|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The town of Portola Valley is exploring alternative affordable housing sites to Dorothy Ford Park, after backlash from the community when the town made its original proposals. The Ad Hoc Site Evaluation Committee presented the Town Council with four potential sites during a recent council meeting.
Building on Dorothy Ford Park “encroaches on our recreational resources,” said committee member Karen Askey. “Dorothy Ford Park is one of Portola Valley’s heavily used open spaces serving residents and our surrounding communities from Little Leagues to hikers.”
The property also is home to wildlife and two heritage oak trees.
As a replacement, the committee evaluated four sites for housing: Village Square, Thomas Fogarty Winery Open Space, Christ Church and Hawthorns Area.
The Village Square located at 884 Portola Road was presented as a potential site for mixed-use housing development including 50 affordable units. The property owner and developer, Stanley Lo, had previously attempted to build moderate-income homes in 2005 but was denied by the town.
According to the committee, Lo indicated that he would also want to build an additional 25 market-rate units to subsidize the low income housing.
The Village Square location is also accessible to the Town Center, library and parks.
Thomas Fogarty Winery Open Space parcel at 19501 Skyline Blvd. is a 215-acre property that would allow for a 14-acre parcel with the potential for 50 low-income units, 10 to 20 units or affiliated housing for forestry and open space employees. According to the committee, the parcel includes independent evacuation routes but has no sewer.
Council member Helen Wolter questioned whether the town would be obligated to fund the development of infrastructures such as sewers. Interim Planning and Building Director Terrence Grindall said that the town would want to work with the developer to see if its possible to build a water system, whether it be a well or septic.
The Fogarty owners expressed interest in working with the town and selling the 14-acre site to the Portola Valley Open Space Committee, said Askey.
Christ Church is already included in the town’s housing element for six above-market rate units but the church has expressed interest in offering low-income housing. The property is a flat 2.9 acres.
The Hawthorns Property is a 79-acre parcel owned by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. The land has been divided into two projects: Hawthorns Area Plan and Hawthorns Historic Complex.
The Hawthorns Area Plan is a yearslong project that started in 2021 that aims to reopen its public trails and protect and restore the native habitat. The Hawthorns Historic Complex is a planning effort that began in early 2024 to stabilize its historic cottage onsite and determine the future use of the property.
According to the Ad Hoc Site Evaluation Committee, one of the goals approved for the historic complex by the Midpen board includes the consideration of “short- or long-term housing that supports the district’s mission.” The property, however, currently has a conservation easement that protects the land as well as some historic designation and finance issues.
Council members expressed their support for the Village Square parcel and Fogarty property.
The council asks that the committee and town staff look into the zoning for the Village Square, the range of total units the developer is interested in building and a budget proposal. For the Fogarty site, the council is interested in the necessary zoning on the parcel and whether low income housing can be built on the property.
