1 Melissa Thurman
From: Emma Brayfield
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 9:59 PM
To: Town Center
Subject: Glen Oaks Closure---opposed!
Do NOT close this facility and turn it into something other than for horses. The horse history of PV and the surrounding area is what makes it so unique and special. We must preserve this!!! Thank you,
Emma
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Jeremy Levine
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2022 4:45 PM
To: Melissa Thurman; Town Center
Cc: Craig Hughes; John Richards; Jeff Aalfs; Sarah Wernikoff; Maryann Moise Derwin Subject: Public Comment on Portola Valley Draft Housing Element for July 13 City Council Meeting
Attachments: 7.8.22 Portola Valley Housing Element Letter.pdf I am submitting the attached comment on behalf of the Housing Leadership Council in regards to Portola Valley's draft housing element. Please share this comment with the entire city council and planning commission and distribute as public comment at the July 13 city council meeting.
If any member of the Portola Valley community would like to connect to discuss this letter, they can arrange a meeting with me at calendly.com/jlevine97.
Thank you for your consideration, and enjoy your weekends, Jeremy
--
Jeremy Levine (he • him)
Policy Manager
Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County
2905 El Camino Real
San Mateo, CA 94403
www.hlcsmc.org
650.242.1764
Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn • Instagram • Become A Member! Town of Portola Valley
765 Portola Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028
RE: Housing Element Public Comment
To the honorable Portola Valley Town Council,
The Housing Leadership Council (HLC) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Town of Portola Valley’s housing element. HLC works with communities and their leaders to create and preserve quality affordable homes. We were founded by service providers and affordable housing professionals over 20 years ago to change the policies at the root cause of our housing shortage.
Portola Valley’s June 8 draft housing element presents an exemplary plan for meeting housing needs at all levels of affordability over the next eight years. Over the past three months, HLC has reviewed every draft housing element released in San Mateo County. Portola Valley’s draft presents the most credible proposal for both affordable and market rate housing we have yet seen.
In particular, Portola Valley deserves credits for identifying realistic sites for housing at all levels of affordability and committing to implement ambitious policies to promote housing on those sites. The dedication of the Ford Field site represents the town’s commitment to promoting affordable housing using all resources at its disposal; other sites are made realistic by a combination of upzoning and other incentives for affordable housing. Most programs have clear deadlines and quantified objectives, using clear language to outline substantive policy commitments.
Portola Valley’s housing plan meets the needs of the local community, whose most vulnerable residents struggle under the burden of high housing costs. According to the draft housing element’s needs assessment, the price of owner-occupied units has risen from approximately $1.5 million in 2003 to over $4 million as of 2021.1 Rents rose by approximately $1,000 just between 2009 and 2019.2 Due to these astronomical housing prices, the entire city of Portola Valley is “At risk of or Experiencing Exclusion,” according to data from UC Berkeley.3 3 Id p. 25
2 Id p. 35
1 Draft Housing Element Housing Needs Data Report, p. 34 Thus, by creating a realistic housing element, Portola Valley is not only complying with state law, but also planning for the housing needs of its own community. HLC applauds the town’s efforts to meet its community’s needs, and we want to help further Portola Valley’s efforts. To that end, we have a handful of proposed adjustments to the housing element that will help ensure the city adequately plans for housing at all levels of affordability. - Maintain or increase allowed densities at the Ford Field site. Density is a tradeoff for open space protection: Allowing at least 20 dwelling units per acre on the site will make it easier to preserve more open space for the public use. With good design and landscaping, these new units can be integrated seamlessly into Portola Valley's semi-rural environment regardless of project size. HLC supports efforts to allow housing at Ford Field while also preserving public uses to the extent possible. - Create a specific plan for the area around 4395 Alpine Road. This site will be best integrated into the community at the planned density of 20 du/ac if the city concurrently plans for improved infrastructure and smaller changes to development intensities in the surrounding area as well.
- Commit to studying opportunities to generate a local funding source for affordable housing subsidies, ideally with a vacancy tax or a property transfer tax.
By generating local funding, Portola Valley will have much more flexibility to decide where affordable housing gets built and what it looks like. Investing local funds will also give the city more ability to directly mitigate local concerns.
Upon submission of its draft housing element, the Housing Leadership Council suggests the town seek Prohousing Designation from the Department of Housing and Community Development. HCD’s Prohousing Designation program makes local jurisdictions that create great housing elements more competitive for state transportation and affordable housing funding programs.4 These funds can help the city maintain its infrastructure to meet the needs of all residents. HLC believes that Portola Valley’s draft housing element would merit the city pro-housing designation, and we would actively support an application to HCD.
Faced with a dramatic regional housing crisis, Portola Valley’s draft housing element plans for housing accessible to all residents regardless of income or wealth. With minor changes as described above, we recommend HCD certify Portola Valley’s housing element.
Thank you for your consideration,
Jeremy Levine
Policy Manager, Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County 4 Learn about HCD’s Prohousing Designation program at
https://www.hcd.ca.gov/prohousing-designation-program.
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Debbie Mendelsohn
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 8:25 AM
To: Town Center
Subject: GlenOaks Plans
Dear PV Trails Committee:
I was horrified to hear of the possible demise of GlenOaks in PV on Alpine Road at Arastradero Road. Portola Valley (and the whole bay area) has been loosing it’s horse facilities at a frightening rate. Just recently 2 other large facilities have closed leaving literally 500+ equestrians scrambling to find housing for their equine partners. If everyone has to board down in Gilroy imagine the added traffic congestion let alone use of fossil fuels.
GlenOaks serves as a place where children from the area can learn how to ride on their school horses. It serves kids and adults who are interested in competing as well. The facility was recently renovated and is a nice place to be with all weather arenas plus nice turn outs for the horses.
Please please reconsider this idea to keep PV horse country as that is a huge part of the charm of living and working in PV.
Sincerely,
Deborah Mendelsohn
founder RedHorseEquestrian
www.redhorseequest.com
https://www.facebook.com/RedHorseEquestrianWoodside/
Oh for a horse with wings! ~William Shakespeare
Independent Brand Partner at Neora
http://www.debsred.neora.com
Nurturing yourself is not selfish - it’s essential to your survival and your well-being. ~Renee Peterson Trudeau 1 Melissa Thurman
From: terry lee
Sent: Saturday, July 9, 2022 10:33 PM
To: John Richards; Melissa Thurman
Subject: Fw: Portola Valley Open Space Acquisition Advisory Committee - Public Comment on Housing Element
Attachments: PV OSSAC - Public Comment to Town Council re Draft Housing Element - 7 7 22 - 7 8 22 F.pdf
John and Melissa,
We were not sure who to write to so we thought we would start by reaching out to you as our town council advisory committee liaison and our town clerk partner. Several community members have pointed out that the Open Space Acquisition Advisory Committee comment on the Housing Element crated with the community's input on July 7th and submitted for the Town Council via both the input form and via the email address before the July 8th 5PM deadline did not appear to make it into the July 13th Town Council agenda and exhibits packet which currently appears to only include input through July 7th? Apologies if the community / we missed the input from July 8th that was included or if there is an addendum / addition expected.
We are writing because we've been asked / encouraged to post our input to the PV Forum. However, we weren't sure that was actually the most appropriate or effective way to communicate our input to the intended recipient, being the Town Council? If helpful, we've attached our input previously provided here. May we assure the advisory committee members and the public inquiring that the input will be available to the Town Council (and the public) via traditional channels? Thanks for any guidance you can provide.
