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The contentious multigenerational and affordable housing project on 10 Still Creek Road was approved in a 4-1 vote by the Woodside Town Council on May 26. Council member Hassan Aburish, who represents District 5, cast the dissenting vote.
The housing project is located in the Western Hills neighborhood in District 5 and was proposed by property owners Christin New and David Mittelman. The proposal, which includes a main house and three additional units, is listed on the town’s pipeline list of projects that will help it meet its state-mandated housing requirements.
After the project was denied by the town’s Planning Commission in November 2025, the couple filed an appeal.
“This project has always meant more to us than just helping our family. We see it as a civic responsibility. Woodside has been working to meet its housing element obligations, and we’re proud to help bring much-needed affordable housing to our community,” New and Mittelman said in an email.
The couple’s project to house their aging parents and offer affordable rental housing to local workers faced an uphill battle. For six years, New and Mittelman struggled with getting their proposal approved due to issues with building setbacks, slope stability, and neighbors’ concerns over wildfire risk and lack of emergency vehicle access.
The May 26 meeting was a continuation of the project’s hearing on May 12, where neighbors brought in experts on wildfire and geophysics to make public comments opposing approval of New and Mittelman’s proposal. The council opted to continue the meeting to better evaluate all the new information that was presented.
During deliberations, all council members except for Aburish expressed their support for the project after reviewing the submitted testimonies and staff report.
While Aburish sympathized with New and her family’s struggles to get the housing project approved, he said upon seeing how large the development would be, he could understand why it’s been a point of contention among the neighbors.
Aburish compared the situation to another controversial project, on 215 Grandview Drive, that led to litigation between the property owner and the neighbors over the width of a private road easement. The neighbors won the lawsuit and the property remains undeveloped, Aburish said.
“I would encourage everyone to please mediate,” Aburish said. “I would hate to see you get this house built, move in and still have all this conflict with neighbors.”
New and Mittelman explained that the circumstances of 10 Still Creek are different and they are confident in the legal basis of their project’s approval. The couple said they look forward to starting the permitting process and hopes to break ground in 2027.
David Madrid, one of 54 neighbors who oppose the project, told The Almanac that after the Planning Commission denied the project, he met with New to ask her to reconcile with neighbors and work toward a compromise.
“The land that sustains Skywood Acres and Still Creek is beautiful and historic yet fragile,” said Madrid. “My family and I want to be good stewards of that land and constructive neighbors to the people who live here.”
Madrid said he sees his neighborhood as a place where people are respected and cared for and found the disagreement between New, Mittelman and the neighbors “troubling.”
“I remain committed to reducing that strife, pursuing reconciliation and restoring a sense of welcome in Skywood Acre and Still Creek,” he added.
New and Mittelman said they appreciate the time that their neighbors and the council took to ask questions and carefully review their proposal. While it was a difficult process, they hope to move forward with their neighbors in a “spirit of goodwill” and open themselves to conversations about their concerns.
“We hope this can be a good example of balancing housing goals with neighborhood concerns, all within the current rules,” they said. “Still, this process showed some of the challenges Woodside faces with its zoning code and planning process.”
