The town councils of Woodside and Portola Valley are looking for volunteers to serve on advisory panels.

In Woodside, there is one vacant seat on the Planning Commission for a term that expires in February, and two four-year terms on the Architectural Site Review Board (ASRB). Applications must be in by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, and are available at the town's website at this link for the Planning Commission and this link for the ASRB.

In Portola Valley, the Planning Commission has one vacancy for a four-year term. Applicants have until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, to submit a letter of interest. For more information, go to this link.

The Woodside and Portola Valley planning commissions address land-use and development policies, grant and oversee conditional use permits, review variance applications, receive appeals of ordinances having to do with zoning and subdivisions, and advise the town councils on general plan issues. Their decisions may be appealed to the councils.

Both towns also have architectural review panels that administer local residential design guidelines and oversee significant new residential and commercial developments, including major additions and changes of use. The panels are principally responsible for the visual and rural character of the communities, which includes minimizing disturbance to the natural settings and ensuring that improvements are properly related to their sites and adjacent uses.

Panel members are appointed by town councils, usually after interviews held in public at council meetings. The panels meet twice a month.