Best,
Terry
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: terry lee
To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, July 8, 2022 at 02:16:20 PM PDT
Subject: Portola Valley Open Space Acquisition Advisory Committee - Public Comment on Housing Element The Portola Valley Open Space Acquisition Advisory
Committee (PVOSAAC) unanimously and strongly opposes
building any housing on our open spaces (including at
Dorothy Ford Park and Open Space). Open Space is a
fundamental value and characteristic of Portola Valley. We have received tax revenues, financial donations, and gifts of 2 properties for open space in good faith. If we violate that trust, we could irrevocably compromise our ability to receive or acquire open space in the future.
We recognize the need and mandate for affordable housing.
We appreciate the efforts of the Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee, Staff, Planning, and Consultants. However, we respectfully encourage the Town Council to provide
additional time to explore alternative options to achieve our affordable housing needs.
Terry Lee, Chair, on behalf of the PVOSAAC, 7/7/22
PV OSSAC – 7 7 22
Public Comment To Town Council RE: Housing Element
The Portola Valley Open Space Acquisition Advisory
Committee (PVOSAAC) unanimously and strongly
opposes building any housing on our open spaces
(including at Dorothy Ford Park and Open Space). Open
Space is a fundamental value and characteristic of
Portola Valley. We have received tax revenues, financial donations, and gifts of properties for open space in good faith. If we violate that trust, we could irrevocably
compromise our ability to receive or acquire open space in the future.
We recognize the need and mandate for affordable
housing. We appreciate the efforts of the Ad Hoc
Housing Element Committee, Staff, Planning, and
Consultants. However, we respectfully encourage the
Town Council to provide additional time to explore
alternative options to achieve our affordable housing
needs.
Terry Lee, Chair, on behalf of the PVOSAAC, 7/7/22
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Jen Sweeney
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2022 6:14 PM
To: Town Center; Jeremy Dennis
Cc: Jeff Aalfs; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]
Subject: Consideration of Ford Field
Dear Portola Valley Town Council,
Thank you for your work to ensure the Town of Portola Valley has a thoughtful update to its General Plan and the important Housing Element process. As an organization that serves hundreds of families in the Portola Valley and surrounding communities, Alpine Little League would like to provide some input to the Town Council for consideration in this important process.
It has come to our attention that the Town is considering the use of Ford Field (the baseball field) to satisfy requirements of the Housing Element. I am writing to adamantly oppose this idea. To even consider this will ensure enormous outrage from a community of families that greatly value their recreation spaces.
As you are likely aware, Alpine Little League has, for generations, used Ford Field on Alpine Road as our flagship Little League field, hosting our highest division, Majors, as well as countless Championship Games, District tournaments and community events. THOUSANDS of children have used this field - and it has even served as training ground for a couple of MLB players. We take great pride in the beauty and history of this field and it is a showcase for our League and Portola Valley. Little League teams from around the Bay Area (including Menlo Park, San Francisco, and the East Bay) love coming to play at Ford Field and experiencing its unique and strikingly beautiful setting.
Ford Field is the centerpiece of all Alpine Little League activity. It serves as a gathering place for all our families, some newer to organized sports, to enjoy watching their children and the community's children play on a team and learn the basics skills of baseball and the importance of good sportsmanship.
Youth sports and outdoor recreation are such a critical part of childhood. As you likely know, the demand for fields by youth sports organizations far outweighs the supply on the Peninsula. Soccer clubs, baseball/softball organizations, football teams, lacrosse and other sports are often competing for the limited field space available for all the kids who just want – and deserve –- to play.
Children from all over Portola Valley, and our surrounding communities, can use these spaces equally. Our parks and recreation spaces serve as some of the few remaining truly public places open for ALL to enjoy – whether you live on a 40 acre homestead or in a 2 bedroom apartment. With the addition of additional housing in Portola Valley the demand for our recreational spaces only INCREASES. We need these spaces to ensure the equality of opportunity for outdoor play for ALL of our children.
As you consider the updates to the Portola Valley Housing Element, we urge you to maintain all current recreation space as recreational space - especially Ford Field. The families in our community 2 place great value on and have enormous pride in the facilities offered by the Town. They are a critical part of what makes Portola Valley so special. To deprive CHILDREN of these spaces would be tragic.
Thank you for your time,
Jen Sweeney
Alpine Little League President
Dear Town Council,
As you are aware, I served on the AHHEC as one of two representatives from the Planning Commission. I participated in all the meetings, reviewed all the proposals and brainstormed to identify additional housing sites.
I support the current draft Housing Element.
I think we did a good job taking earthquake and fire safety into account. As most of you know, I originally got involved with Town Government through my service for many years on the Emergency Preparedness Committee. These safety issues are near and dear to my heart.
I think the current plan spreads the new housing throughout Town in the best way possible. I wish that some sites along Portola Road could have been included but none of those sites were going to work out in the required timeframe.
I am very pleased that we have kept the sports fields intact. One negative of PV is that it can be hard to meet and get to know other residents. I’ve met and become friends through kids baseball at Ford Field, kids soccer at TC and Rossotti’s, adult softball at TC and pickleball at TC.
I like that this plan does not fully develop the Nathhorst area to the full extent possible. The sites there are very attractive in that they are flat, near a grocery store, on a main artery, not too far from schools and have the benefit of nearby open space (Hawthorne’s) which prevents additional development across Alpine. That said, I’m pleased we could get this Nathhorst lite plan to work.
I love nature, oak trees and the scenic corridor. These are huge factors in why I continue to choose to live in Portola Valley. It deeply saddens me to think of the iconic, witness oak trees having to be cut down. And, like most people, I enjoy seeing the horses and the horse property at Glen Oaks every day. Through my work on the AHHEC and PC, I listened to and read dozens of letters from critics of using the Ford Park and Glen Oaks as housing sites.
Importantly, to me, not one critic suggested a better site for the 50 and 29 proposed housing units at those sites. Therefore, I’ve concluded that these sites, in spite of their flaws, continue to be the most suitable housing sites.
I am a supporter of Opt-In.I think it fills a need for missing middle housing. Through the current discussions on housing, I’ve come to realize that many current PV residents would like this type of housing. I picture guidelines that would make this housing fit into PV neighborhoods.
During this process, I have frequently run the thought experiment to decide how I would feel if a particular site were next door to me and how I would feel about the Town as a whole should all the housing in the draft plan get developed. With the current plan, I would happily live next door to any of the projects. In conclusion and most importantly, I will continue to think that PV is a fabulous place to live if and when all these new housing projects get developed. I am confident, perhaps in part because I serve on the Planning Commission which makes the rules, that they can be developed with adherence to PV values — namely, low light spill, emphasis on native plants, avoidance of blocky walls and with color palettes that blend with the landscape.
May you be granted the wisdom of Solomon for your decision making.
Sincerely,
Anne Kopf-Sill
Chair, PV Planning Commission
Planning Commission representative to AHHEC
I’m writing to express my support for the Draft Housing Element.
The process used to develop it was well thought out and thorough. All of the relevant constraints were considered. The committee heard in detail from experts in fire safety. Public participation was extensive, with around 40 hours of meetings with opportunity for public comment. Most committee members took the responsibility very seriously and have worked hard on it for nearly a year. And the committee members were clearly open-minded as evidenced by the change in direction that occurred earlier this year.
