Portola Valley City Council
May 10, 2023

1 Woodside Fire Protection District Fire Prevention Bureau 808 Portola Road Portola Valley, Ca. 94028
(650) 851-1594
www.woodsidefire.org
Don Bullard – Fire Marshal
May 9, 2023
To: Portola Valley Town Council Members and Town Attorney, Cara Silver From: Woodside Fire Protection District (WFPD)
Re: WFPD Statement for the Portola Valley Town Council Meeting, May 10, 2023 Good evening,
While there have been many difficult discussions between the Woodside Fire Protection District and the Town of Portola Valley on its Plan documents, the District is confident that the Town will abide by its promise to adopt the Moritz Map to evaluate new projects (until a newer updated map becomes available), implement and codify the district’s recommended mitigation measures, and ensure the new Safety Element will be at least as stringent as the current 2010 version. The Town codified these commitments in the final approved IS/MND, as the district recommended. Some individuals have suggested that the district is or has been opposed to the Town’s Housing Plan. But the District’s only goal is to work with the Town to ensure both the highest standard for fire prevention, public safety, and a rational and practical plan to provide much needed housing. We continue to work with the Portola Valley team, and will make special efforts to stay in synch and maintain open lines of communication.

Sincerely, Sincerely,
Don Bullard Rob Lindner
Fire Marshal Fire Chief
Woodside Fire Protection District Woodside Fire Protection District Office – 650-851-6206 Office – 650-851-1594
Email- [email protected] Email – [email protected] 1 Dylan Parker
From: sarah dorahy
Sent: Sunday, May 7, 2023 8:49 AM
To: housing
Subject: Fwd: #housing PV Spirit
I posted this on the Forum but please include it for the records.

Sarah Dorahy
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From: sarah dorahy
Sent: Sunday, May 7, 2023 8:38:11 AM
To: PV Forum <[email protected]>
Cc:

Subject: #housing PV Spirit

We moved to PV ten years ago. The first to welcome us were Danna Breen's parents, Dr. and Mrs. Bortz. They turned up in our driveway in their convertible green Miyada - was that the car, Danna? They loudly and enthusiastically declared us welcome and then pealed off headed for drinks somewhere! It was awesome.

That's the PV spirit. We welcome new neighbours. Our schools have a tradition of a "Watermelon Welcome" for new families under the redwoods at Town Centre. Current families are matched with incoming families so that the new students have a "buddy" on the first day of school and parents can meet their neighbours.

It takes a village to raise children. At Triangle Park on school days, parents chat while waiting for their kids and if you're running late, you know someone will step in and drop your kid home. If your son is wearing his bike helmet on the back of his head not ON his head, someone will call you. We look out for each other here in Portola Valley.

This is a remarkable town and so are its residents. I love seeing my neighbours while grocery shopping, at the hardware store, the Farmers' Market or walking on the trails. I love being a member of the Westridge Garden Club, co-founded over 50 years ago by Jean Lane.

I am proud of the many friends and neighbours who give so much of their time volunteering for our schools, our town and other causes. Through this work they are investing in our community.

This town is unique in the world. That's not an overstatement. But, these days, it's almost impossible to buy in.

A vibrant community is made up of all kinds of people from diverse backgrounds. We need more young families to move here. We need housing for everyone so that our schools have bums on seats, our essential services can house workers and our town continues to thrive. 2 Let's harness our cleverness and our community spirit and pass the Housing Element next Wednesday.

Thank you,
Sarah Dorahy
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1 Dylan Parker
From: Dr. Sonya Mehta
Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 11:10 AM
To: Craig Taylor; Mary Hufty; Judith Hasko; Sarah Wernikoff; Jeff Aalfs; housing Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Housing Element
We are writing to urge the council to say yes and vote to approve the housing element.

It’s not perfect snd we all would prefer this not be forced upon the town but the alternative to not passing the housing element could truly be disastrous.

Please don’t let loud voices drown out the silent sensible majority.

Sonya Mehta
alpine hills
Sent from my iPhone
1 Dylan Parker
From: Sara Leith-Tanous
Sent: Wednesday, April 5, 2023 12:49 PM
To: Jeff Aalfs; Sarah Wernikoff; Judith Hasko; Mary Hufty; Craig Taylor; housing Subject: Housing Element
Dear Council Members:

I agree with Lorrie Duval’s statement and copy it here:

I am stunned and deeply concerned that after 18 months of hard work prior to December, 2022, and now another three months in 2023, our Town has not submitted our revised Housing Element plan to the State. We risk losing the two things we all hold most dear: our rural character and our autonomy as a self-governing municipality. Please submit the current plan to the state.

Thank you,
Sara Leith-Tanous
Portola Valley

1 Dylan Parker
From: Joyce Shefren
Sent: Saturday, May 6, 2023 4:34 PM
To: housing
Subject: housing element
I am writing to support the approval of the housing element being considered on 5/10/23 town council meeting. Our town is at a great risk of large fines from the state as well as a risk of builders proposing large building projects in our town and the town will have lost the ability to deny them a permit.

The town has already lost valuable staff members and many projects are not being accomplished due to this long drawn out "fight" over the housing element. I respectfully ask this council to approve this housing element at this meeting of 5/10/23 and send it to the state asap.

Joyce Shefren
1 Dylan Parker
From: Josh Knowles
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 6:29 AM
Cc: Jeff Aalfs; Sarah Wernikoff; Judith Hasko; Mary Hufty; Craig Taylor; housing; Josh Knowles
Subject: housing element
PV Council Members,
We love PV! We have only lived in town for 2 years but could not be happier with the town, the schools and the activism. We voted in the last election and really like the current board. We support a measured plan towards the RHNA mandate doing all we can to preserve the rural nature of the town short of doing something that might endanger the ability of the town to control its destiny. We worry that by not submitting a housing plan by the state mandated deadline (albeit a little late) we may get a catastrophic outcome. The PVTC and citizens have collectively dedicated thousands of hours of analyses to this issue. Please, at this late date, do what you can to make sure we will both continue to be proud of our town as a whole and remain in control of our destiny as much as possible. Don’t delay submission of a compliant plan.

Thanks
Josh Knowles
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1 Dylan Parker
From: Karyn Ellis
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 11:19 AM
To: Jeff Aalfs; Sarah Wernikoff; Judith Hasko; Mary Hufty; Craig Taylor Cc: housing
Subject: In support of affordable housing and passing the housing plan GreeƟngs Town Council Members and thank you for your service. This is a tough Ɵme to be in your posiƟon and I’m in awe of your forƟtude.

Although I live in Skylonda so am not a voƟng member of the Portola Valley community, I am part of the Portola Valley School District and as such, have an interest in town affairs. I’m wriƟng in support of affordable housing and passage of the housing plan that the council has worked so hard, and so long, to put together.

On the topic of affordable housing: PV has become such an affluent bubble that the lack of diversity is doing our children a disservice. Yes, there are Tinsley kids in our schools who come from a different socioeconomic group and bring some divergence to a largely homogenous student body. But that’s not the same as having neighbors who share our daily travels and live a different lifestyle with different needs. And the Tinsley kids will always be a very small minority in the classroom. Having more socioeconomic diversity among the student body will help our children grow up to be more aware and empatheƟc human beings.

Then there’s also the issue of providing housing for so many of the amazing employees who work in our schools, like teachers, administraƟve staff, janitors and more.

On the topic of geƫng the housing element approved: This is where I’m stepping out of my lane a liƩle because I’m not a town voter. But I want to add one more voice to those who worry about someone using the builders remedy to jam an opƟon through planning that is less desirable than what the council has come up with. It’s happening across the state now – PV isn’t immune. It feels to me as if leaving this undone is playing with fire.

Thank you for your Ɵme and aƩenƟon.

Sincerely,
Karyn Ellis
1 Dylan Parker
From: Janet Briggs
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 12:23 PM
To: Jeff Aalfs; Sarah Wernikoff; Judith Hasko; Mary Hufty; Craig Taylor Cc: housing
Subject: Writing in Support of Passing the Housing Element on May 10 Thank you all for serving on the Town Council.

Others have written extensively and compellingly in support of adopting and submitting the Housing Element. I agree with them. The hours of work and expertise that have produced the HE in its current form should not be ignored.

The costs and risks of not submitting the plan at this point can easily destroy the community we have worked so hard to preserve.

I urge you to adopt and submit the Housing Element on May 10.

Janet Briggs
1 Dylan Parker
From: CROWN, TAMMY
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 7:23 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: Jeff Aalfs; Sarah Wernikoff; Judith Hasko; Mary Hufty; Craig Taylor; housing Subject: Re: Why I Support Passing the Housing Element
Nicely said, Tricia.  I, too, have remained silent on this issue for too long.  I am in support of passing the Housing Element now, both because I support affordable housing and because I support obeying the law, even those we don’t believe in personally.  This is how civilized society operates – we don’t pick and choose which laws we want to obey, even those we think unfair or not thought through, unless we are willing to pay the consequences.  Which will be worse, and will be inflicted upon all of us, even those of us who wanted us to pass this long ago.  Please pass the Housing Element tomorrow.  We have waited long enough.

Best,
Tammy

1 Dylan Parker
From: Dan & Rosalie PV
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 7:30 PM
To: CROWN, TAMMY
Cc: [email protected]; Jeff Aalfs; Sarah Wernikoff; Judith Hasko; Mary Hufty; Craig Taylor; housing
Subject: Re: [PVForum] Why I Support Passing the Housing Element 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
On May 9, 2023, at 7:22 PM, CROWN, TAMMY > wrote:

Nicely said, Tricia.  I, too, have remained silent on this issue for too long.  I am in support of passing the Housing Element now, both because I support affordable housing and because I support obeying the law, even those we don’t believe in personally.  This is how civilized society operates – we don’t pick and choose which laws we want to obey, even those we think unfair or not thought through, unless we are willing to pay the consequences.  Which will be worse, and will be inflicted upon all of us, even those of us who wanted us to pass this long ago.  Please pass the Housing Element tomorrow.  We have waited long enough.

Best,
Tammy

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From: Sofie Vandeputte
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 9:23 PM
To: Craig Taylor; Mary Hufty; Judith Hasko; Sarah Wernikoff; Jeff Aalfs; housing Cc: Sofie Vandeputte
Subject: Please vote YES on the current Housing Element at the Town Council Meeting on May 10 To the PV Town Council,
I write you in support of the current Housing Element and urge you to vote "yes" on the current plan.

