Woodside keeps courts busy Woodside keeps courts busy (January 26, 2005)

There's never a dull moment for the town of Woodside's legal team. Besides being close to settling two lawsuits filed by Bob and Ann Bass and Debra Dodge, the town is headed to trial next month as a plaintiff over allegedly unruly peacocks.

And, as first reported in the Almanac last week, the town is being sued by historic preservationists over the demolition of the Jackling house owned by Steve Jobs.
Peacocks

The town filed a lawsuit against resident Ronald Mullin and Paula Schmidt as a code enforcement action over complaints about noise and other problems caused by their peacock flock, said Town Manager Susan George. Neighbors have complained to the town and to sheriff's deputies about the raucous birds getting loose and rampaging through their yards. The case is headed to court in late February, said Ms. George.
Jackling demolition

The town was served with a lawsuit on January 20 by a group of historic preservationists calling themselves Uphold Our Heritage. The lawsuit contends that the Town Council violated state environmental law when it approved Mr. Jobs' request to demolish the historic Jackling house on Mountain Home Road.

That's sure to require some attention in the months ahead, although, because it's Mr. Jobs' project that's at issue, he's going to have to foot the bill for the town's legal defense, according to Bob Lanzone, the Woodside town attorney-emeritus.

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