The problem to be solved is quite difficult. Zoning for 300 additional housing units in PV while maintaining the character of the town is tough. On top of that, 140 of the units need to be for low and very low income residents. That forces some of the new housing to be fairly high density. There are no options that will appeal to everyone in town. We will not find a magic silver bullet if we just continue working on the plan. There is no shortage of criticism of specific aspects of the plan, but those criticisms rarely come with suggestions for alternatives, and when there are suggestions for alternatives they almost always have an unrealistic reliance on ADUs / JADUs.
One criticism that comes up relates to the plan to zone Ford Field (excluding the baseball field and parking) for high density housing. There is no viable alternative to the Ford Field site except to build a great deal of very dense housing in the Nathorst triangle area. I believe the plan in the Draft Housing Element is superior with the impact being more fairly spread through town. ADUs / JADUs are an important element of the plan, but critics of the plan often push for almost exclusive reliance on them.
This is unrealistic. Best case we can count 30% of our ADUs / JADUs as very low income. To replace the 50 very low income units planned at Ford Field would require us to add at least an additional 167 ADUs / JADUs to our plan on top of what is already a fairly aggressive number. It is not realistic to think that there is any chance that would be approved by HCD.
There have been some suggestions to wait and see how we are doing with meeting our numbers before allowing high density housing at Ford Field. There is no other credible alternative that will allow us to meet our requirements for very low income units. We would just be delaying the inevitable and it would keep the current turmoil alive for years. We need to make the tough decisions now rather than kicking the can down the road.
The opt-in program is often criticized for not having the protections equivalent to those built into SB9.
That makes no sense. We as a town would create our opt-in program and we would be free to include any protections from SB9 that we feel are valuable. Even though it is a relatively small number of units, I think that the opt-in program is another opportunity to distribute the impact of increased density throughout town.
In summary, there are lots of criticisms of the plan as outlined in the Draft Housing Element but there are not good alternatives that would be approved by HCD. I encourage the Town Council members to vote in favor of the Draft Housing Element.
Al Sill, ASSC representative on the AHHEC and vice-chair of the AHHEC 1 Melissa Thurman
From: Kristi Corley
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2022 10:32 PM
To: Town Center
Subject: Save Ford Field! Save Dorothy Ford Park Open Space (left of field!) To Portola Valley Recreation Committee, Town Council, Planning Commission, Conservation Committee, Open Space Committee and Trails Committee,
Please deliver this letter to your committee, council and commission without delay. Thank you! Save the Alpine West Menlo Little League Field/ Ford Field! Save Dorothy Ford Park Open Space! The town recreation fields and open spaces should be kept in Portola Valley in Perpetuity! The League was chartered in 1964!
The League playing at Ford Field is called Alpine-West Menlo Little League Over 600 baseball players annually (Kit Goldman, West region Little League Director confirmed this participation numbers)
(54 teams with approximately 12 players each.)
The baseball program Includes:
T-Ball- 5yr
Pitching Machine- 6yr
Coach Pitch- 6-7, 7-8 yr
Minors- 9th, 10th grade
Majors-10, 11,12 grade
Little League helps children with skills, working with others, confidence, getting outside help, learning from your mistakes, sticking to the process, good self-talk, how to relax and how to have fun! Allow our children to continue to gain these baseball athletic skills and mental skills by playing baseball in the Town of Portola Valley at Ford Field.
Playoffs are in Portola Valley due to being such a nice field! ( Alpine West Menlo softball player teams include 11 teams of 12 Players- Girls) Eric Byrnes- Played for the A's & played in Alpine West Menlo Little League.
Eric signed baseballs for PV kids, held events at Ford Field for children, PV held a Retired Jersey Day for Eric Byrnes. He inspired my children at age 8 and 5 yrs who attended the signing baseball day.
Our children learned their baseball skills with Alpine West Menlo Little League.
Both my children played baseball with Alpine West Menlo Little League, softball and as parents we play in the co-ed PV softball league.
Our children attended our adult Softball games for over 15 years at Town Center and it became a family gathering night with our community and continues to this day.
2 Pat Barrell- Played for the Giants, lives in Portola Valley and played on the co-ed softball league.
The parents in our community get involved in coaching their children and meet many others in the Portola Valley community while doing so. Parents also connect with other parents in San Mateo County and continue to do so throughout their children's school years.
Thank you for your hard work to protect the Ford Field- Little League Field! Dorothy Ford Park Open Space is to the left of Ford Field and the location is proposed for 50+ units of Housing for Housing Element site list for Portola Valley. It has 2 huge heritage 250 yr oaks on that 2.48 parcel of land. This location is on the Portola Valley scenic corridor with 75 foot setbacks on Alpine Road.
All the Best,
Kristi Corley
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Kelly Morehead
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 8:45 AM
To: Jeff Aalfs; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]
Cc: Town Center
Subject: Ford Field
PLEASE KEEP FORD FIELD A BASEBALL FIELD! I cannot completely express how much Ford Field has brought our family and community together over the years. All three of my sons played baseball, and playing at Ford Field was a highlight for them and us. Two of my sons umpire baseball games at Ford Field. We met most of our friends while sitting in the stands at Ford Field watching games or at the picnic tables enjoying a burger from the snack stand after a game. This field is a community building place. We need more places that bring people together, today more than ever. Please keep Ford Field.
Kelly
c (650) 619-1661
I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished...The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. — Second Inaugural Address of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, January 20, 1937
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Flannery, Conor
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 10:05 AM
To: Jeff Aalfs; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]
Cc: Town Center; 'Kelly Flannery'
Subject: COMPLETELY OPPOSED to the Proposal of Converting Ford Field into housing Hello Town Council – I was horrified when I learned that the town of Portola Valley was considering converting Ford Field into affordable housing. I am 100% opposed to this proposal.
My family and I live on Willowbrook Drive and love Portola Valley. Our son has played in Alpine Little League since he was 4 years old and I have coached his team every year. We just concluded his season in AAA and he played the majority of his games at Woodside Elementary (a terrible baseball field). We were able to play in the league championship at Ford Field and it was truly an amazing experience for the kids. They had the sensation that they were playing on the “big kids field” and it was incredibly special. We were fortunate enough to win that championship game which enabled us to then play the winner of the Menlo-Atherton AAA team, which was also played at Ford Field. Another fantastic experience for my kids and I received feedback from the M-A coaches on how much they enjoyed playing on the field.
Ford Field is a treasure in our community. It is a perfect Little League field and Alpine Little League takes wonderful care of it. My son and I drive by Ford Field every day and he has dreamed ever since he was 5 years old of when he will be able to play on that field. The time has finally arrived, he will likely be playing in the Majors division next year. If Ford Field were to be converted to housing you would be shattering the dreams of my son and countless other kids who live in the neighborhood. We absolutely cannot let that happen.
I am unable to attend the meeting tonight as I am coaching a baseball game but please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you’d like additional input.
Thank you very much,
Conor
Conor Flannery
Executive Managing Director, Lic. # 01434412
Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc., Lic. #01856260
4085 Campbell Ave, Suite 150
Menlo Park, CA 94025
T + 1 650 480 2207
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1 Melissa Thurman
From: Sangini Bedner
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 10:13 AM
To: Jeff Aalfs; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]; Town Center
Cc: Sangini Majmudar Bedner; Ilja Bedner
Subject: Strong support for Ford Field
Dear Town Council Members,
Hello! I have the pleasure of knowing most of you personally and also having worked with you on many occasions. Thank you for giving your time and effort in all you do. I am writing this note to say PLEASE KEEP FORD FIELD!