Thank you and members of the Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee for the countless hours you have dedicated to this most challenging task.

With gratitude and respect,
Sofie Vandeputte
1 Dylan Parker
From: Karen Askey
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 10:14 PM
To: Jeff Aalfs; Judith Hasko; Craig Taylor; Mary Hufty; Sarah Wernikoff; housing Subject: Comments for 5/10 Council Meeting on Housing Element Dear Town Council and Planning Staff,
I, like most residents, would like to see our Town adopt the Housing Element sooner than later, but I am NOT in favor of eliminating the jobs of 30 employees currently at the Glenoaks Equestrian Center, many of them at lower wages, to build market-rate housing. Glenoaks currently serves hundreds of community members, and has been in business for 25 years.

If Stanford, the land owner, cannot guarantee that the existing business can remain, I would like to see the following amendments to our Housing Element (HE). And I’m hopeful that this would not impact the IS/MND as currently approved, so the HE could be adopted with amendments effective immediately.

1. Eliminate the Glen Oaks site and replace those planned 16 market-rate homes with:
a. Six (6) units previously reviewed and agreed on at Town Center (at the end of the soccer field). We have now been told there are easement issues, but can’t we figure out a working solution to address that issue?
b. Two (2) SB-9 units at the sites who have currently submitted applications. HCD should allow that as we can provide exact details for those specific sites. If those two sites will create more than 2 additional units, include that higher number.
c. Six (6) additional ADUs. Given the results of the recent ADU survey, conversion opportunities of existing structures, the state’s recent push on JADU’s, and our planned programs to promote ADUs, we can make a strong argument to HCD.
d. Elimination of two (2) planned units by taking away the buffer. As discussed, HCD is most concerned about having a buffer for the very-low and low income levels. As the current Glenoaks plan calls for 2 moderate and 14 above-moderate income units, the buffer is less important, and eliminating 2 units will not significantly impact our overall buffer.

2. With respect to 4394 Alpine Road, please consider Greg Franklin’s idea to revise the zoning to a maximum limit of R19. This will allow the Town and current land owner to achieve the 21 units identified in the Housing Element, and will eliminate any bonus density concessions so the Town retains more control over the development. If, for some reason, this site is sold to a new owner, we would be protected from an overzealous developer.

To be sure, over the past 18 months a tremendous amount of time, effort and dollars have been spent, but that time has also allowed us to explore and apply new learning to fix flaws and enhance our plans. Let’s make these modest adjustments for “the next-generation” of Portola Valley.

Thank you,
Karen Askey
1 Dylan Parker
From: Erin Sanders
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 10:43 PM
To: Mary Hufty; Judith Hasko; Jeff Aalfs; [email protected]; Craig Taylor Cc: housing
Subject: It’s time
Dear Portola Valley Town Council
Thank you for the time ‐ researching, listening, discussing ‐ to get our community to this point.

There is no perfect solution but losing control of our town would be the worst possible result. While I disagree with utilizing Ford Field space for so many units, I realize that there aren’t many options for what we need to accomplish.

It’s time to vote yes and move forward bringing a more varied option of housing to allow for those we rely on and often call friends ‐ our teachers, firefighters, librarians, hair dressers, waiters, and more ‐ to live close to where they work.

With gratitude for doing this hard work, Erin Sanders Bear Gulch Dr.

Sent from my iPhone
1 Dylan Parker
From: ward vercruysse
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 10:47 PM
To: Craig Taylor; Mary Hufty; Judith Hasko; Sarah Wernikoff; Jeff Aalfs; housing Subject: Pls vote YES on the housing element plan
To the PV Town Council,
The current Housing Element plan is a reasonable compromise that meets the legal requirements.

Please vote YES before Sacramento decides we do need their adult supervision, and please work with Stanford for a fire-safe implementation of the wedge project.

Thank you and the various committees for your hard work, much appreciated.

Ward Vercruysse
1 Dylan Parker
From: Dan & Rosalie PV
Sent: Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:14 AM
To: Jeff Aalfs; [email protected]; Judith Hasko; Mary Hufty; Craig Taylor; housing
Subject: Please submit the Housing Element
Dear Councilmemebers:

Please vote to submit our Housing Element on the 10th.

It is also important to not think we can maneuver Stanford into solving our problems, or adapting to our wishes.

Stanford has its own priorities and needs that it considers existential threats.  Two folks I know in Sr. Sr. positions there reiterate in private that they can’t and won’t slow their construction of Faculty housing.  It is fundamental to their existence to be able to attract faculty ‐ and they are losing this competition to many lower ranked institutions because promising young academics can’t afford to move here.   This issue is FAR FAR more important to them than an equestrian center, or a wealthy enclave near their campus… even if they might give a diplomatic answer to calm us down.

It is time for those of us who don’t want to waste town resources on lawsuits to be heard.

It is time for those of us who don’t want to risk forced and uncontrolled development on Alpine to be heard.

It is time for our council to present our Housing Element, and then do the hard work of defending it, and improving it… instead of betting on “all or nothing” by flaunting state law.

I get we don’t like the law, just like I don’t like the 65mph limit on 280.  But that is no excuse to ignore the law.  The democratic answer is to work to change the law, not to violate just because we don’t like it.

Finally, ignoring this law isn’t even a bet… because we know we are going to lose our money, and the case against the state.   There is no honor in fighting a fight you know you can’t win.  We should use our passion to work to change the law!
With hope our council can get this done!
Thank you for your work on this, but now please do the hardest part and get this over the goal line,  and get this point of contention off the table in our town.

Regards,
Dan
1 Dylan Parker
From: Linda Wong
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2023 7:29 AM
To: Craig Taylor; Jeff Aalfs; Judith Hasko; Mary Hufty; Sarah Wernikoff Cc: housing
Subject: Please Submit the Housing Element
Dear Esteemed Town Council Members,
I am writing to voice my support of the Housing Element and to urge you to submit it to the state now to eliminate developers' ability to bypass our town's local zoning code and general plan.

California is in need of more affordable housing, and I believe that there is room to integrate it into Portola Valley.  Our town staff and Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee have performed the necessary due diligence and have worked tirelessly to create a viable housing element that is HCD‐compliant and addresses the high safety, aesthetic, and environmental standards of our wonderful town.

Let us share the natural beauty of Portola Valley and extend the warm hospitality of our welcoming community to those in need of affordable housing.

Please do not delay this submission any further.  Please submit the Housing Element.

Respectfully,
Linda Wong
- Portola Valley Resident since 2003, with two children who attended and graduated from PV schools - Former Treasurer, Ormondale PTO
- Former Member, Parcel Tax Committee
- Former Trustee, Portola Valley School District Board
‐ Active Community Volunteer
. First Submit to Town Council: May 10, 2023 12:45pm
Dear Town Council,
Please approve and submit the Housing Plan. We
support affordable housing.

Thank you,
Katherine Gilpin
● PV Resident since 2009, Parent
● Current Woodside High School Foundation President (2021-present) ● Former PVSF Board Member
● Former Alpine Hills Youth Co-Chair
Jeff Klugman
● Parent
● PVSD Board Member (publicly elected: 2017 - 2022); PVSD Board President (2019).
● 18 year resident of Portola Valley
May Chen, MD
● Parent, Volunteer
● 18 year resident of Portola Valley
● Medical Oncologist Stanford (trained at Stanford).

Alex Klugman
● Student (high school sophomore; K-8 in PVSD),
● Former Corte Madera School Student Council.
● High School Varsity Swimming
● Wants to see PVSD be more inclusive.

Izzy Klugman
● Student (high school sophomore; K-8 in PVSD)
● Former Corte Madera Co-Student Body President
● High School Varsity Basketball, Varsity Tennis
● Thinks PV’s ethnic demographic does not reflect the broader community.

Ian Van Hoven
● PV Resident since 2009
● Parent
● Former AYSO Reg 25 Coach and AYSO Board Member
David Cardinal
● 35-year resident of Portola Valley
Lorrie Duval
● 35-year resident of Portola Valley
● Thinks new residents will refresh PV’s spirit
David Ross
● PV resident since 2002
● ASCC Commissioner for ten years (five as Chair)
Nancy Powell
● PV resident since 1980
● Former member PV Trails Committee, San Mateo Co. Trails Committee Jerry Shefren
● PV Resident since 1984
● Member of the EPC
Joyce Shefren
● PV resident since 1984
● Former member of trails committee
Maryann Moise (Derwin)
● PV Resident since 1992
● Former Mayor and Council member, Portola Valley Council (17 years) Randy Von Feldt
● PV resident since 2001
● Former co-chair PV Schools Foundation
● Former AYSO board member
● Former Alpine Hills board member
Steve Toben
● PV resident since 1991
● Former Mayor and Council Member, Portola Valley Town Council (eight years) ● Former Planning Commissioner (four years)
Janice Toben
● PV resident since 1991
Shivani Nautiyal
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 2005
● Parent of children attending Portola Valley School
Sarah Dorahy
● PV resident since 2013
● Former Ormondale PTO Vice President and President
● Former PVSF Auction co-chair
● AHHEC
Sue Crane
● PV resident since 1964
● Founders Award for Lifetime Contributions to Portola Valley ● Mayor of Portola Valley 1985, 1989
● Resident of Sequoias
Alvin Sill
● PV resident since 1988
● Current member of ASCC
● Vice-Chair of AHHEC
● Past member of Water Conservation Committee
● Past member of Sustainability Committee
● Past member of Wildfire Preparedness Committee
Deb Smith
● Vista Verde resident for 25 years
● Past president of Ormondale Site Council
● Past president of Corte Madera PTO
● Past president of Vista Verde Community Assoc.
● Member of Ladera Community Church
Jane Wilson
● PV Resident since 2004, 2 children through PVSD, Woodside Priory and Woodside High School
● Current member of ASCC (7 years)
● Former President of Corte Madera PTO (2 years)
● Former President/Board Member Friends of Portola Valley Library (10 years) ● Former member of Parks and Recreation Committee (3 years) ● Woodside High School Foundation Board Member (4 years) ● Also: Friend of Sausal Creek; co-founder of Portola Valley Fiber Arts; co-chair of Portola Valley Holiday Fair (10 years); California Naturalist (3 years).

