From: Jim Wing
To: Public Comment
Cc: Gabriel Engeland
Subject: Halsey House Study Session
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026 8:13:01 AM
Los Altos Mayor Meadows and Distinguished Council Members, Subject: Halsey House June 23 2026 CEQA Report Study Session Staff and consultants have done a good job preparing this CEQA report. Following is some of my comments on items that need revision or need to be added to report. I plan to submit a legal CEQA letter to Los Altos Saff before June 27, 2026 that has all of my items.
Attachment 6 -Appendix E Geotechnical Investigation
No evidence of discussion on active septic tank or its drain field that extends almost to Adobe Creekbank. In early springtime, I always see Adobe Creek green algae just downstream. A soil core sample was drilled April 2024 by consultants in septic tank drain field, but no data is in report. This data is important because it decides if Federal Clean Water Act mitigation is required.
No evidence of Halsey House crawl space soil contamination data after more than 50 years of rat habitation.
6.1.2 Abandonment of Existing Utilities. Add statement that PG&E has removed all electrical power lines from Halsey House and did disconnect at electrical power pole located on Redwood Grove west ridge. If PG&E electrical power is needed in the future, it will require undergrounding down an environmentally sensitive west Redwood Grove ridge.
6.1.2 Impacts of the San Francisco Dusky-Footed Woodrat. Since consultants’ investigation in April 2024, woodrats have abandoned nests near Halsey House and moved to about 108 feet to Redwood Grove south border. This item should be deleted from report.
1.1.2 Demolition Details. Construction / Demolition equipment access would need to cross wood Adobe Creek Bridge that was built over 45 years ago and rated at 8 ton when new. Report states that all equipment / loads would be in the 6 to 7+ ton range. In the past 20 years, the bridge main wood support beams show evidence of “stress failure” at point were ends of beams rest on cement footing.
When heavy loads now cross the bridge, you can measure failure by “stress dusting”. Prior Los Altos Public Works Director, observed and commented on this ever-increasing problem. County Fire Department has also made the same observation and were going to revise their emergency fire access procedures to route 7.5-ton pump truck to backside of Hasey house via Manresa Way and use its end of road fire hydrant.
Two mature redwood trees, one on each side of bridge restrict width of truck loads /
equipment. If proper space to protect redwood trees from truck loads / equipment can not be maintained, authorization to use private road Manresa Way will be needed.
Thank You for your consideration, Jim Wing Milverton Road Los Altos Ca.
From: Roberta Phillips
To: Public Comment; City Council
Subject: Halsey House study session 6/23/2026
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 11:10:38 AM
Dear Council Members
I received an email from a friend stating " PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: From Thursday, June 11 to Monday, July 27 at 5:00 pm the public and all affected agencies are hereby invited to review the Draft EIR and submit written comments.
1. If I want to make a public comment where do I send the comment?
2. If the draft EIR was not available on the City website until June 18th then how can people comment before the report was available?
3. How were the residents notified? Was It in the City Manager's Weekly Update?( Our City Heights Newsletter) ?
4. How much would it cost to rehabilitate Halsey House? Would you please reply back to me in writing.
Thanks
Roberta Phillips
From: [email protected]
To: Public Comment
Subject: [External Sender]study session june 23 2026 halsey house Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 12:54:26 PM
Halsey House Draft EIR comments
An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in California must include a clearly stated purpose and project description. Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the environmental analysis relies on knowing exactly what the building or site is intended to be used for. The project here is clearly described as “demolition.” At no time has it been determined that the Halsey House should be demolished. City Council sought an EIR with alternative options for Halsey House, not a demolition project. Therefore, this report is not valid.
A historic landmark requires evaluation of alternatives in great detail including preservation, rehabilitation, restoration or reconstruction. The City cannot not only look at a historic resource thru the lens of what its use is or could be. If it is deemed historic, it has intrinsic worth and is protected by CEQA.
In fact, there are a range of possible uses for the building, including its most recent use as a nature center and facility for youth nature programs. Other potential uses include as a small performance center, yoga and meditation facility or perhaps even as an office facility for city staff, or Grassroots Ecology operations at the preserve.
When Halsey House was “mothballed,” the rationale was that the City did not have funds to properly repair it. In the ensuing years, there was little to no maintenance, even when reports identified critical and urgent repairs necessary to preserve and stabilize the building.
The City has approximately $16M in its Park in Lieu/Park Impact fund, yet none of those funds have been allocated for critical repairs to Halsey House. This speaks to the City’s de facto demolition by neglect and failure to properly prioritize use of park funds on existing parks and facilities.
Given the City Council’s proven carelessness with preservation efforts of historic buildings, the best alternative at this time might be to mothball Halsey House once again until such time as a responsible council properly addresses the significance of this historic landmark and finds a path forward that results in preserving an important contributor to Los Altos history.
The only reason Redwood Grove exists is because of the Halsey family. To tear the house down, especially without a plan to recognize its importance in situ, is an affront to the history and legacy of the Halseys and our community. We deserve better. And so do future generations of youths who should have the ability to experience nature through an immersive experience with the Halsey House and its legacy as an integral part.