Ford Field has always been a shining point of Portola Valley—I recall driving by it as a Stanford student years ago (years and years ago:-)!) and even then sensing its rich history. Even though I had no personal experience with it, I still remember thinking, “This field tells a story of Portola Valley.” When we moved to Portola Valley in 2011, the spirit of Ford Field continued. As our town is small, we drive by it daily; every time time I do I feel a sense of magic. I treasure witnessing kids, so dedicated, and so proudly playing in uniform on this beautiful field. There is a pride in knowing so many of these kids had parents who also played on this turf. Ford Field connects generations and exudes a magnitude of community camaraderie.
During the pandemic my then 8 year old son caught the baseball bug and has been passionately playing Little League since Spring 2021. In that process, the importance of Ford Field has only increased in my understanding. I’ve heard squeals of joy and enthusiastic anticipation from so many young players, mine included: “I can’t wait to play on Ford Field!!!!”
I truly hope the Town Council keeps Ford Field’s significance in mind for decision making. Exchanging a Portola Valley landmark for high-density housing or a parking area is the antithesis of Portola Valley’s remarkable nature. Long standing traditions and community sharing are the glue that hold together our special town. Ford Field is a standout and it must remain standing.
Thanks for hearing me out!
Sangini M. Bedner (and family)
Portola Valley, CA 94028
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Andrea Roberts
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 10:31 AM
To: Town Center
Subject: Ford Field
Hello,
I am a resident of neighboring Stanford Weekend Acres, a former Alpine Little League board member, and parent of a little league player and am stunned to hear of the possibility of Ford Field being destroyed for development use. This would be absolutely devastating to the entire community for years to come. Ford Field is an iconic field in an idyllic setting. There are so many memories for all that have enjoyed this amazing field. There are no other fields that compare with it in the entire area. Please, please stop this movement to destroy Ford Field and ensure it will continue to be used only for baseball for decades to come!
Respectfully,
Andrea Roberts, MD
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
1 Melissa Thurman
From: ilja bedner
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 10:46 AM
To: Jeff Aalfs; [email protected]; Craig Hughes; Maryann Moise Derwin; John Richards; Town Center
Cc: Sangini Bedner
Subject: Strong support for Ford Field
Hi, Town Council Members—thanks so much for taking the time to hear us out on this matter.
Ditto on everything my wife Sangini pointed out:-). I also add that this decision has broader implications than just Portola Valley. Ford Field has a reputation of being “one of the best fields in the Bay area.” In removing it you are removing the essence of the Alpine Little League experience, for Portola Valley and beyond.
Also, as a Portola Valley resident and parent, I am so thrilled that this town is unique in its offerings. We take pride in not being an overly commercialized area and one that offers unadulterated public spaces for our kids and community to enjoy. If we start trading beautiful landmarks for things like high density housing we are doing more than just removing a field. We are removing the spirit that sets Portola Valley apart.
Ilja Bedner (and family)
Portola Valley, CA 94028
On Jul 13, 2022, at 10:12 AM, Sangini Bedner wrote:
Dear Town Council Members,
Hello! I have the pleasure of knowing most of you personally and also having worked with you on many occasions. Thank you for giving your time and effort in all you do. I am writing this note to say PLEASE KEEP FORD FIELD!
Ford Field has always been a shining point of Portola Valley—I recall driving by it as a Stanford student years ago (years and years ago:-)!) and even then sensing its rich history. Even though I had no personal experience with it, I still remember thinking, “This field tells a story of Portola Valley.” When we moved to Portola Valley in 2011, the spirit of Ford Field continued. As our town is small, we drive by it daily; every time time I do I feel a sense of magic. I treasure witnessing kids, so dedicated, and so proudly playing in uniform on this beautiful field. There is a pride in knowing so many of these kids had parents who also played on this turf. Ford Field connects generations and exudes a magnitude of community camaraderie.
During the pandemic my then 8 year old son caught the baseball bug and has been passionately playing Little League since Spring 2021. In that process, the importance of Ford Field has only increased in my understanding. I’ve heard squeals of joy and enthusiastic anticipation from so many young players, mine included: “I can’t wait to play on Ford Field!!!!”
I truly hope the Town Council keeps Ford Field’s significance in mind for decision making. Exchanging a Portola Valley landmark for high-density housing or a parking area is the antithesis of Portola Valley’s remarkable nature. Long 2 standing traditions and community sharing are the glue that hold together our special town. Ford Field is a standout and it must remain standing.
Thanks for hearing me out!
Sangini M. Bedner (and family)
Portola Valley, CA 94028
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Mike Budelli
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 11:16 AM
To: Jeff Aalfs; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]; Town Center
Cc: Bob Budelli
Subject: Ford Field
To whom it may concern: its come to our attention recently that the PV town housing people are trying to early terminate the deed allowing for Ford Field to operate as a baseball field. Wow, this would be a HUGE mistake.
As a Board member of both Alpine Little League and other local community supported Board of Directors, I cannot imagine how a group of volunteers would want to have their names behind such a disastrous situation and initiative. Ford Field has been a place for young kids and families to come and build community, sportsmanship, & multi generational friendships for many decades. Hearing that this is now in jeopardy is a sad state of affairs.
I sincerely hope this is a rumor or is being handled judiciously by those in charge.
1 Melissa Thurman
From: John Gall
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 11:22 AM
To: Town Center; Jeremy Dennis
Cc: Jeff Aalfs; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]
Subject: Save Ford Field! Agenda 16332
To Whom it may Concern:
Ford Field is many things. It’s a community center, a baseball diamond and to many children, a field of dreams. I was born and raised in Portola Valley and was fortunate enough to make a modest career out of baseball. I played at Stanford, in the Major Leagues and for Team USA in the Olympics. None of those baseball experiences are any more important to me than the experiences I had as a child at Ford Field. My Little League teammates from the 1980’s still discuss plays and games no different than my teammates from the St Louis Cardinals. I have given “opening day speeches” at Ford Field and shared memories and inspiration with 9-12 year olds. We all share the common bond of playing on Ford Field.
Now years later, as a father and a coach, my kids have had the opportunity to play on the field. I live up the peninsula and have brought parents and children to Ford Field for the first time. As parents pull into the gravel parking lot, they stare at the oaks and foliage. I have heard words like "magical, special, unique”. It’s because Ford Field is not an ordinary field. Nothing is like it on the peninsula or even beyond. I’ve played on hundreds of baseball fields across the world, and in my mind Ford Field’s only equal is Wrigley Field in Chicago. Wrigley is considered a baseball landmark. For those of us on the peninsula, Ford Field is also a landmark.
Simply put, Ford Field is an intregal part of Portola Valley's soul. In my mind, taking away Ford Field is disrespecting the town’s history, and those that built the special enclave called Portola Valley.
Please keep Ford Field.
Regards,
John Gall, 1987-1990 Alpine League Alum, "Morey’s”
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Gwynn Masada
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 11:35 AM
To: Jeff Aalfs; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]
Cc: Town Center
Subject: Ford Field
Hello Council,
Thank you for the time and energy you put into Portola Valley, and for reading this email.
I was very saddened to hear that the town is considering taking away Ford Field. I would like to express how important Ford Field has been to the local community and particularly families with children in Little League and/or who love baseball/softball. Ford Field is an important practice facility, game field, and gathering place for many families. It is a significant part of what makes PV special— having open areas for public space is part of what keeps this community together. Even when baseball season is not at its peak, my family and others have used the batting cage for practice, and hit the ball around on the field.
Thank you for your consideration.