Patrick Van Hoven
● PV resident since 2009; Junior at Woodside High School, attended PVSD K–8 ● Managing Editor of the Woodside Paw Print (formerly Politics Editor) ● Subgroup lead, Electric Vehicles Subgroup, Student Advisory Board of Representative Anna Eshoo
● Junior tennis coach, Alpine Hills
● The Bay Area has a housing crisis, and the only solution to a housing crisis is to build more housing. This should be a shared solution among all communities.

Beth Gillbrand
● PV resident since 2004
● Past President Portola Valley School’s Foundation
● Past President Alpine Hills Board of Directors
Tricia Christensen
● PV Resident since 2011
● Volunteer and Housing Chair, Christ Church Portola Valley ● Past President, Portola Valley Schools Foundation
● Served on numerous school parcel tax and bond committees ● Past Board Member, Woodside High School Foundation
● Wants PV to be welcoming of new residents and new housing, not excluding Gavin Christensen
● PV Resident since 2011
● Lifelong San Mateo County resident
● Works in real estate and sees the need to increase housing stock on the Peninsula
Sue Ten
● PV Resident since 2014
● Former Portola Valley Schools Foundation Board member and Auction co-chair ● Served on school parcel tax and bond committees
● Current Board member & Auction co-chair, Woodside High School Foundation ● Arts Guild of Portola Valley Board member
Mia Farber
● PVSD: Grades 2-8
● Woodside High School Sophomore
● WHS Varsity tennis
● Human Rights Watch Student Task Force representative
● National Charity League Class of 2025 President
● Doesn't believe that there is enough socio-economic diversity in PV.

Craig Hughes
● Former Mayor and Councilmember
● PV Resident since 1997
Bud Trapp
● Resident since 1968
● Member of the EPC
Onnolee Trapp
● Resident since 1968
● Resident of Sequoias, former president of Resident Council Sandi and Andy Engel
● Residents since 2001
Dan Wernikoff
● PV Resident since 2005
● 3 Children attended PVSD Schools
Patty White
● PV Resident since 2001
● 2 Children attended PVSD Schools
Jim White
● PV Resident since 2001
● 2 Children attended PVSD Schools
Amy White
● PV Resident since 2001
● Employed in Portola Valley
Sophia Crouse
● High school senior
● PV resident since 2013
● Attended Ormondale and Corte Madera
● Co-President Corte Madera Student Council
Geoff Crouse
● PV resident since 2013
● 3 children through PVSD schools
● PVSF Foundation - Annual Campaign
Aaron Van Hoven
● PV resident since 2009
● Attended PVSD K-8; Headed to Woodside High in Fall for High School ● Junior Tennis Coach at Alpine Hills
● Current Priory Mavericks club basketball player
● Former AYSO region 25 soccer player and former Alpine Strikers player ● Affordable housing is necessary for our teachers and others who want or need to live here.

Bob Adams
● Resident of PV for 42 years.
● Founder of the Portola Valley Schools Foundation
● Founder of the Woodside High School Foundation
● Founder of Summit Preparatory Charter Public High School Alex Von Feldt
● PV resident since 2001
● Former Conservation Committee member
● Former ASCC member
● Former Planning Commissioner
Alison Farrell, PhD
● Resident since 2005 of Los Trancos Woods, unincorporated San Mateo county ● Parent of 2 children in PVSD schools, K-8
Aaron Straight
● Resident since 2005 of Los Trancos Woods
● Parent of 2 in PVSD schools
Joshua Harmssen
● Resident since 2013
● 3 Bond Measure Campaigns Volunteer
● Portola Valley Schools Sports Commissioner 6 years
● Former Alpine Hills Board Member
● 3 Children
Ronny Krashinsky
● PV resident since 2021
● Sustainability Committee member
● ADU Ambassador Team member
● Planning Commissioner
Richard Crevelt: In support of Housing Plan
● Local Business Owner and Employer
● Initiator of PV Hardware summer intern program for High School students ● Resident since 2003
● Two Children through PV Schools
● Past President Woodside Highlands HOA (PV)
● Past President and Founder Hawthorns Preservation Trust Foundation Richard Tincher
● PV resident for 40 years
● Two children attended PV schools
● General Contractor in PV for 35 years
Crystal Ciancutti
● PV resident for 17 years, grandparents lived in town for 57 years. ● Three children in PV Schools
● Past chair/co-chair of the PV Holiday Fair
● Co-founder of the PV Women’s Club
Mike Armsby
● PV resident for 13 years
● 4 children in PV Schools
● Past President Board of Directors for Alpine Hills
Susan McLaughlin
● PV resident since 2011
● 2 children attended PV Schools
●
● Former Ormondale PTO Vice President and President
● Served on school bond measure and parcel tax committees Karyn Bechtel
● 2 children attended PV Schools
● Former PVSD Board Member and President
Anne Kopf-Sill
● PV resident since 1988
● Former Woodside High School Foundation Board Member and President ● Former member and chair of PV Emergency Preparedness Committee ● Member of Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee
● PV Planning Commission
Emily Jagoda
● Resident since 2012 of Los Trancos Woods
● Parent of 2 children who attended PVSD schools, K-8
● Local business owner (architecture)
● President, Los Trancos Woods Community Association since 2019 Serra B. Simbeck
● Resident since 2005
● Parent of 3 kids who attended PV Schools
● Past President of PV Schools Foundation
● Past Chair of PV Schools Endowment Committee
Mauricio Simbeck
● Resident since 2005
● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
● Local small business owner
Colin Duwe
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 2011
● Parent of 2 children (PVSD & WHS)
● Former Cub Scout Pack Leader
Hilary Duwe
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 2011
● Parent of 2 children (PVSD & WHS)
● Former member of PVSF (~2013-2022)
● Current member of WHSF
Brooke Day
● PV resident since 2010
● Former PVSD Board Member and President
● Former Ormondale PTO Vice President and President
● Parent of former PVSD student
Jack Day
● PV resident since 2010
● Former PVSD Student (ORM, and Corte Madera School)
● Current Woodside Priory Student
Neil Day
● PV Resident since 2010
● Parent of former PVSD Student
Michael McLaughlin
● PV resident since 2011
● Parent of 2 children graduated from PV schools (Ormondale and Corte Madera) Bao Chang
● PV resident since 2001
● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
Michael Chang
● PV resident since 2001
● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
Sarah Murphy
● PV resident since 2016
● Parent of 3 children
● Alpine Hills Club Member
Liz Landis Jasinskyj
● PV resident since 2007
● Parent of 5 children who attended/graduated from PV schools (Ormondale and Corte Madera)
Linda Waissar
● PV resident since 2013
● Alpine Hills member
Kate and Andy Hamel
● PV residents since 2011
● 2 children attended PVSD schools and currently attend Woodside High School Aimee Armsby
● PV Resident since 2010
● Current Trustee, Portola Valley School District
● Current Governing Board Member, Alpine Hills Swimming & Tennis Club ● Current Board Member, San Mateo County Oversight Board ● Current Board Member, Woodside High School Foundation ● Past President, Portola Valley Schools Foundation
● AHHEC Member
● Thinks inclusiveness is a Portola Valley value, and that affordable housing can help address declining enrollment in our local schools
Michele Turner
● PV Resident (Vista Verde) since 1992
● 3 children attended/graduated PVSD schools
● Alpine Hills member
Brad Turner
● PV Resident (Vista Verde) since 1992
● 3 children attended/graduated PVSD schools
● Alpine Hills member
Aimee Blum
● Grew up in PV and returned as an adult to raise our children here ● Vista Verde resident since 2018
● 2 children attend/graduated from PVSD Schools
● Former CMS PTO Vice President and President
● Alpine Hills Member
Peter Blum
● Vista Verde resident since 2018
● 2 children attend/graduated from PVSD Schools
● Member Community Advisory Committee, Los Trancos County Maint District ● Alpine Hills Member
Izzy Armsby
● Junior at Woodside High School, varsity volleyball player and Freshmen Transitions leader
● Former Student Council member at Corte Madera
● Swim Instructor and Children’s Supervisor at Alpine Hills ● Believes that affordable housing is vital in PV
Maddie Armsby
● Sophomore at Woodside High School, Portola Valley resident since age 4 ● Attended Ormondale and Corte Madera
● After-school employment in Portola Valley
● Believes that people who work in service jobs in Portola Valley should be able to afford to live here
Trish Heald
● Portola Valley resident since 2006
● 3 children through Ormondale and Corte Madera School
● Former PVSF Board member and Annual Campaign Co-Chair ● Former WHSF Board member
● ADU Ambassador - Phase 1
Brenda Gilpin
● PV Resident since 2021
● Sequoias Resident
● Family living in PV since 2009; grandmother to local PV students ● Current working artist
● Former public middle school teacher
Lynn Mortensen
● PV Resident since 2021
● Sequoias Resident
● Current Chair Sequoias Annual “Treasure Sale”
● Current Board Member Sequoias Residents Association
● Current working artist
● Former Engineering Assistant for SRI
Barbara Finn Ph.D.
● PV Resident since 2022
● Sequoias Resident
● Sequoias Emergency Preparedness Medical Committee
● Licensed Psychologist since 1987
Laura Kavanaugh
● PV Resident since 2004
● 2 children grew up in school district
● Former member Portola Valley Schools Foundation
● Former member Woodside High School Foundation
Jennifer Youstra
● PV Resident since 2000
● 4 children through Ormondale and Corte Madera Schools ● Former PTA President (Ormondale)
● Founder of PVSD Learning Difference and Abilities Group (5 years) ● Former PVSD Board Trustee (2 years)
● Former Priory Board of Trustees (3 years)
● Former member of the Wildfire Preparedness Committee (2 years) ● Believes CA needs more housing and we all have to do our part in the most intelligent and safe way we can.

