decision allowing The Sequoias retirement community to expand.

Mr. Silver filed the appeal on September 30, the last day possible, said Angie Howard, the town administrator.

The Town Council must now conduct a public hearing on the appeal. Ms. Howard said she will ask the council to set a hearing date at its October 13 meeting. The hearing must take place after October 20, but within 55 days of the filing date of the appeal.

The commission approved an amendment to The Sequoias' conditional use permit, allowing the retirement community to build a new 21,500-square-foot facility for 24 physically frail residents. The building is to be located on the north end of The Seqouias' Portola Road property, next to the parking lot of the Windy Hill open space preserve.

Mr. Silver is challenging the commission's approval as inconsistent with the town's general plan, zoning ordinance, site-development ordinance and possibly other ordinances, Ms. Howard said.

Update on project for Town Center

The latest concept for a new Portola Valley Town Center complex will be presented to the Town Council at its meeting set for Wednesday, October 13, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Siegel & Strain Architects will present a revised "draft conceptual master plan" based on information gathered from meetings with town committees and Town Center users.

The council meets in the Historic Schoolhouse at the Town Center, 765 Portola Road in Portola Valley.

Residents are invited to view and comment on the plan. For more information, go to www.portolavalley.net and click on Town Center Improvement Project.

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