Best,
Gwynn Masada
PV resident for just 14 yrs
Parent of one former and one current Alpine Little League player
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Colin Cahill
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 12:07 PM
To: [email protected]; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]
Cc: Town Center
Subject: Ford Field
Dear PV Town Council,
I am writing to urge you to commit not to develop of Ford Field and the surrounding space along Alpine Road. Our family lives in Ladera and has been part of the community for the last decade.
Ford Field is a gem -- it has been the site of hours and hours of baseball for our family and the families of the hundreds of kids who play little league every year. I have spent countless hours out there coaching kids, and we always remind our teams how lucky they are to play baseball in such an incredible setting. It would be a tragedy and a true public planning disaster to allow it to be developed. If anything, I would ask the council to consider allowing Ford and the space around it to be improved to make it an even better site for community baseball -- the batting cage, snack shack, and bathrooms could all be improved without inordinate expense to allow it to rival Palo Alto or Burgess.
I am honestly shocked that destroying Ford is even under consideration -- it is one of the jewels of Portola Valley and thousands of Alpine Little League families in the area would agree. I hope you make the right decision and agree not to consider that area for development.
Thank you.
Colin
--
Colin Cahill
1 July 8, 2022
Laura Russell
Director, Planning and Building Department
Town of Portola Valley
765 Portola Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028
Re: Draft Housing Element
Dear Laura,
I write to comment on the draft Housing Element posted on the Town website at.
1. The draft Housing Element improperly subordinates all other elements of our General Plan to its objectives, policies and plans
The draft Housing element would establish itself as the one controlling statement of Town objectives, principles and standards to which all other elements of the General Plan must be subordinated. As the draft’s introduction plainly states:
"GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
"The California Government Code (Section 65300.5) requires internal consistency among each Element of the General Plan. The General Plan Elements shall provide an integrated, internally consistent, and compatible statement of policy. The Town of Portola Valley continuously reviews the General Plan for internal consistency when updates or amendments occur.
The Town has reviewed the other Elements of the General Plan and determined that the Housing Element is not consistent with other elements; therefore, the Town plans to amend other elements at the same time the Housing Element is adopted so that the General Plan will be internally consistent.” Draft Housing element at 3.
This prioritization of one General Plan element over all others, and the resulting subordination of all other interests and concerns to it alone, would 2 have far-reaching, untoward consequences for the future development and governance of our Town. There is no reason or need for the subordination the draft Housing element proposes. It should be stricken from the draft.
Under the Town’s draft Housing element, it alone would control the entire General Plan. All other elements of the General Plan must be revised to achieve its objectives, implement its principles and fulfill its plans.
This elevation of a single element as controlling and determinative of all of the other policy and planning elements of a General Plan is antithetical to the informed, comprehensive planning and policy development required by the Government Code. As proposed in the draft, everything — all land use, conservation, open space, public safety, traffic, quality of life and environmental concerns — would be subordinated to the singular and overriding objective of increased housing. Nothing else matters. All other concerns, interests and safeguards are swept aside or subordinated in service of that one, overriding goal.
By State law, Portola Valley’s Town Council "shall adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and of any land outside its boundaries which in the planning agency’s judgment bears relation to its planning." Government Code 65300.
Pursuant to Government Code 65302(a) thru (h), the General Plan "shall include the following elements”
A land use element
A circulation element
A housing element
A conservation element
An open space element
A noise element
A safety element, and
An environmental justice element
As set forth in Government Code 65300.5, "the Legislature intends that the general plan and elements and parts thereof comprise an integrated, internally consistent and compatible statement of policies for the adopting agency.”
3 In short, no single element of the General Plan is controlling or dispositive.
Rather, competing and conflicting objectives, principles, standards and plans of each element of the General Plan must be juxtaposed, balanced and resolved against the objectives, principles, standards and plans of all of the other elements of the General Plan.
In Government Code 65580(a), the Legislature has found and declared that “[t]he availability of housing is of vital statewide importance, and the early attainment of decent housing and a suitable living environment for every Californian, including farmworkers, is a priority of the highest order.” For this reason, the Legislature has also found and declared that “[l]ocal and state governments have a responsibility to use the powers vested in them to facilitate the improvement and development of housing to make adequate provision for the housing needs of all economic segments of the community.” Government Code 65580(d).
In carrying out this responsibility, however, the Legislature has also made clear that “each local government also has the responsibility to consider economic, environmental, and fiscal factors and community goals set forth in the general plan and to cooperate with other local governments and the state in addressing regional housing needs.” Government Code 65580(e).
In short, the Legislature expects and requires the Town to accord due weight and proper significance the panoply of competing policy interests and objectives the General Plan is designed to address. As explained in greater detail below, the current draft Housing element fails to do that.
2. The process by which our Housing element has been drafted ignores and/or subordinates the vital interests protected by the other elements of the General Plan
More than a year ago, over 80 residents wrote the Town Council requesting it to perform the comprehensive assessment of wildfire hazard and risk long mandated by State law, to amend our Safety element based upon it, and to organize and conduct the periodic evacuation drills called for in the existing 2010 Safety element. See February 10, 2021 letter to Town Council attached. Since then, numerous residents have requested or petitioned the Town to
4 • Designate a Safety element committee to facilitate resident engagement and participation in the creation of our wildfire safety policy and programs,
• Designate the very high fire hazard severity zones throughout town, • Develop and adopt science-based wildfire prevention standards and requirements for land use, development and building in such high hazard areas (modeled on the seismic safety standards pioneered by Portola Valley and Cal Fire’s minimum fire safe development standards), and
• Delegate authority to the Woodside Fire Protection District (WFPD) to interpret and enforce all such wildfire prevention standards.
While the Town has convened a special committee of residents to examine and consult with Town staff on our housing policy, it refuses to convene a comparable committee supported by competent professional guidance to rigorously examine and professionally assess the wildfire hazards and risks confronting us. Why?
Fourteen years ago, Government Code § 51179(a) required Portola Valley to designate the very high fire hazard severity zones within its local jurisdiction, and § 51179(b) authorized it to include in its designation lands beyond those identified by Cal Fire based on substantial evidence. Despite the consensus recommendation of Cal Fire, WFPD and the Town’s own wildfire expert to designate such additional areas, the Town refused to designate any area within town as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
Ten years ago, Senate Bill 1241, enacted in 2012, required the Town to perform a comprehensive assessment and mapping of wildfire hazard and risk throughout Town by January 2015. The Town failed to do so in 2015 and has still not done so.
Three years ago, in 2019, Assembly Bill 747 added Government Code 65302.15 requiring the Town to assess the capacity, safety and viability of our evacuation routes and implement a comprehensive evacuation plan and program by January 1, 2022.
While Town staff claims to be working in secret with Town consultants to prepare an amended Safety element and fulfill these State mandates, this work remains incomplete and under wraps. Why? Why has this this critical, long-mandated work been delayed for years to the point that it cannot possibly be used to inform and guide the difficult choices we must make to 5 amend our Housing element? Why is there no Town committee organized to assess thoroughly and define the important wildfire prevention policies, programs and ordinances best calculated to protect our public safety and preserve our well-being? Why is there no opportunity to meet and challenge the competency and judgment of the consultants advising us, or to scrutinize the rigor and thoroughness of their work? Why are the residents of Portola Valley being excluded from this process, and why are their long-expressed concerns being ignored or dismissed without open, public debate?
By ignoring the existing designations of hazardous areas and delaying the comprehensive assessment of wildfire hazard and risk the Government Code has long required, are we compromising or jeopardizing our public safety?