Reid McLaughlin
● PV Resident since 2011
● Graduate of Ormondale and Corte Madera Schools
● Freshman Menlo School
Bill Youstra
● PV Resident since 2000
● 4 children through Ladera, Windmill, Ormondale, Corte Madera, Priory ● Former Volunteer Youth Athletics Coach (10+ years)
● Former Committee Chairman, PV Boy Scouts
● Former Member, PV Schools Foundation Advisory Board
● Former Trustee, PVSD Board (8 years)
Danny Youstra
● Lifelong PV Resident
● PVSD & Woodside Priory student
Bobby Youstra
● Lifelong PV Resident
● Former PVSD student (K-8) and Priory student (9-12)
● Volunteer election poll worker for PV
● Volunteer intern with Marc Berman, CA Assembly
● Thinks that we should break the cycle of building too little housing and making the housing crisis in California and the Bay Area worse Jack Youstra
● Lifelong PV Resident
● Former PVSD student (K-8) and Priory student (9-12)
Eve Kavanaugh
● Lifelong PV resident
● Ormondale graduate
● Woodside Priory Student
Bob Kavanaugh
● Raised in Portola Valley
● Ormondale, Corte Madera graduate
● Former President, Portola Valley Schools Foundation
Hilary Harmssen
● PV Resident since 2013
● Former PVSF Co-President & Annual Campaign Chair (6 years) ● Parent of 3 children at PV schools
Joerg Zimmermann
● PV Resident since 2015
● Member of the Conservation Committee
Kevin Ford
● Portola Valley resident since 1993
● Past Co-President of Portola Valley Schools Foundation ● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
● Former Volunteer Youth Athletics Coach
Celeste Ford
● Portola Valley resident since 1993
● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
● Former Volunteer Youth Athletics Coach
Judith Mendelsohn
● Portola Valley resident since 1994
● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
● Believes our wonderful community can build safe and attractive affordable housing
Andrew Mendelsohn
● Portola Valley resident since 1994
● We need to trust the hard work and due diligence of town staff and citizens over the last two years to find a viable approach to affordable housing in Portola Valley Nicole Rubin
● Portola Valley resident since 2011
Amir Dan Rubin
● Portola Valley resident since 2011
Jocelyn McArthur
● Portola Valley resident since 1998
● Chair, Portola Valley Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee ● Former Portola Valley School District Trustee
● Former Portola Valley Schools Foundation Co-President Robert Wilson
● Portola Valley resident since 2004
● Ormondale and Corte Madera graduate
Josh Knowles
● PV resident, 2021
● 2 kids in PV schools
● Corte Madera Girls bball coach
● PV AYSO Board member and coach
Linda Hawes Clever, MD
● PV resident and voter since 2016
● Sequoias resident
Jon Goulden
● PV resident since 1986
● Former parent volunteer at Ormondale and Corte Madera ● 2 children attended both Ormondale and Corte Madera
● Former PVSF Co-President
● Former Cub Scout den leader
● PV Planning Commission
Kelly Osborn
● Portola Valley Resident since 2016
● Employed in Woodside
Megan Richards
● Portola Valley Resident since 1985
● Graduate of Ormondale and Corte Madera School
● Conservation Committee member
Janet Briggs
● Portola Valley Resident since 1997
● Former parent volunteer at PVSD
● Child attended Ormondale and Corte Madera
Kwok Lau
● 37 year PV resident
● President - Friends of the Portola Valley Library
● Block captain Neighborhood Watch
● Former president of Alpine Hills Tennis and Swimming Club ● Former Parent volunteer PVSD
Beth Rabuczewski
● PV resident since 200
● Two children attended PVSD
Nicolas Simbeck
● PV resident since 2005
● Attended PVSD
● Former employee Alpine Hills Club and Alpine Inn restaurant Daniel Cornew
● PV resident since 1998
● Parent of 4 ormondale / CMS grads
● Worked in PV back in 1984
Rosalie Cornew
● PV resident since 1998
● Parent of 4 ormondale/CMS grads
● Founder of the New Family welcome program.

Thomas Cornew
● The former iPhone kid that repaired iPhones while you wait.

Susan Adams
● PV resident since 1979
● Treasurer and Board Member of Friends of the Portola Valley Library ● Parent of two Ormondale/CMS grads
● Former parent volunteer at Ormondale/CMS
● Former member of the Portola Valley School Board
Pat Skillman
● PV resident since 2008
● Resident, Sequoias Portola Valley
Andrew Pierce
● PV Resident since 2009
● Member Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee
Angela Schillace
● PV resident since 1996
● 2 kids through Portola Valley Schools, 1 through Woodside HS ● Former PVSD and Woodside HS volunteer (PTO, Foundation, Measure O, etc.) ● Executive Director of the San José Chamber Orchestra and private violin instructor
Sam Schillace
● PV resident since 1996 (24 years)
● 2 kids through Portola Valley Schools, 1 through Woodside HS ● Strong supporter of affordable housing. YIMBY.
● Deputy CTO, Microsoft corporation, past Google executive, entrepreneur.

David Smernoff
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 1998
● MROSD Board member 1995-1998
● LT County Water District board member 2006-2014
● Co-Founder, Board member Grassroots Ecology (and predecessors) 1990-present
● Daughter attended PVSD K-8 and WSH 9-12. Board member of both school foundations.
● Life long advocate for social and environmental justice. Time to build truly affordable housing for our teachers, firefighters, public employees and others.

Lisa Wan
● Resident of PVSD since 2001
● Parent of 2 kids who attended PV schools & WPS
● Board of Trustees PVSF - two terms
● Board of Trustees WPS - two terms
● Supports equal housing opportunities for ALL - in our neighborhood and everywhere.

Caroline Diarte Edwards
● PV resident for 8 years
● 4 kids through PV school district; regular school volunteer ● Local AYSO board member for 4 years
● Entrepreneur and admissions coach; Co-founder of Fortuna Admissions Heriberto Diarte
● PV resident for 8 years
● 4 kids through PV school district;
● Ex member of the PV Schools Foundation
● Current member of PVSD Finance committee
● Ex-member of the PV Parks and Recreation committee
● Venture Investor in Climate Tech & Sustainability
Abigail Krenz
● Vista Verde resident since 2003
● Ormondale and Corte Madera alumna
JoAnn Loulan
● Los Trancos resident since 1987
● One child went through Ormondale and Corte Madera schools ● Member of the first parental board in 1995
● School volunteer for 9 years
● Active community member since 1987
Ronny Crawford
● Los Trancos resident since 1997
● One child went through Ormondale and Corte Madera schools ● Local music teacher for hundreds of local students since 1997 ● Community volunteer
Conrad Berke
● PV resident since 2016
● WHS junior
Anna Grzymala-Busse
● PV resident since 2016
● 3 kids through or in Ormondale/CMS
● Stanford professor
Josh Berke
● PV resident since 2016
● 3 kids through or in Ormondale/CMS
● UCSF Professor
Charlie Krenz
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 1999
● 2 kids through Windmill/Ormondale/CMS
● 10 year Board Member, Los Trancos County Water District ● Community volunteer/community videographer
● Time to move on! Let’s get this built!
Nancy Freire
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 2012
● Vista Verde Community Association
● co-president 2016-2018
● California resident since 1974 and believer that housing is in critical shortage around Bay Area and we can work together to find good solutions in PortolaValley
Linda Wong
● Portola Valley Resident since 2003
● Parent of 2 children who attended and graduated from PV schools ● Former Treasurer, Ormondale PTO
● Former Member, Parcel Tax Committee
● Former Trustee, Portola Valley School District Board
● Active community volunteer
Gregory Sampson
● Portola Valley resident since 2010
● 3 children who attended and graduated from Ormondale/CMS Ginny Borelli
● Portola Valley resident since 2010
● 3 children who attended and graduated from Ormondale/CMS ● Nature and wildlife lover
Irene and Pedro Ruiz
● Portola Valley residents since 2007
● 4 children attended and graduated from PV Schools
● School and community volunteers, dedicated to social justice, and community responsibility
Michealene and Eric Risley
● Portola Valley residents since 1993
● 3 children through PV schools (Ormondale, CM, Priory and W, High) Carolyn Carhart-Quezada
● Portola Valley resident since 2003
● 2 children attended Windmill School
● Former President, Board of Directors at Windmill School ● 2 children attended PV schools
● Former Co-President, Ormondale PTO
Tobias Freccia
● Portola Valley resident since 2012
● 3 children attended and graduated from PV Schools
● Scout Master and Den leader, PV Cub Scouts
● AYSO and Little League parent volunteer
Lucy Neely
● Portola Valley resident since 1986
● Local business operator
● Member, PV Finance Committee
● Chair, Race and Equity Committee
● Thinks diverse housing can make our community stronger.

Peggy Dennis
● PV Sequoias Resident for past two years
● Prior resident of Woodside for 60 years
Elizabeth “Glynn” Mapes
● PV Sequoias Resident since 2022
● California registered voter since 2022
● Grandparent
Jennifer Harris
● Sequoias Portola Valley since 2003
● Forner secondary school science for 23 years - Los Angeles, Ukiah and Lusaka, Zambia. ● Received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching in 1986 for California in Science
● Received the Mendocino County Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award for 2003 ● Received Margaret Nicholson Service Award from California Science Teachers Association in 1997
● Former President of Sequoias Portola Valley Residents Council, Association of Presidential Awardees, California Science Teachers Association, Mendocino County 4-H Council, Mendocino Ballet, and chair of the Mendocino County Public Health Advisory Board.

Ann Davidson
● Current Sequoias PV Resident
Mark Schreiber
● Current Sequoias PV Resident
Molly Upton
● Current Sequoias PV Resident
Carolee Houser
● Resident Sequoias Portola Valley
● Former Deputy County Counsel for San Mateo County
Kirsten Kingdon
● Resident of the Sequoias Portola Valley since March 2013 ● I am a retired lawyer who practiced in California, Michigan, and Washington, D.C. ● I am strongly in favor of your passing the Housing element tomorrow:
● The cost of living and housing in California is harmful and the lack of affordable housing is causing numerous problems. This is an extremely difficult problem to solve, but as I’ve followed the attempts to solve it, I’m convinced that adding to the sheer number of housing units is an absolutely necessary step in that direction. ● There are no perfect places to place additional housing in Portola Valley. The ones identified have been designated as the result of a great deal of work and listening to residents and others.
● As a community with a lot of advantages in many domains, I’d hope that we could be leaders in addressing a common problem, rather than resisting being a part of solutions. ● Finally, I want us to be able to maintain the ability of how best to be a part of the solutions, rather than risking having decisions about where to allow housing being taken from us.

