|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Portola Valley Town Council unanimously approved Stanford University’s Portola Terrace faculty and community housing project during a Dec. 5 meeting.
The housing project includes 27 single family homes, 12 affordable housing units and 89 parking spaces which will be developed on a 75.2-acre parcel on 3530 Alpine Road known as the Stanford Wedge.
The council was presented with the Planning Commission’s recommendations on Stanford’s proposed project, discussing existing concerns about traffic, evacuation, trails and affordable housing units.
Traffic and evacuation concerns on Alpine Road
Hexagon Transportation Consultants, conducted a study after the Planning Commission requested more information on potential issues that the development may have on Alpine Road traffic. The commission questioned whether the traffic study on the project’s Environmental Impact Report from 2019 was still relevant. Community members were also calling for a left turn lane on the project’s driveway.
Hexagon’s turn lane warrant analysis determined that a turn lane would be warranted “within acceptable service targets for a stop sign controlled side street without a left turn receiving lane.”
There is currently one entryway in and out of the property. Residents and council members stated their concern about the dangers of one entryway during an evacuation. The study indicated that there was no issue with having two or one entrances.
Due to the town’s committees and residents’ concerns on traffic, Stanford proposed a contribution of $100,000 to the town to fund for analysis, design or implementation and improvements to the traffic in front of the property. The university is allowing the town to use the money on other improvement projects and road analysis on Alpine Road within the vicinity of the property. Stanford asks that the town return the money if not used within 15 years.
Council member Craig Taylor emphasized the importance of maintaining the safety of current and future residents and questioned what it would take to conduct a traffic study on changing the speed limit on Alpine Road.
Hexagon Traffic Consultant Kailing Kuo said a study could be conducted at the town level to assess traffic volume and the average speed of drivers on the road. Interim Planning Director Terrance Grindall clarified that travel speed cannot be reduced more than a certain percentage below average speed.
Residents continued to advocate for an updated traffic study and improvements to widen Alpine Road.
“I am ultimately disappointed with the final design,” said Rebecca Flynn, council member-elect and vice chair of the Architectural and Site Control Commission. During public comment, Flynn called for Alpine Road to be widened to 100 feet to allow an addition of a center merge lane and turnout lane into and out of the project site.
“I ask that approval of the project be made condition on planned changes to optimize road safety for new and existing residents and to ensure preparedness for emergency evacuation,” said Ed Holland, chair of the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee.
Plans for open space and trails
Stanford is aiming to preserve 84% of the open space on its property by only developing on the 10.8-acre northeastern portion of the project site. In the open space area, the university is proposing a loop trail that would connect to the existing trail on the west side of Alpine Road.
This new trail would be accessible to the general public.
The open space area also includes a fire road that is not accessible to the public, only for vehicles used to maintain vegetation to reduce wildfire risks.
Below market-rate units
Mayor Sarah Wernikioff questioned whether the affordable housing units will truly be first come first serve or will involve an application review process.
Grindall explained that the management of the review could be done by town staff, a consultant or a third-party group. The application allows the town to screen the potential residents of the units on whether they meet the minimum requirements. The first 12 applicants that meet the minimum requirements will be considered as potential tenants, said John Donahoe, Stanford’s senior director of planning and entitlement.
Taylor had additional questions on who would be judging the applications and whether the first applicants that meet the criteria will be chosen through a lottery. Donahoe confirmed that this would typically be the process but the main focus is to fill the available units.
“I hope that we can guarantee that the affordable housing units will be open to non-Stanford people,” said Portola Valley resident Rita Comes.
Two years ago, Comes said she conducted her own survey on how easy it would be to apply for an apartment on Stanford’s housing sites as a member of the public. She said she was shocked to hear from the housing staff that she would have a “fat chance” of getting an apartment as a non-Stanford affiliate.
“I hope that we can use a third party to take care of this and this was not just one place that I called, but each and every place that is a Stanford property,” said Comes during public comment. “So I really hope that we can do better for the people that are going to be coming to our beautiful town.”
Council approval of the project
The council voted to approve the project under multiple conditions including a traffic study using the $100,000 contributed by Stanford, overflow parking plan and connection of trails.
The council chose to forgo the ASCC’s recommendations to move the development 25 feet south, which Stanford explained would cause issues to the design due to steep slopes and would increase expenses.
Among concerns about overflow parking, Taylor recommended that town staff work with Stanford to create a plan to address potential needs for more parking spaces.
The council also agreed to maintain the two-entry roadway onto the property rather than a single entryway with a turnaround. Council member Mary Hufty abstained as she wasn’t in favor of either option.
For the trails, Taylor proposed adding a condition to connect the existing trail path on Alpine Road to Stanford’s proposed trail, which all council members agreed to. Taylor also suggested a study be conducted on the viability of adding a fire access road for pedestrians.