Consider the extent to which answers to any and all of the following questions would inform our decision-making about whether and how to increase the density of housing in town and where such increases can possibly be made:
• Within what time periods ¾ to what extent and with what intensity ¾ can fire affecting different areas of Town expand and spread into adjoining or nearby neighborhoods?
• Under such conditions, what populations, improvements, and/or essential infrastructure would be exposed to fire?
• How would the addition of new housing structures, vehicles and populations in such areas be impacted or affect those impacts? o What number of lives and what amount of property value are at risk of loss or damage?
• Under existing circumstances
o What amount of time and what access routes would be
available for fire suppression?
o What would be the maximum likely demand for fire suppression and emergency response services over relevant time
intervals(s)?
o How would that demand compare with the available capacity and resources for such services during such intervals?
o What complement of fire suppression resources would be needed to contain and hopefully control fires affecting very high fire hazard areas of Town under extreme conditions?
6 o What would be the maximum likely demand for water under such fire conditions, over what time period(s), and how would that demand compare with the available capacity and resources for such services?
o What hazards jeopardize our capacity to suppress or contain fire spread and expansion?
o What steps should be taken to improve or expand our
suppression capabilities?
• Under existing circumstances:
o What amount of time and what egress routes would be
available for evacuation?
o What would be the maximum likely demand for evacuation, over what time period(s), and how would that demand compare with the available routes and capacity for evacuation?
o What specific resources would be needed within what time periods to evacuate and shelter exposed populations, and how would that demand compare with the available capacity and resources for evacuation?
o What hazards jeopardize our evacuation timing, capacity and execution?
o What responsibility does Town government have for safe evacuation, shelter and recovery of residents in the event of emergency?
o What preparations, programs and resources are currently in place to train, inform and manage such evacuation and
recovery efforts, and what individuals and agencies are responsible for what elements and roles for such programs and evacuations?
o What steps should be taken to improve and expand our
evacuation capacity and preparations?
• How would each of these considerations change under the policies and plans proposed in the draft Housing element?
These are the truly important, life and death public safety questions our town and all of its residents must grapple with. These are not simply academic concerns or anti-development propaganda as the Town would have it. Ignoring or denying these critical questions will not cause them or the hazards we live with to go away or become any less threatening. It only enhances the likelihood that we continue to ignore the unintended consequences of our acts, and unwittingly prolong and increase the hazards we live with.
7 The path our Town has so far chosen to follow, to prioritize the Housing element over all other elements of the General Plan, leaves us with no answers to any of the life and death questions posed above. Are we exacerbating the hazards and risks we all confront with our draft Housing element, or are we mitigating them? We are left with no basis to decide. By subordinating our public safety to housing, the Town is asking us to ignore that critical question and proceed without regard or concern for the consequences of doing so.
3. The objectives, policies and plans of the draft Housing element are uninformed by any recognition or consideration of their impact on the other vital interests of the community protected by the General Plan?
Quite apart from the impact that the proposed Housing objectives and policies would have on our existing wildfire hazards and risks , the draft also neglects to assess the impact its proposals would have on existing seismic and geologic risks, evacuation capacity and emergency response, conservation of dwindling wildlife habitat and riparian corridors, or traffic flow and congestion. What will be the effect of the draft Housing element on • The need for expanded roadways and traffic control infrastructure? • The adequacy of water supply and pressure?
• The availability of sewage disposal and septic?
• The adequacy, reliability and safety of power supply? • The adequacy, reliability and safety of communications infrastructure?
• The adequacy of fire suppression, medical and emergency response resources?
• Schools and public education?
• Commercial, delivery and retail services?
• Quality of life
How will the improvements and enhancements required to implement the stated objectives, policies and plans be financed and by whom? How will the financial burden of such improvements be shared or allocated among the Town, selling property owners, developers, new homeowners and existing homeowners?
8 By subordinating these and similar concerns to the primacy of the Housing element over all other elements of the General Plan the Town is acting as though these questions are of no concern or relevance in the development of the policies and plans it proposes.
4. The draft fails to identify and designate the areas of heightened wildfire hazard and risk
The draft Housing element inexplicably fails to comply with the State’s longstanding mandate to identify, designate by ordinance and map the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Areas throughout Town. Incredibly, although it acknowledges that existing State law would subject all such very hazardous areas to heightened development standards, it further delays and postpones the implementation of any minimally prudent development standards by pretending that still more and better data is needed to identify and comprehend the hazards we confront.
The fact that new assessments are underway and that more and better information will always be possible provides no reason or justification for refusing to apply the knowledge we already have to delineate the areas of highest hazard and greatest risk, or to ensure that minimally safe development standards apply in at least all such areas. We know full well, as the Board of the Fire District recently stated, that Cal Fire’s prior mapping poorly accounts for the full extent and extreme magnitude of hazard and risk confronting us. As the District wrote this past January “There is no interest in approving the limited CalFire map from 2008 as it is too old and also too limited based on our assessment. You may recall that the District rejected this map as too limited even back in 2008. It is not a safe and accurate map to approve in 2022 either.” Even the Town’s most recent wildfire consultant, Zeke Lundner, recognizes that the far more comprehensive Moritz map of 2008 likely understates the extent of Very High Fire Hazard Severity areas within town.
State law grants the Town authority to adopt yet more stringent and protective delineations of hazard than the State applies, and more stringent and protect standards for minimally safe development than the State requires. Other towns, such as Woodside, have done just that. What is precluding our Town from exercising this authority? Who exactly is making 9 the decision that the Town will do only what is minimally required and nothing more? What exactly justifies that decision in light of the hazards and risks we confront?
The draft inexplicably refuses to use the best available assessment of the town’s wildfire hazards (Moritz 2008) to identify and designate areas of elevated wildfire hazard and risk on the ridiculous pretext that Moritz is “out of date” and understates the full extent of our most hazardous areas. What exactly makes Moritz’s assessment of the vegetative fuel complex in Portola Valley so “out-of-date” that the areas it identifies as Highest Hazard are not in fact Very High Hazard? The fact that Moritz did not consider the added hazards of structural fuels and that Zeke Lunder says there are even more very high hazard areas than Moritz identified is no reason to refuse to identify and designate at least the areas previously identified by Cal Fire, WFPD and Moritz while WFPD completes a more comprehensive and current assessment. The assessment and designation of hazardous areas can always be updated and improved, but the unrestrained development of such hazardous lands will never be undone once it proceeds. Why compound the hazards we know to exist? Why does the draft continue to avoid and defer the issue on the basis of such specious reasoning? Sincerely,
Rusty Day
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Andrea Young
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2022 11:44 AM
To: housing
Subject: Glenoaks Equestrian Center
Attachments: ISOLABOOKLET.pdf; emails to Town of Portola Valley.pdf; 1285petitions.xlsx To whom it may concern,
My name is Andrea Young. I part own and manage the Isola Riding Academy.
I wanted to let you know that the equestrian center we are desperately trying to save is a community asset. 80% of the riders there do not own horses. Our academy opens the wonderful world of horses to all income levels.
It’s not just for the wealthy. The wealthy typically have private facilities.
Glenoaks equestrian Center has been open for over twenty years. It contains three busy businesses where multiple people earn their living. Three businesses that would have to shut down and put about 40 people out of work. Three businesses that happily pay taxes to the town of Portola Valley.
Attached is the plan Glenoaks worked out with the town of Portola Valley 20+ years ago to make it a fundamental part of the community. Also, attached are letters from our customers and neighbors expressing why Glenoaks Equestrian Center is so important to them. Lastly, are the names of over 1200 people who signed our petition to express their desire to save Glenoaks.