Richard Opsahl
● PV resident since 2010
● Resident at the Sequoias PV
Sally Hart
● Current Sequoias Resident
Mariquita West
● I am a resident of Portola Valley - (at The Sequoias) ● I support more equal opportunities in our country as a whole ● I am a fourth generation Californian
● I am a member of the League of Women voters
● Affordable housing locally would help alleviate chronic staff shortages here at The Sequoias and at other local businesses. I believe it could be built so as not to spoil the wonderful beauty of this valley.

Scott Elrod
● Resident of PV since 2018
● Chair of PV Sustainability Committee
Sara Leith-Tanous
● Resident of PV since 1984
● Parent of child who attended and graduated from PV schools Donald Neeper
○ Sequoias Resident since 2014
○ Sequoias Facilities committee, Auditorium Console Committee ○ Leader of solar buildings research group, Los Alamos National Laboratory Cindy Rowe
● Vista Verde Resident since 1988
● Parent of 2 children who attended and graduated from PV schools ● Former PV Schools Foundation board member (5 years)
● Former AYSO Board member (6 years)
● Former Alpine West Menlo Little League Board member (5 years) ● Founder of Portola Valley Pickleball
● Executive Board member of Friends of the Portola Valley Library Steve Rowe
● Vista Verde Resident since 1988
● Parent of 2 children who attended and graduated from PV schools ● Former Parks and Rec Committee Member
Mark Wan
Resident of PV since 2015
Parent of 2 children who attended PV schools
Lynn Holthaus
● PV resident since 1969
● Parent of 3 boys who attended and graduated from PV schools ● Former employee of PVSD (7 years)
Tammy Crown
● PV resident since 2003
● Parent of 3 children, who all attended PV schools. Long-time supporter of PV schools. ● Active community leader and volunteer in the Environment and K-12 education Bill Crown
● PV resident since 1999
● Parent of 3 children, who all attended PV schools.
● Strong supporter of the Portola Valley community
Tom Sabel and Jill Helms
● PV residents since 2005
Kathryn Fitzgerald
● Resident of PV 1998 to present
● 2 children educated in PV (Windmill, Ormondale, Corte Madera, Priory) ● Former volunteer Town of PV, PVSD (Annual Campaign Chair) ● Former Co-President Priory Parent Association
● Former Priory Board of Trustee Member
● Fully support affordable housing and increased diversity.

Peter Fitzgerald, MD
● PV Resident since 1998
● 2 children who attended PV schools K-12
● Community member and business owner with office in Town.

Sarah Tennyson “Sally”
● Sequoias Resident since 2010
● Former resident of Menlo Park for 53 years
● Awarded Outstanding Contribution of Service to the Community by the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce
● Children attended Menlo Park schools K-8, M-A High School and local private high schools; Grandchildren currently attending nearby local schools Michael Fitzgerald
● Resident since the age of 1 year
● Proudly educated in PV @ Windmill, Orm, Corte Madera, Priory Shannon Fitzgerald
● Lifetime Resident of PV
● Attended Windmill, Orm, CMS and Priory
Joyce Chung
● Resident of PV since 2007
● Former Co-President and board member of PV Schools Foundation ● Former President and board member of Alpine Hills
● Parent of 2 children, who attended PV schools
Linda Kamran
● Resident of PV since 2016
● Incoming Co-President of PV Schools Foundation
● 3 year Chair, PVSF Annual Campaign
● Chair, PVSD Parcel Tax Campaign, 2021
● Parent of 4 children at PV schools (Windmill, ORM & CMS) ● Fully support affordable housing and increased diversity.

Amanda Smoot
● Resident of PV since 2010
● PVSD PTO Treasurer
● Served on several school parcel tax and bond committees ● Parent of 3 children at PV schools (Windmill, Carillon, ORM & CMS) ● Fully support affordable housing and increased diversity.

Kristine Lange
● Parent of two children attended/attend PV schools (Windmill, ORM, CMS) ● Volunteer home room parent/Grade captain for ORM/CMS
● Member of adult softball PV league
● Board member WHS Foundation
James Masterson
● Sequoias Resident for past eight years
● Sequoias Medical Committee and Flower Delivery
Barry Bryan
● Sequoias Resident since 2021
Margaret Dennis “Peggy”
● Sequoias Resident for past two years
● Prior resident of Woodside
Jon Stoumen
● Sequoias Resident for past two years
● Prior resident of Palo Alto
● Sequoias Evacuation and Emergency Preparedness Committee, Design Committee
● Retired Architect in Palo Alto and local counties
● Designed Affordable Housing for Seniors and numerous ADUs in addition to many other buildings including those wildland urban interface O’Malley Stoumen
● Sequoias Resident for past two years
● Prior resident of Palo Alto
● Sequoias Art Committee and Charlotte’s Garden Committee Bob Spears
● Sequoias Resident since August 2020
● Prior resident of Palo Alto and Pescadero
● Currently run a series of programs at Bechtel International Center, Stanford Jock Walker
● New Sequoias Resident as of this year
● Longtime PV resident since 1969
● Children attend PVSD schools; grandchildren currently PVSD schools ● Biomedical Engineer and sailor
● Former SUHSD Committee Member for Redistricting
Barbara Kitchen
● Sequoias Resident since 2021
● Prior resident of Menlo Park and Atherton
● Former Reading Specialist for low-income children at Henry Ford Elementary Redwood City.
● I have seen the effects of poor housing on students when they are crammed into apartments, sleeping on floors, and living in trailers. I totally support and recommend that all people have safe, clean housing.

Helen Bigelow
● Sequoias Resident since 2015
● Active member of the Sequoias community
George Deabill Ph.D.
● Sequoias Resident for 13 years.
● Prior resident of Palo Alto.
● Former Treasurer of the Sequoias Residents Association ● Private practice in psychotherapy for 50 years
Jane Funkhouser
● Sequoias Resident for four years.
● Active volunteer; writer for Sequoias Newsletter; and Gift Shop Committee Loretta “Lorelle” Fallon
● Sequoias Resident for eight years
● Currently on the Sequoias Emergency Preparedness Committee ● PV Friends of the Library
● Run the presentations at Sequoias, including Hanson Hall Linda Liebes
● Sequoias Resident since 2019
● Former Member San Mateo County Grand Jury
William A. Thacker
● Sequoias Resident since 2020
● Retired Lieutenant Colonel in US Air Force
● Auxiliary Air Force Search and Rescue Pilot for 30 years ● Graduate work in Industrial Arts
John Richards
● Resident since 1954
● Town Council 2009-2022
● ASCC 1986-1992
● Planning Commission 1992-1994
Sharon Richards
● Resident since 1985
Todd Van Horn
● PV resident
● PVSD parent and volunteer
Heather Cunningham
● PV resident
● PVSD parent and volunteer
René Lacerte
● Resident of PV since 2007
● Parent of 2 children, who attended PV schools
Kei Befu
● Sequoias Resident Since 2004; Moved from Stanford Campus ● AAUW, Palo Alto Adoption Group, Stanford Women’s Faculty Club, Palo Alto Friends Meeting, The Sequoias Education Committee, etc.

Judith Murphy
● Portola Valley Resident since 1990
● Conservation Committee member for 12 years; chair for 8 years ● Former member Water Conservation Committee, Sustainability Committee. ● ADU Ambassador, phase 1
Edward Oates
● PV resident since 1986
● Parent of 1 child, who attended PV schools
Jennifer Hammer
● PV resident since 1986
● Volunteer in PV church, schools, and community for 28 years ● Chair of the Portola Valley Wildfire Preparedness Committee ● Co-founder of the PV Women’s Club
● Parent of 1 child, who attended PV schools
Andy Koontz
● PV resident since 1990
● 2 children attended PVSD schools
● PVSD and community volunteer
● Former member Woodside Priory board of trustees
Jessica Brodt
● PV resident
● PVSD parent and volunteer
● Woodside Priory parent and volunteer
Letter Submittal
-----------------------------193 Endorsers as of 12:50pm May 10, 2023-------------------------- YES! You can still endorse and we want you to.

The process has changed just a tiny bit.

We Got This, PV!
Click on Link Below:

From 12:40pm on today, Tuesday 5/10/2023, please use this link.

I will move your names over to this periodically.
5/10/23, 2:07 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7030 1/1

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9. 10.

11. Submitter DB ID 7030
IP Address 2601:647:4b80:7510:3c97:d44a:f48:e1a0
Submission Recorded On 05/10/2023 12:58 PM
Time to Take the Survey 20 minutes, 5 secs.

First and Last Name
Bob Turcott
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
5 Housing Element
Comment
Please see attached PDF
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.

TC Turcott Letter PS4PVN 2023-05-10 DRAFT v4.pdf
DRAFT
To: Portola Valley Town Council
From: Bob Turcott
Date: May 10, 2023
Re: May 10, 2023 Town Council Meeting Agenda Item #5 PUBLIC HEARING – HOUSING

ELEMENT
Dear Council Member,
Please see the linked videos below, which include a description of PublicSafety4PVNow’s purpose and mission.

The videos can by found on my YouTube channel, “This WUI Life,” (https://www.youtube.com/ @thiswuilife4470) with the following titles and links:
“Ask the Mayor Part 1. Who directs Portola Valley’s Staff?” https://youtu.be/i9pPEeOgk2g
“Ask the Mayor Part 2. Why is Portola Valley ignoring its fire hazard?" https://youtu.be/02ucDJZLFGw
And, finally, the reasons behind the founding of PublicSafety4PVNow:
“Why PublicSafety4PVNow?”
https://youtu.be/Zr6tcMC4bT0
I’ve attached the script for “Why PublicSafety4PVNow?” as an addendum.

Sincerely,
Bob Turcott
Addendum:

Script: Why PublicSafety4PVNow?
Portola Valley faces an existential threat from wildfire. Because of our steep and heavily vegetated canyons, warming climate, and dry seasonal winds, Portola Valley can be consumed in 1-3 hours by a catastrophic wildfire.

As a physician, I know well that prevention is far, far better than repair.

That’s why I became alarmed when, over two years ago, I discovered the gaping chasm between where we are in terms of fire safety, and where we should be — even as minimally defined by State law, Cal Fire regulations, and other objective standards.

