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On July 30, Woodside’s Town Council continued to face community dissatisfaction with its housing plans as it voted to approve to adopt resolutions on the housing element. The chosen sites for multifamily housing are on High Road, Raymundo Drive, 773 Cañada Road and at Cañada College.
The housing element is required by the state for all local governments to develop a plan to meet housing demands across California every eight years. The town of Woodside has been out of state compliance since Jan. 31, 2023 and is required to develop 328 new housing units between 2023-31.
This special meeting was a continuation of a July 23 meeting.
The council approved all housing element-related items including changing designations from open space to residential on High Road and Raymundo Drive, adopting the resolution to the Emerald Lake Specific Plan with multi-family zoning on 773 Cañada Road and adopting objective design standards and rezoning on all parcels.
Although residents at the meeting spoke out against the four sites, the council clarified that sites will not be changed and are set. Council member Ned Fluet explained that the sites have been chosen over dozens of meetings and years of discussion.
Many of the complaints were about how developments would affect property value, wastewater, destruct open space and the town’s rural characteristics and fire risks.
Town Manager Kevin Bryant announced that the state Department of Housing and Community Development acknowledged that the adopted housing element met the requirements of the state housing element law. The town will need to complete necessary rezoning before getting their housing element approved.
High Road
The site on High Road, previously designated as an open space, was voted by the council to be designated as residential allowing for the planned multi-housing development. Many residents are against losing an environmentally sensitive area to a high density housing development and called the council to reconsider.
Concerns from residents included the future traffic congestion that would develop on Woodside Road, safety of gas lines, decrease in property value and the destruction of natural land.
“In terms of the residents that live around High Road and especially on Todo El Mundo, you are going to change the quality of their life and the property values. The way that this whole area is there will be no open space at all,“ said High Road resident Toni Donaldson.
Resident Donna Howe voiced that the location of the sites do not allow access to schools, transit, jobs, healthcare and grocery stores for low income residents despite these criteria being required for building affordable housing. Bryant responded that the HCD has reviewed the housing element and found it to be compliant with state law.
The council voted 4-1 on revising the general plan designation for sites on High Road from open space and environmentally sensitive to residential. Council member Goeld opposed and Council member Dick Brown recused himself for being a resident on High Road.
773 Cañada Road
The council also deliberated on the privately owned property on 773 Cañada Road which will be a 1-acre high density housing development with 16 units on a sloping site. The developer has decreased the acreage from 1.6 acres to 1-acre.
On the 773 Cañada Road site, public commenters are worried about the average amount of wastewater that will be produced and the height of the developments.
“According to the general plan, buildings should be subservient to the landscape, keeping buildings from overwhelming the trees that survive construction is a critical factor,” said resident Steve Lubin. He suggested the council limit building heights to 28 feet at the 30-foot setback and an 18 feet height limit at the 20-foot setback.
The council voted 6-0 to approve the resolution to revise the Emerald Lake Hill Specific Plan with multi-family zoning on 773 Cañada Road with sewer expansion, the adoption of a 30-foot height limit and reshaping of the property on the rezoning map.
Raymundo Drive
Raymundo Drive’s property is another town owned site that is designated as open space with a single access road. Residents are concerned that a development on this site will be a fire safety risk and how a development on the highway would affect the future occupants safety.
“Are you aware that the fire code limits the number of dwellings to 30 on a single access road. …The fire code states where there is a number of dwelling units exceeding 30 shall be provided with two separate fire access roads,” said resident Sue Poletti.
The Raymundo site is currently only accessible through Runnymede Road and sits along the side of Highway 280.
Kim Hansen called for the council to consider the level of sound and pollution that residents who will live along the highway will face. “Building next to (Highway) 280 requires mitigation to keep occupants safe,” she said.
Council member Brown agreed on adding soundproofing materials to the development and the council agreed that they must comply with the fire code which will be addressed during the planning building phase, according to Mayor Jenn Wall.
The council voted 5-1 on the general designation for Raymundo Drive to change from open space to residential. Goeld voted against the item.
Cañada College and rezoning ordinance
The Cañada College site will build 75 units for students and families on the college campus on which a portion of its land shares a property line with Woodside residents on Godetia Drive. Residents are worried about the multi-family residential zone “lot 1” on Cañada College which lies next to the Godetia and Somerset neighborhoods.
“The college intends to build student multi-family housing and child daycare on this site. Please imagine a facility of this character within 20 feet of your backyard,” said Dan Stoddard who lives on Godetia Drive.
He also explains that the site sits at the same or above the elevation of Godetia homes which will cause shadows over the existing houses in Woodside. Stoddard asked the council to relocate or remove the multi-family residential zone on the campus in the zoning map and ordinance.
Town Manager Bryant explained that Cañada College is under the College District Board, which has already approved the Facilities Master Plan which is part of the town’s housing element. “Their process to develop a master plan is also not something that can easily be changed,” he added.
For objective design standards, Planning Director Sage Schaan clarifies that the town is able to create setbacks and set height limits to the MFRZ “lot 1” development on the campus. Council member Shaw suggested that they reduce the height limit and develop a 120 feet setback from the town property line on “lot 1” and increase the height limit on “lot 2” by five feet.
Through deliberation, the council agreed on a setback of 110 feet from the town’s property line for all properties adjacent to Godetia Drive and a height limit of 30 feet on Cañada College’s “lot 1.”
The council voted 5-1 to approve a resolution to establish new objective design standards for multi-family zones on Raymundo Drive, a portion of 773 Cañada with height limit changes to 30 feet and portions of Cañada College with changes to setback and height limits.
An additional item was approved with a vote of 5-1 to introduce and schedule a second reading and adoption of ordinances to rezone all parcels to multi-family zones. Council member Goeld opposed both items.
Once again the Woodside Town Council has completely ignored the voices of the people who elected them. Yes, we understand that the state held a gun to our heads, but the town council should have listened to the suggestions made regarding how the new homes would be designed and built (i.e. down from 30 feet to 28 for heights of homes).
Who will pay for the road repairs after all this construction?
When asked about the challenges of fighting fires on those new tall homes and very narrow roads (with only ONE way IN or OUT), the town manager said Redwood City has ladder trucks that will help. Will the Redwood City FD get there in time to save those homes or the people who live in them… Let’s hope we never find out. I suggest you use your vote, to tell the WS town council to listen to the VOICE of the People.
T.M. Johnson
Changes that are overdue, that’s for sure. Exclusivity and economic segregation is out of step with the needs of today’s society. Grow up, Woodside, and end your ceaseless complaining. The long-standing Princess and the Pea vibe should embarrass you. Are you even aware of how the rest of us see you? Clearly you don’t care.
@T.M. Johnson
30′ vs. 28′? Oh the humanity! Clutch those pearls and fight the vapors!
Bless your heart T.M.
PS. try building new roads.