We ask again, please consider another location!
Thank you, Andrea Young
Isola Riding Academy
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Martin Miller
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 12:25 PM
To: Town Center; Town Center; Town Center; Town Center; Craig Hughes; Jeff Aalfs; Maryann Moise Derwin; John Richards; Sarah Wernikoff; housing Subject: Housing Element Sites
Attachments: IMG_0948.jpg
Town Council, Planning Commission, Open Space Acquisition Committee, Conservation Committee and Recreation Committee,
I realize Portola Valley needs to build Affordable housing, yet; I believe Dorothy Ford Park Open Space is the wrong location. I am opposed to Dorothy Ford Park Open Space and Ford Baseball Field being repurposed for any redevelopment, whatsoever.
Dorothy Ford Open Space is on the scenic corridor and the entrance to Portola Valley on Alpine Road. I believe the entrance should remain Open Space as it was gifted by Tom Ford for his mother Dorothy Ford and one of the first open spaces gifted to the town.
Tom Ford and residents donated funds to the Dorothy Ford Open Space. The Open Space Acquisition funds will decrease in Portola Valley if residents are not confident that donations will remain in perpetuity towards Open Spaces.
My home is located at 3350 Alpine Road and directly across from the Dorothy Ford Park Open Space. My front patio looks down on the two heritage Oak Trees and Ford Field in the distance. If Dorothy Ford Park property were to be developed into a 3 story building, I would look directly at it. The peacefulness and scenery from my home would dramatically change with this development. I believe this proposed development would change the value of my home negatively.
I'm concerned about increased noise, traffic, congestion, parking and light spill from the proposed development.
I urge the Town Council to protect the rural entrance into Portola Valley, the scenic corridor and the Open Spaces in our town.
Sincerely,
Martin B. Miller, MD
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Kline, George W
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 12:45 PM
To: Town Center; Jeremy Dennis
Cc: Jeff Aalfs; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]
Subject: Ford Field | A Precious Community Resource
Dear PV Council,
I recently learned that Portola Valley is considering the use of Ford Field to satisfy requirements of the Housing Element. I am writing to express my genuine heartbreak and to let you know that our family sincerely hopes this idea does not come to fruition. Our family greatly value recreation spaces, none more so than Ford Field.
I played Alpine Little League in my youth, and bucolic Ford Field played host to countless memories, life lessons, and lifelong friendships for me. However, Ford Field is much more than a baseball field, it is a gathering place for our community. I learned this more than ever in the Spring of 2021 as we began to emerge from the pandemic lockdowns I had goose bumps when my 10 year old son donned his Morey’s Alpine Little League uniform (despite the fact that Morey’s was our rival when I played Alpine LL at Ford Field 30+ years ago!) and took the same field I did a generation earlier. Although masked and socially distanced, Little League baseball at Ford Field provided our entire family with the first tactile sense of community after months of Zoom calls and digital distractions. This carried through to this year, when our entire family regularly attended baseball games at Ford (even games in which our family was not participating). Ford is a place to come together and connect with friends and community. Ford Field represents our history; it is the fabric of our community, and we are so thankful for the sense of community it engenders.
In a day and age when so many forces seem to be pulling us apart, Ford Field is a positive environment that brings us together. A particular point of pride in our family was when our nine year old son was awarded the Nick Jenkins Sportsmanship Award, named for a former Alpine Little Leaguer who tragically died during his Little League tenure. The award was given at a ceremony at Ford Field on the day of the Alpine Little League Championship game, with players, families, and neighbors of all ages out there to celebrate the day (You can even see a picture of it on the Alpine Little League website!). It felt like some honest to goodness Americana and community spirit—a welcome escape from the seemingly constant inundation of dreadful headlines. It reminded me of the importance of thinking locally and about community—this is what Ford Field means to us. Please do not destroy this precious community resource and deprive future generations of this shared experience.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Sincerely,
George Kline & Family
George W. Kline, CMT | Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management Director Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
555 California St, 35th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 984-6504 | (800) 289-9060 | Fax (415) 870-2695
NMLS # 1401664 | CA Insurance Lic. # 0M11261
[email protected]
TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY
Melissa Thurman, MMC TOWN CLERK
Town Clerk
765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028
Voice: (650) 851-1700 • Fax: (650) 851-4677
www.portolavalley.net
JULY 13, 2022
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
PUBLIC COMMENTS
RECEIVED AFTER
1:00 p.m. on 07/13/22
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Joe Bruzzese
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2022 3:09 PM
To: Town Center
Cc: jeff aalfs
Subject: Ford field destroyed?
It’s just embarrassing you are even considering this idea … my guess is most of you live out of PV ? Because there isn’t a sane soul that lives here that wants mOre housing and a destruction of a monumental field such as Ford little league park I’m sure you can raise money sone other way And if you can’t .. try harder Your consideration of this idea is ridiculous and completely out of touch with the reality of pv residents Do better Sent from my iPhone with love
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Dan Lopez
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 5:51 PM
To: Jeff Aalfs; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]
Cc: Town Center
Subject: July 13 Town Council: Ford Field...
I want to strongly urge the council to preserve Ford Field for its generational purpose: bringing the skills and love of baseball to our youth.
My son just completed his fourth year of Alpine Little League and this past May, he played in the AAA Championship game at Ford Field. What an exciting experience for him...and in a spectacular setting. I overheard many parents from the visiting team remarking on how beautiful the field was -- the banners in the stands and outfield fence, the quality of the infield, the scoreboard, and the natural environment around it. Ford Field is clearly a treasure, a community asset recognized by anyone that visits the field.
As we live in Ladera, we can and do frequently walk to Ford Field for practices and games. Every time my son sees Ford Field, he's reminded of that Championship game, a memory that will likely stay with him for his whole life. Unless his memory is destroyed with Ford Field, then it'll be "yeah, that used to be a baseball field".
"Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"
Big Yellow Taxi by Counting Crows
Respectfully,
Dan Lopez
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Melissa Thurman
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 4:55 PM
To: Town Center
Subject: FW: Comments for Consideration in Tonight's meeting -----Original Message-----
From: Tim Scott
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 2:59 PM
To: Town Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Comments for Consideration in Tonight's meeting Has the Town Council devoted enough consideration to moving the multifamily housing from Dorothy Fork Park to the Town Center soccer field?
The possible repurposing of Dorothy Ford Park is of great concern. This was acquired with funds donated for open space protection by town residents who believed their intent would be honored. The Scenic Corridor and two heritage oaks should be preserved well as the adjacent Ford Baseball Field. The current housing element proposes 128 (Ladera Church 10, Ford field 50, Stanford Wedge 39, and Glen Oaks 29) or 42% of the housing units on a very small portion of Alpine Road surrounding my home. This is far too much density for one small area. The housing should be spread across other sites to preserve the town's character and better manage evacuation and traffic concerns. As a resident of lower Westridge, the resulting congestion, traffic, noise, light spill and emissions are deeply troubling.
The town center location offers access to the library, computers, the town center community rooms and lawn area. It also allows for addition options for evacuation. Distributing some of the development to Portola Road should be carefully considered so that the bulk of the development is not concentrated in one area. The town center soccer field could possibly be moved to Dorothy Ford Park.
Joye Scott
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Nevin Spieker
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 3:44 PM
Subject: Ford Field
Dear Portola Valley Town Council,
I was disappointed to hear that you are contemplating using Ford Field as an option to satisfy your Hosing Element needs.