DRAFT
I committed myself to becoming knowledgeable about fire science and policy. I, and many others, have continuously lobbied the Town to correct its significant deficiencies in wildfire safety.

If these efforts have had an effect on our Town’s public safety policies, it hasn’t been sufficient.

Not only does Portola Valley fall short on many best practices defined by Cal Fire and national fire safety organizations, it continues to violate important State fire prevention laws and regulations, despite countless resident hours spent educating and urging Town leaders to fulfill their obligation to protect public safety against wildfire risk.

Some examples:
• Refusal since 2009 to designate our most severe fire hazard areas (Govt Code 51179) • Failure since 2015 to assess our wildfire risk, then adopt and implement programs to ameliorate risk (SB 1241, 2012)
• Failure since 2015 to adopt, staff and implement the Fire District’s proposed Town-wide evacuation plan
• Refusal to acknowledge or respond to the Feb 2021 Petition of 80 residents seeking prioritization of the Safety Element in the General Plan revisions and seeking to bring it into compliance with State law (Govt Code 65302(g)(3))
• Refusal since 2021 to implement Cal Fire’s Fire Safe Development Regulations

• Failure since 2022 to fully assess evacuation capacity and viability (65302.15) • Refusal to acknowledge or respond to the Dec 2022 Petition of 600 residents to implement wildfire protections
• Failure to assess the Housing Element’s environmental impacts in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Portola Valley’s violations aren’t mere oversights or trivial technicalities.

These laws and regulations would provide broad and substantial protections to our community, if the Town would comply with them.

For years, our advocacy for effective prevention and fire safe development has fallen on deaf ears.

For years, my family and yours have been denied the basic safeguards defined by State laws and regulations.

It’s time to try a different approach.

Rusty Day, Ron Eastman, and I have finally come to the conclusion that our community needs the means to ensure enforcement of the fire safety laws and regulations that the State has adopted to protect us.

It is for that reason that we have organized a new non-profit public service corporation to advocate for our public safety.

DRAFT
PublicSafety4PVNow will serve as a vehicle to retain legal, geotechnical, and fire safety expertise — consultants who will have the residents of Portola Valley as their client, not the Town.

PublicSafety4PVNow will advocate for compliance with State safety laws and regulations through continued public education, outreach, and community organization.

If necessary, PublicSafety4PVNow will also bring legal action to enforce important State fire prevention and public safety mandates. But only as a last resort. Only after all other means of prompt resolution have failed will PublicSafety4PVNow seek enforcement of our State’s public safety and environmental mandates in a court of law.

Please join me by supporting the efforts of PublicSafety4PVNow in clarifying and publicizing the requirements of State fire prevention and public safety mandates, and in persuading our Town to comply with those mandates NOW — not after disaster strikes.

A message to our neighbors in adjacent communities — Los Altos Hills, Los Trancos, Ladera, Woodside — our fates our linked. A catastrophe in one community will almost certainly mean a catastrophe in others.

Here’s what you can do now:

1. Add your name to our mailing list using the link below.

2. Share this video with friends and neighbors

3. Support us with a tax deductible contribution during our next fund raising drive I’m Bob Turcott. Thanks for watching, and thanks for staying engaged. 5/10/23, 2:14 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7016 1/1

1. 2.

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9. 10.

11. Submitter DB ID 7016
IP Address 2601:647:4b80:7510:11ea:3bf5:9e68:f088
Submission Recorded On 05/09/2023 8:52 PM
Time to Take the Survey 3 minutes, 57 secs.

First and Last Name
Bob Turcott
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name

5. PUBLIC HEARING – HOUSING ELEMENT
Comment
Please see attached pdf.

Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.

TC Turcott Letter 2023-05-10.pdf
To: Portola Valley Town Council
From: Bob Turcott
Date: May 9, 2023
Re: May 10, 2023 Town Council Meeting Agenda Item #5 PUBLIC HEARING – HOUSING

ELEMENT
Dear Council Member,
On January 4, 2023, Fire Marshal Bullard sent a letter to the Town and asked that it be distributed to all Council Members, Planning Commissioners, and the public. His transmittal email is shown here:

The Fire Marshal’s letter is attached below.

His letter was not made public. To our knowledge, it was not distributed to the Town Council or the Planning Commission.

If true, that means that the Planning Commission and the Town Council considered proposed Housing Element and other General Plan revisions while being blinded to the Fire District’s concerns.

It also means they made decisions about our State-mandated environmental assessment while being blinded to the Fire District’s concerns.

When a PRA request for the Fire Marshal’s letter was served on the Town, the Town denied the letters existence. It is only because the Fire District produced the letter that the public has become aware of it.

What was so threatening about the Fire District’s letter that its existence had to be denied? I urge you to read the 14 page letter in its entirety for yourself.

Here are some highlights:

The Fire District was not asked by the Town to comment on the Town’s environmental analysis.

The District believed that there were important deficiencies in the Town’s analysis.

1. The 2008 Moritz Fire Map is the most accurate depiction of our fire hazards -The Fire Marshal notes that he has repeatedly told the Planning Department about the superiority of the Moritz map, and that the Moritz Fire Map, not the 2008 Cal Fire Map, should serve as the basis for land use and planning decisions -The State-mandated environmental analysis should be based on the Moritz map, not the Cal Fire map

2. Proposed revisions to the Safety Element would weaken existing fire safety policies The Town’s environmental assessment (IS/MND) does not acknowledge or account for these rolled back safety policies

3. No assessment of the impact of proposed zoning code changes

4. No assessment of cumulative impacts on evacuation capacity

5. No assessment of cumulative impact on fire protection services and infrastructure.

6. Failure to consider necessary mitigation measures
The letter goes on to list several mitigations that the Fire Marshal indicates should be implemented into the Municipal Code
The Fire Marshal wrote:
“It is also possible to identify some of the more important mitigation measures needed to alleviate the adverse impacts of likely increases in residential density on wildfire hazard and risk. In particular, the district believes that certain specific zoning code amendments to protect against structure-to-structure and neighborhood-toneighborhood fire spread should be adopted and implemented before any amendments that increase structural density and fuel loading are adopted. I address below some of the more important mitigation measures that should be adopted.” (Emphasis his)
This development is disturbing, to say the least, and demands a full accounting.

Sincerely,
Bob Turcott
1 Woodside Fire Protection District Fire Prevention Bureau 808 Portola Road Portola Valley, Ca. 94028
(650) 851-1594
www.woodsidefire.org
Don Bullard – Fire Marshal

January 4, 2022
Dear Portola Valley Town Council,
I understand the Town of Portola Valley is currently performing an assessment under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of the impact that proposed amendments to its General Plan and Municipal Code would have on public safety, including the impact they would have on wildfire hazards and risk. While the district is generally aware that the Town is in the process of amending its General Plan and Municipal Code, it does not have a clear understanding of the totality of changes the Town is proposing to make to its existing land use, development and zoning policies or ordinances, or the specific details of all such changes.

To my knowledge, the Town has not asked the district to assess the impact that the Town’s proposed amendments would have on public safety, fire operations, fire prevention, wildfire hazards and risk, or its evacuation capacity and capability. Nor, to my knowledge, has the Town asked the district to comment on the findings and conclusions set forth in its CEQA analysis (Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration or “IS/MND”) regarding such matters. While a competent assessment of such impacts would obviously require extensive information detailing the specific changes in policy and regulations the Town proposes to make, to date, I am not aware of the Town providing the district the specific information needed to perform such an assessment.

Although Town staff and consultants have on occasion contacted the district for feedback on specific fire safety and prevention issues, the issues for which feedback is sought have been narrowly framed and accompanied by limited information. As an example, the Town’s planning consultant contacted the district on July 18, 2022, stating “We are writing to you to request information regarding the project’s potential impact related to physical facilities necessary to provide adequate fire protection services,” and provided a brief summary of five sites for potential development.

In a similar vein, last month when the Town requested an informal assessment of the existing fire hazard severity of five potential development sites, I was unaware that it would later be used to support proposed zoning changes at those locations. If I had known the intended use of this information, I would have requested greater insight into the changes that were proposed and performed a far more comprehensive investigation and assessment.

The district is eager to work with the Town to provide an informed and comprehensive assessment of the direct and cumulative impact of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments on public safety. The district urges the Town to draw on the district’s experience and competency to help assess the impact that its proposed amendments can have on the existing and future wildfire hazards and risk within the community and the district more broadly, their impact on evacuation capacity and fire protection services, the propriety of the Town’s proposed negative declaration of “No Significant 2 Impacts” on wildfire hazard and risk, and the nature and extent of mitigation measures that should be taken to alleviate such impacts.

Based on the district’s preliminary review of the Town’s published IS/MND’s assessment of impacts on wildfire hazards and risk, the district believes the assessment contained in the IS/MND has several important deficiencies. In particular, the district wishes to point out the following deficiencies in the published IS/MND:

1. Assessment of Existing Wildfire Hazards. Any assessment of the impact on public safety of proposed changes in land use or in the location, density or nature of development should begin with a baseline assessment and characterization of the existing hazards the land presents. The 2008 Moritz map, adopted in the Town’s 2010 Safety element as the basis on which the Town characterizes and assesses its existing wildfire hazards, is currently the best, most accurate and reliable characterization, and assessment of the existing natural fire hazards within Portola Valley.

The district is currently in the process of developing a new assessment of district-wide wildfire hazards and risks which will, in time, hopefully provide a superior, updated assessment. The district believes that an accurate, comprehensive assessment of wildfire hazards within the district and the risk such hazards pose is of paramount importance, and it is committed to developing the most competent, accurate and informative assessment it can as quickly as possible.

Until that time, however, the district believes the Moritz map provides the most accurate and reliable fire hazard assessment available on which to base decision-making regarding proposed land use planning, zoning, and development.

The Moritz map was developed in 2008 after the fire district identified several short-comings and omissions in the fire hazard maps prepared by Cal Fire for the local responsibility areas within the district’s jurisdiction. At the fire district’s recommendation, Ray Moritz, an experienced and highly respected fire arboriculturist, was retained by the Town to assess the severity and extent of its natural fire hazards based on an aerial and ground surveillance of the entire town and its immediate surroundings.

