When the Woodside Town Council convenes with three new members in December, the agenda may include proposals on two changes that would have a significant effect on residential construction in town.
The current council met on Oct. 27 and agreed in concept to increase the allowable floor area of main residences, proportional to the size of the lot, and to have the planning director, rather than the entire Architectural and Site Review Board, review certain small projects, such as new structures with floor areas of 1,000 square feet or less.
In deference to the new council, the current council — which does not meet at all in November — did not act on these proposals. The town’s municipal code prohibits council meetings after an election until the results have been certified.
Town Hall staff will be redrafting an ordinance meant to streamline ASRB processes, including proposing which small projects the planning director would review. Those reviews would be held during public meetings with advance notice, and the planning director would have the option of referring a project to the ASRB.
Another provision of the new ordinance would shrink the ASRB to five members from the current seven, a change intended to speed up project reviews.
The council also agreed in concept to allow an increase in the floor area of a main residence of up to 10 percent beyond the maximum size now allowed. The change would include houses granted exceptions to size and/or height limits by the Planning Commission. The total floor area for a given parcel would not increase.
This proposal came about after residents of Woodside Heights made a case for larger homes to accommodate changing times, with more people working at home and the Bay Area cost of living pushing families into providing space for relatives. The change is not likely to take effect until the spring, officials said.
With one vacancy on the ASRB, the council also interviewed three applicants to fill that seat — residents Bengt Henriksen, Scott Larson and Greg Raleigh. Mayor Tom Shanahan asked council members to rank their choices, then vote on the leading candidate.
With Dave Burow and Dave Tanner dissenting, the council chose Mr. Larson on a 5-2 vote.