Jon Baer, President
Friends of Historic Redwood Grove
Virus-free.www.avg.com
From: PALLA Support
To: Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment Council Special Meeting Study Session 6-23-26 Item #1 Halsey House Project Draft EIR Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 1:13:17 PM
Attachments: Halsey House reso_no_2023-27-signed.pdf
Dear Council Members,
On April 25, 2023, the City Council conducted a public Study Session regarding the future of the Halsey House and subsequently adopted Resolution No. 2023-27.
Resolution No. 2023-27 states:
"At the conclusion of the Study Session, City Council identified two options (total demolition and adaptive reuse) and directed staff to proceed with CEQA analysis for these two options and the alternatives." The Resolution further states:
"When the environmental review is complete, Council will have information about the environmental consequences of different options concerning the Halsey House to provide further direction to staff."
The Council did not authorize environmental review of a project defined as "demolition." Rather, the Council directed environmental review of multiple options concerning the future of the Halsey House, including total demolition, adaptive reuse, and other alternatives, so that the Council could subsequently determine a preferred course of action.
The Draft EIR before the Council is demolition of the Halsey House.
Accordingly, the project filed, circulated, and evaluated for environmental review is materially different from the scope authorized by the City Council in Resolution No. 2023-27.
This distinction is not merely semantic. Under State Law and CEQA, the project description establishes the scope of environmental review and must accurately reflect the action authorized by the lead agency.
Resolution No. 2023-27 directed environmental review of multiple options concerning the future of the Halsey House. The Draft EIR instead evaluates a project whose stated action is demolition of the Halsey House.
This is not a routine comment on the adequacy of the Draft EIR's analysis, mitigation measures, or alternatives. It is a threshold issue concerning the fundamental scope of the project being evaluated.
Therefore, the Council must direct the Draft EIR to be corrected, revised, and recirculated with a project description, project objectives, and
environmental analysis consistent with Resolution No. 2023-27.
Because the environmental review has been prepared and circulated based on a project definition that differs from the action authorized by the City Council, the deficiency cannot be remedied through responses to comments alone and requires reconsideration of the underlying environmental analysis before the Draft EIR proceeds further.
Sincerely,
Members of Preservation Action League Los Altos
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-27
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOS ALTOS
APPROPRIATING FUNDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR THE
HALSEY HOUSE, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCED $200,000, AND FINDING THAT THE COUNCIL'S ACTION IN
APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION IS EXEMPT FROM REVIEW UNDER THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
WHEREAS, at April 25, 2023, Study Session, the City Council received information and a status update on the Halsey House; and
WHEREAS, at the conclusion of the Study Session, City Council identified two options (total demolition and adaptive reuse) and directed staff to proceed with CEQA analysis for these two options and the alternatives; and
WHEREAS, when environmental review is complete, Council will have information about the environmental consequences of different options concerning the Halsey House to provide further direction to staff; and
WHEREAS, the City Council's action in approving this resolution is statutorily exempt from review under CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies);
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Los Altos hereby:
1. Finds that the foregoing recitals are true and correct.
2. Appropriates $200,000 from the General Fund to Project# CF-01004 for CEQA analysis.
3. Authorizes the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement in an amount not-to-exceed $200,000 with an environmental consultant to perform environmental review as previously directed by the City Council.
4. Authorizes the City Manager to take such further actions as may be reasonably necessary to implement the objects and purposes of this resolution, provided that any expenditure beyond that appropriated and authorized herein shall require approval from the City Council.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a Resolution passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Los Altos at a meeting thereof on the 9 th
day of May, 2023, by the following vote:
Resolution No 2023-27 Page 1
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Attest:
Dailey, Fligor, Meadows, Weinberg
Lee Eng
Melissa Thumufu MMC
CITY CLERK
Resolution No 2023-27
s,MAYOR
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Page2
From: Tagfam
To: Public Comment
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA ITEM 1 [Halsey House Project Draft EIR Study Session] - [June 23, 2026] Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 3:34:37 PM
Dear Los Altos City Councilmembers,
This Council authorized review of the Redwood Grove Halsey House for adaptive reuse as a nature center for educational and recreational programming. I request that the Council rescope the EIR so adaptive reuse and demolition alternatives are evaluated with equal rigor. The analysis now before the Council appears to be scoped for demolition only, without a balanced evaluation of alternatives and their relative environmental, historic, and community impacts.
Since 2008, the Halsey House has remained vacant, unused, and insufficiently maintained to the point that demolition is now being considered. As the report acknowledges, the Halsey House is a local Historic Landmark and is eligible for the California Register of Historic Resources (CRHR); accordingly, it is a historic resource under CEQA. A project description that evaluates only demolition is inadequate where adaptive reuse was previously authorized for review and remains a feasible alternative for preserving the site’s historic and public value.
I urge the Council to rescope the EIR to provide a fair and complete alternatives analysis, including adaptive reuse as a nature center, before taking further action on demolition. I also request that the City review the governance and scoping process that led to a demolition-focused analysis, and that both the Parks Commission and Historic Commission, for as long as it remains, be included before any final decision is made regarding this valuable City of Los Altos resource.
Sincerely,
Valerie Taglio