The methodology used by Moritz to prepare his hazard assessment and map adapted and improved on the methodology used by Cal Fire for its hazard assessment and maps. Like Cal Fire, Moritz characterized both the topography and vegetation of Portola Valley’s lands according to directly comparable standards of fire hazard. He did so, however, with much greater resolution and precision than Cal Fire was able to apply. Unlike Cal Fire, he characterized the topography of Portola Valley’s lands at much higher resolution, which enabled him to identify physical features of the landscape (ravines, ridgelines, chimneys, aspect) that can cause rapid fire expansion and spread. Unlike Cal Fire, he ground-truthed the lands he characterized, which enabled him to confirm the type, density and vertical as well as horizontal distribution of vegetative fuels on the landscape. And unlike Cal Fire, he characterized each of eleven (11) different vegetative fuel types present on the landscape, which enabled him to better resolve the burnability and interaction of vegetative fuels on the land. All of this in combination enabled him to better assess the locations, density, and hazards of the many different natural fuel complexes throughout Portola Valley.

I have repeatedly cautioned the Town’s Planning Department that the Moritz map provides a superior basis for planning purposes and not to use the Cal Fire map. On May 12, 2022, I wrote you and others questioning the Town’s preliminary draft Safety element, which used the 2008 Cal Fire map in lieu of the Moritz map. When the planning department persisted in using the Cal Fire 3 map as the basis for its Town-wide assessment of fire hazards in its draft Safety element, I again wrote you on September 13, 2022, and explicitly warned against its use:
“The district does not approve of or support the use of the limited CalFire map from 2008 as it is too old and too limited based on our assessments. 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.”
I went on to note that the district also disagreed with the Town’s assessment of its wildfire hazards as reported in its FEMA Hazard and Risk Ranking:
“The district feels that the Town should update the wildfire ranking to be more in alignment with the Fire District and the Town of Woodside. Both the Fire District and the Town of Woodside have ranked wildfire of the highest hazard where Portola Valley has ranked it as medium to almost low hazard. The Town of Portola Valley should update their MJLHMP as soon as possible to reflect the true wildfire hazards faced by the Town.” The district believes the Moritz map provides the most accurate and reliable fire hazard assessment currently available on which to base Portola Valley’s land use planning, zoning, and development decision-making. Until the district’s updated hazard maps are approved and adopted, the Moritz map, not the 2008 Cal Fire map, should be used to assess the impact of proposed changes in the Town’s land use policies and development regulations on wildfire hazards and risk. The Moritz map, not the 2008 Cal Fire map, should form the basis on which any CEQA assessment of the environmental impact of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments is based.

The Town’s 2010 Safety element expressly adopts the Moritz map as the approved basis for assessment and regulation of the impact of proposed development within Town on wildfire hazards and risk. 2010 Safety element §4138. Nonetheless, the Town’s current draft Safety element and the IS/MND both appear to use the less accurate assessment of fire hazard contained in the 2008 Cal Fire map as the stated baseline assessment of wildfire hazard and risk for the community. The district is unaware of any sound justification for this change.

The district believes that substitution of the 2008 Cal Fire assessment of hazard for the Moritz assessment of hazard will under-state and misrepresent the impact that proposed development can have on wildfire hazard and risk within the Town. For example, the 2008 Cal Fire map used in both the current draft Safety element and in the IS/MND as the baseline depiction of wildfire hazard within Portola Valley shows approximately 6% of Town as Very High Fire Hazard Severity and 0% of Town as High Fire Hazard Severity. By way of comparison, the Moritz map characterizes approximately 40% of Town as Highest Hazard and 49% of Town as High Hazard. It is hard to imagine a starker contrast.

Substitution of the 2008 Cal Fire assessment for the Moritz assessment also acts to inappropriately downplay the need for appropriate measures to mitigate the impacts on hazard and risk such development would entail.

The district believes that any CEQA analysis of the impact of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments on wildfire hazard and risk should be based on the Moritz map, not the 2008 Cal Fire map, and that a CEQA analysis of the Town’s proposed amendments based on the Moritz map will differ significantly from the assessment currently provided in the IS/MND. 4 2. Elimination of Important Fire Prevention Policies. The Town’s 2010 Safety element sets forth several important wildfire prevention and protection policies that are keyed into and based on the Moritz hazard assessment and map. For example, in all areas of Town characterized by Moritz as Highest Hazard, the Safety element prohibits construction for human occupancy unless adequate mitigation reduces fire risk to an acceptable level.
“Do not construct buildings for human occupancy, critical facilities and high value structures in areas classified as having the highest fire risk unless it is demonstrated that mitigation measures will be taken to reduce the fire risk to an acceptable level.” 2010 Safety element § 4151(1)(emphasis added).

In all areas of Town characterized by Moritz as High Hazard or greater, the Safety element mandates for each new subdivision a study that describes its wildfire risk, the factors contributing to that risk, actions to reduce the risk to an acceptable level, the cost and means of providing fire protection to the subdivision, and an indication of who pays for that. 2010 Safety element § 4151(2)(emphasis added). Similarly, in all areas characterized as High Hazard or greater, the Safety element mandates special protective measures to control spread of fire and provide safety to occupants, including but not limited to types of construction and use of appropriate materials. 2010 Safety element § 4151(6). And the Safety element calls for establishment of a public information program based on the Moritz assessment to inform residents of local fire hazards and how they can be reduced. 2010 Safety element § 4151(5). It also calls upon homeowners to provide adequate clearance around structures to prevent spread of fire and ensure adequacy emergency access and fire suppression.

The policies outlined in the Town’s 2010 Safety element laudably apply several of the most important wildfire prevention principles:

First, fire safe land use, development and construction of our built environment constitute the first line of defense against wildfire expansion and spread. Prudent location, layout, design, and construction of our built environment are often the most cost-effective and important steps we can take to protect our families and our communities against the destruction caused by wildfire.

Second, the severity of wildfire hazard and risk posed by lands used or developed for human use should govern and determine the stringency of fire prevention and protection regulations and standards for the land’s use and development. This well-recognized principle was pioneered in part by the Town’s adoption of its seismic safety policies and regulations in the early 1970s. It is now thoroughly embodied in State law and widely championed by both Cal Fire and the National Fire Protection Association in their minimum fire safe development regulations and wildland fire protection standards.

Third, in assessing the impact of land use and development, it is important to distinguish between the concept of “hazard” and the concept of “risk.” The concept of “fire hazard” refers to the propensity for fire to expand, intensify and spread from a given fuel complex (as defined by the kind, arrangement, volume, condition, and location of fuel sources on the landscape). The concept of “fire risk” refers to the probability and severity of adverse effects that can result from exposure to a given fire hazard. For example, a severe fire hazard within an undeveloped forest may pose very little risk, whereas the same fire hazard near or within a populated residential neighborhood may pose severe risk. Thus, while fire hazards are important to identify and mitigate, not all hazards pose severe risk, 5 and it is the hazards that pose the greatest risk that should be our greatest priority to mitigate.

Fourth, in assessing wildfire risk, the propensity for rapid fire expansion and spread within populated residential areas is of paramount concern. Not only does it determine the limited time available to contain and hopefully control the spread of fire, but it also determines the number and distribution of people and resources that must be protected and/or evacuated, the speed with which that must be accomplished, and the resources needed to do so.

Accurately and candidly assessing the risk posed to residential communities such as Portola Valley is also essential to acquiring, training, and deploying the appropriate resources and measures needed for effective, safe emergency response. And it is also essential to identifying, prioritizing, and funding the most important mitigation measures that can be taken in advance of any fire to reduce extreme risk.

Fifth, effective assessment of wildfire hazard and risk on WUI lands as topographically variable and fire prone as Portola Valley requires an individuated assessment of each important fuel complex in the context of its particular setting, the fuel sources comprising the hazard, and the lands, resources and fuels sources surrounding it. Cal Fire, the National Fire Protection Association, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the insurance industry’s Institute for Business and Home Safety all agree. A “one size fits all” approach to land use and development will not adequately account for the site-to-site differences in hazard and risk that characterize Portola Valley’s fire-prone, vertiginous terrain and built environment.

Sixth, effective mitigation can and will save lives and other valued resources. Nowhere is the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” more apt. A comprehensive, accurate assessment of hazard and risk is essential to the effective identification of appropriate, cost-effective mitigation steps as well as their prioritization.

The fire prevention policies adopted in the Town’s 2010 Safety element outline some of the most progressive principles required for effective long-term reduction of exposure to the risk of uncontrolled wildfire in WUI communities such as Portola Valley. By emphasizing the hazard and extreme risk posed by rapid fire spread, by calling for more stringent land use and development protections in areas of heightened fire hazard, by calling for individuated, project-by-project and subdivision-by-subdivision assessment of impacts on risk as well as fire hazard in areas of heightened hazard, and by linking the need for mitigation to risk, not just hazard, the 2010 Safety element anticipated many of the most important safeguards now championed by Cal Fire and the National Fire Protection Association.

In September 2022, when the district previously submitted comments on the draft Safety element, it was unaware and uninformed that the 2010 Safety element contained these important policies, and I wrote you noting that the Town’s current draft Safety element omitted such policies. That is why I provided written comments calling for the addition of policies to implement some of these important principles.

I now understand that the current draft Safety element no longer supports some of the more important fire prevention policies previously adopted in the 2010 Safety element, but instead substitutes in their place new, less protective policies. These new policies would:
• Eliminate application of the Town’s fire prevention policies to much of Portola Valley by substituting the 2008 Cal Fire map for the Moritz map
6 • Eliminate application of the Town’s fire prevention subdivision policies to areas of Town characterized as High Fire Hazard Severity and restrict their application to only those areas of Town characterized in the 2008 Cal Fire map as Very High Fire Hazard Severity • Eliminate the mandate for an individuated site-by-site assessment of fire risk associated with each development in areas of Town characterized as Highest Hazard • Eliminate the mandate for mitigation measures by developments within Highest Hazard areas to reduce risk to acceptable levels, substituting instead compliance with the minimum requirements of Cal Fire’s fire safe development standards irrespective of risk • Eliminate the requirement for special protective measures to control spread of fire and provide safety to occupants in all High and Highest Hazard areas, substituting instead design measures to enhance fire protection of structures Perhaps most importantly, the draft Safety element’s substitution of compliance with minimum hazard reduction standards for the requirement set forth in the existing Safety element for individuated site-specific assessment and mitigation of fire risk does not, in my opinion, adequately protect public safety against fire risk. As noted above, the paramount goal of effective wildfire risk reduction is the prevention and/or containment of rapid-fire expansion and spread to neighboring homes and fuel complexes. Achievement of that objective can vary significantly from site-to-site, and typically requires different measures than minimum development and building standards entail.