Ford Field provides something that is essential to our community that is getting harder and harder to find. Ford Field provides a place for children (and adults) to:
- interact in Person,
- learn social skills and sportsmanship
- accept that both winning and losing are parts of life - learn to support team mates
- learn first-hand how hurtful it can feel when one is not supported In a world where too many kids and adults spend their days entranced behind screens, Ford Field provides a positive place for a community to come together and for young kids to learn life skills as they come of age.
Thank you for your consideration in keeping the valuable community asset.
Reagrds,
Nevin Spieker
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Kacey Brown
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 2:11 PM
To: Town Center
Subject: Ford Field
Hello,
My comment is in opposition of tearing down ford field for housing. This is an unbelievable and unacceptable option. The field provides more than just baseball. It provides fresh air, sunshine, exercise, and socialization. It is a community. It provides an opportunity to teach our youth hard work, teamwork, perseverance, sportsmanship, and the list goes on. After the hard last two years, we know these experiences are imperative for our children. Beyond the field itself, impacting alpine trail at all is unacceptable. Our family uses it daily. We do not have sidewalks in PV. Where are we supposed to safely walk and ride bikes? My kids ride the trail every single day. How are we expected to feel safe in a wildfire zone if you add more housing to a congested alpine road? Our family chose to live on this side of 280 because of its rural/outdoorsy small town community. We love it here. We will likely move elsewhere if you quite literally pave paradise and put up a parking lot. Please save our town.
Thank you,
Kacey Brown Rich
Mother of four boys in PV
1 Melissa Thurman
From: John McGrory
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 1:43 PM
To: Town Center; Jeremy Dennis; Jeff Aalfs; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]
Subject: PV Housing Element comments: SAVE FORD FIELD
Portola Valley Town Council members,
I'm John McGrory and I have been a resident of West Menlo Park for over 25 years while raising 4 children, the oldest of whom just graduated from college (West Point, the U.S. Military Academy) and the youngest of whom is 10. I am CEO of a technology company, a musician, and a coach, and I am heavily involved with schools and community programs in Menlo Park and Portola Valley. I have relationships with many wonderful PV residents, and I have been active in organizations based in PV, such as:
-- Alpine Little League: 17 years of involvement, including 11 years on the Board of Directors and 20 seasons of coaching; -- Portola Valley Theater Conservatory: 5 years of involvement, including the Board of Directors, a child in their programs, and performing music for their shows.
I provide my background to serve as some context for comments regarding the PV Housing Element process. I have spent a lot of time in the PV community, I care deeply about it, and I have concern for some of the potential actions being considered. I am not an expert on housing legislation and I am not objecting to the overall initiative needed to conform to state laws. In earlier months I have heard that the land adjacent to Ford Field on Alpine Road was a potential location for high-density housing, and while it isn't ideal to sacrifice such beautiful open space, it is understandable that it may be necessary to conform to the state housing requirements.
HOWEVER, more recently I have heard that there is some interest in expanding the space dedicated to the new housing to include Ford Field, which has been the home of Alpine Little League for decades (I believe at least 40 years). LOSING FORD FIELD WOULD BE TERRIBLE for PV and the surrounding communities. Alpine Little League has been a thriving youth sports organization and a magnet for community involvement for generations, and Ford Field has always been Alpine's center of activity, energy, and spirit. More broadly, Ford Field is widely regarded as one of the best venues for Little League baseball in the entire region, and teams from all over the Bay Area enjoy visiting. Ford Field is iconic and it represents the essence of youth sports -- a Field of Youth Dreams for the kids playing ball and their parents watching, both remembering the past and anticipating the future.
It would be a difficult logistical challenge to compensate for the loss of Ford Field, but the loss to the community would be much worse. There is no other field in PV that is capable of replacing Ford (the PVTC field wouldn't suffice without major expansion that probably isn't feasible), so it is likely that the organizational center of Alpine Little League would shift to West Menlo Park or Woodside, but the spiritual center of Alpine would be lost. It would be tragic for Alpine to lose its home in Portola Valley, because Ford Field is a uniquely wonderful venue and because it holds generations of memories, and it should be preserved to continue to enable experiences and memories for future generations.
PLEASE DON'T SACRIFICE FORD FIELD.
Thanks for taking a few minutes to read my comments.
John McGrory
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Leigh Pyle
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 1:38 PM
To: [email protected]; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]; Town Center
Cc: Brian Pyle
Subject: Ford Field
Dear Town Council Members,
Hello! Hello and thank you for your service.
It has been brought to our attention that Ford Field may be a site being considered for housing and Brian and I wanted to write a note in (gently strong) opposition...
Ford Field is one of those iconic historical places that is the heart of our community... generation after generation have played there and in our opinion needs to stay.
We have two boys that have set baseball goals to get good enough to play there and Cameron keeps talking about wanting to pepper that snack shack with home run balls.
We hope and pray that Ford field will stay and we can find another solution.
With respect,
Leigh and Brian Pyle
--
Leigh M. Pyle
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Robert Conlon
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 1:12 PM
To: Jeff Aalfs; Craig Hughes; John Richards; Maryann Moise Derwin; [email protected]
Cc: Town Center
Subject: SAVE FORD FIELD!!!
Dear Town Council,
We are deeply saddened to learn of the possible demolition of a very special community gem, Ford Field.
For generations, thousands upon thousands of boys and girls participating in Alpine Little League and beyond have had the wonderful opportunity to play baseball at Ford Field. Ford Field is a special place and setting for children to learn and enjoy the game of baseball. It is also a place for the community to gathering and support these children as they develop life skills through their participation in sport. I have had the privilege of witnessing this first hand by coaching my children's baseball teams at Ford Field.
For these reasons among many others, my family strongly opposes the potential demolition of Ford Field to be replaced with housing and/or parking for housing.
We hope thousands upon thousands of boys and girls for generations to coming will be able to enjoy the special "field of dreams" at Ford Field.
Thank you,
Rob, Sarah, Elliott & Jack Conlon
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Tim McAdam
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2022 1:09 PM
To: Town Center
Subject: McAdam opposition to
PV Planning Commission,
It looks like you have your work cut out for you in the coming weeks around the HEP. I know this is a contentious time and there are mostly tough choices in front of the leadership of our amazing hamlet of Portola Valley. I appreciate your hard and thoughtful work.
I am writing to you today in strong opposition to one of the recommendations in the plan – opt-in single family rezoning.
This a highly contentious and divisive proposal that has the potential to destroy property values and ultimately the mosaic of Portola Valley. If this succeeds, the outcome will undoubtedly create battles in neighborhoods with little upside given the small number of additional units proposed. If one neighbor chooses to optimize their lot value by selling to a developer who can maximize profits with a 4-plex, other neighbors will suffer as property values will surely decline given increased traffic, density, quality of housing, etc.
A proposal like this is fraught with peril given the politically charged nature of it and the high chance of litigation. Based on PV residents I have talked to, I have found zero support for such a proposal. Does the Housing Element Committee know whether it has this support of the community? Unless I missed the survey, I don’t think residents have been surveyed. Why is that? From what I can gather from comments and conversations, there is little support for this proposal.
One idea that resonates with me is to play around with the advised buffer of assigned RHNA numbers which would limit the number of units to a number smaller than the 53 units and therefore eliminates the need for up in rezoning. Seems like that is the most appropriate way to get our additional 12 units over a 8-year period.
As a one-person commission, I would fight all of this to be honest. Woodside, Atherton and other towns are just refusing to capitulate. A negotiated outcome here should be much different than the current proposal.
Sincerely,
Tim McAdam
Tim McAdam
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