Notably, the IS/MND does not disclose the changes the new draft Safety element would make to the Town’s existing fire prevention policies. Nor does it assess the impact such changes would have on wildfire hazards and risk or explain why the wildfire prevention policies previously adopted in the 2010 Safety element are being replaced with less protective, more permissive development policies.

The district believes that any CEQA analysis of the impact of the Town’s proposed amendments should include an assessment of the impact that the changes in fire prevention policies proposed in the current draft Safety element would have on existing wildfire hazard and risk. The district believes that the elimination of individuated, project-by-project risk assessments for subdivisions in High and Highest Hazard areas, and for projects in Highest Hazard areas, is a step backward that could adversely affect public safety and should be avoided. The requirement for minimal design and construction standards to protect buildings against ignition from vegetative fire is beneficial but alone insufficient to protect communities against the risk of rapid-fire expansion and spread, especially where the density of construction increases the risk of structure-tostructure fire ignition and spread. In such communities, additional mitigation is needed, including adequate separation between structures, dramatic reduction of combustible fuel sources, fire-safe design practices, and greatly enhanced construction standards, materials, and practices.

3. No Assessment of the Impact of Proposed Zoning Code Changes. Portola Valley’s planning department appears to be developing and releasing a still-evolving set of proposed amendments to the Town’s zoning code. The current draft IS/MND does not disclose the specific set of zoning amendments the Town is proposing. Nor does it assess the direct and cumulative impact such zoning code amendments would have on wildfire hazard and risk or evacuation capacity.

An informative and detailed assessment of the impact that proposed zoning code changes would have on existing wildfire hazards and risk requires an informed understanding and assessment of 7 the way such changes would alter or affect the fuel complexes that can be created within the zoned area. This requires informed consideration of:
a. The location(s) where such changes would apply
b. The minimum required parcel size for each residential structure c. The maximum number of allowable buildings per parcel d. The minimum separation distance between buildings within a parcel e. The maximum allowed building square footage
f. The maximum building height
g. The number of resident and guest vehicles allowed (anticipated) per parcel h. The off and on-street provisions for parking
i. The road widths, staging areas, and emergency vehicle access areas Each of the above zoning provisions forms an important component of the allowable fuel complex that can be built or maintained on affected parcels within a given zoning district. In combination, these provisions, together with the related subdivision and building code provisions for construction in such areas, define the allowable fuel complex that may be built on each parcel of land and, collectively, the fuel complexes that can be created within subdivisions or similarly zoned neighborhoods. By regulating each of these variables in relationship to one another and to the existing hazards of the lands and homes that surround them, it is possible to contain and hopefully mitigate or even prevent the spread and expansion of fire from structure-to-structure, parcel-to-parcel, and neighborhood-to-neighborhood.

An informative and detailed assessment of the cumulative impact of proposed zoning code amendments should be based on all of the zoning code changes to be made and should identify all of the mitigation measures needed to alleviate the effects of increased zoning density.

That, in turn, will require consideration of much additional information not contained in the IS/MND. It is possible, however, to identify some of the important fire hazard and risk implications of increased zoning density within WUI communities such as Portola Valley. It is also possible to identify some of the important principles for effective mitigation of the incremental risk created by increased building density.

Where highly combustible structures such as wood framed buildings are situated near one another, the hazard of structure-to-structure ignition and resultant fire spread from radiant and convective heat flux can increase dramatically. As Cal Fire, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the insurance industry’s Institute of Business and Home Safety have all recently explained in detail, no amount of home hardening through the adoption of ember resistant features such as non-combustible siding, roofing, or cladding can protect such structures against ignition and structure-to-structure fire spread when they or other highly combustible structures are exposed to other burning structures that are less than 25 feet away. WUI Structure, Parcel, 8 Community Fire Hazard Mitigation Methodology, NIST TN 2205 (2022). That is why Cal Fire’s minimum fire safe development regulations (14 C.C.R. 1206.1) call for 30-foot property line setbacks for all buildings in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the National Fire Protection Association’s Wildland Fire Protection Standard 1140 calls for 30 feet of separation between all buildings in WUI lands (Standard 12.2).

To appreciate the critical need for adequate separation between such combustible structures, it is important to understand the immense concentration of combustible energy contained within a typical wood framed residential structure, the magnitude of energy that can be released from combustion of such structures (the “enthalpy” of the structure), and the enormous difference between the heat flux measured in both peak intensity and duration of energy released by a burning wood framed structure and the energy released by burning vegetative fuels.

A wood framed residential structure can release thermal energy upon combustion that is hundreds to thousands of times greater than the energy released by burning vegetative fuels.

And the duration of such high energy release from structural fires can be sustained for time periods that are 50 to 100 times longer than the energy released from combustion of vegetative fuels.

The comparatively high enthalpy of burning structures can cause radiant and convective thermal fluxes that are much more intense and prolonged than the radiant and convective fluxes produced by vegetative fires. This is what makes the combustion of structures so potentially dangerous, and the concentration of structural fuels in ever denser clusters or groupings without adequate separation between them even more dangerous.

To appreciate the critical importance of adequate separation between structures, just consider how the dense aggregation of structures on ever smaller parcels with ever less separation between structures on each parcel increases and concentrates the magnitude of energy potentially released if those structures are exposed to structure-to-structure ignition and fire spread. The illustration on the left below shows the limited concentration of enthalpy when two wood framed structures are separated from one another by at least 50 feet. The illustration on the right below shows the much more intense concentration of enthalpies when wood framed structures are separated from one another by less than 25 feet.
0 500
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9 In circumstances such as those depicted above, the magnitude of radiant and convective heat flux from a single burning structure is so intense and so prolonged that no amount of protective noncombustible cladding or roofing can protect the underlying wood framing and interior fuels of closely spaced neighboring structures from also quickly igniting and rapidly spreading fire from structure-to-structure creating an urban conflagration. In the situation depicted on the left, the greater separation between structures provides protection against structure-to-structure ignition through radiant and convective flux. In the situation depicted on the right, the separation between structures is insufficient to protect any structure against ignition by a neighboring structure. In such circumstances, the hazard of rapid structure-to-structure ignition and spread can prove catastrophic. That is the lesson we must all understand and apply from California’s most destructive residential fires, from Coffey Park to Paradise.

While adequate separation of structures is the most effective and prudent safeguard against structure-to-structure fire spread among combustible, wood framed buildings, it is not the only means by which structures can be built in closer proximity to one another. Another alternative for increased density of structures is to reduce the enthalpy of the structures by utilizing noncombustible materials other than wood or other combustibles to frame and build the houses we live in. By utilizing thoroughly non-combustible materials and methods for the entire framing of wall and roof assemblies rather than wood, it is possible to reduce the enthalpy of each structure and thus the requisite distance required to safely separate them from one another to prevent structure-to-structure ignition and spread.

The following graphic illustrates the potential reduction of enthalpy that can be achieved by using entirely non-combustible materials for wall and roof assemblies instead of wood. In the illustration on the left below, densely spaced structures framed in wood have highly concentrated enthalpies. In the illustration on the right, the concentration of enthalpies can be greatly reduced by using only non-combustible wall and roof assemblies to frame and build closely spaced structures.
0 200
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50 foot separation
0 200
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15 foot separation
10 By dramatically reducing the potential energy release of each structure through completely noncombustible wall and roof assemblies, it may be possible to reduce the distances required for safe separation of residential structures and thus increase the density of such structures.

Use of non-combustible materials for roof and wall assemblies are just two of the mitigation steps that should be taken when it is otherwise not possible to achieve adequate separation between parcels and structures. Other important mitigation steps include:
• Thickened wall assemblies to reduce the conduction of heat between exterior and interior spaces
• Layout and design of building clusters to maximize the separation between structures, offset closely spaced wall surfaces, and avoid closely spaced parallel wall surfaces • Construction of non-combustible privacy walls between parcels to shield exposed structures from neighboring structures and vehicles
• Elimination of exterior apertures such as doors, windows, or large vents from closely spaced wall surfaces
• Use of heat hardened window and door assemblies with heat resistant glazing • Provision of non-combustible door and window screens to shield apertures against heat penetration
• Provision of adequate on-street parking to ensure simultaneous access and egress notwithstanding resident and guest parking
• Provision of suitable space and facilities for emergency access and staging as well as shelter in place for occupants
It is also possible to identify some of the more important mitigation measures needed to alleviate the adverse impacts of likely increases in residential density on wildfire hazard and risk. In particular, the district believes that certain specific zoning code amendments to protect against structure-to-structure and neighborhood-to-neighborhood fire spread should be adopted and implemented before any amendments that increase structural density and fuel loading are 0 200
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15 foot separation
0 100
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Wood Framing Non-Combustible Framing
11 adopted. I address below some of the more important mitigation measures that should be adopted.

4. Assessment of Cumulative Impacts on Evacuation Capacity. Both the draft Safety element and the IS/MND overlook the direct and cumulative impacts of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments on the Town’s evacuation capacity and preparation.

As noted above, rapid expansion and spread of fire poses a severe risk to populations and structures surrounding hazardous fuel complexes. That is especially true in communities like Portola Valley where vertiginous terrain, abundant natural and man-made fuel sources, and constrained evacuation routes pose difficult challenges to effective, safe evacuation under urgent, rapidly changing conditions.

Such conditions make it particularly important to carefully assess the direct impact that the location and hazard of the fuel complexes created by new development will have on the existing fire hazards and risks that actually surround them, and the cumulative impact such aggregated hazards and risk will have on existing evacuation capacity and preparation.

By substituting the 2008 Cal Fire map for the Safety element’s existing assessment of wildfire hazard and risk throughout Town, both the draft Safety element and the IS/MND understate and mischaracterize the severity and extent of wildfire hazards and risk, the impact that development can have on such hazards and risk, and especially the impact that development can have on the extent, urgency, and possibility of effective evacuation of populations within areas surrounding areas of new, concentrated development.

While the draft Safety element purports to identify areas of Town with elevated risk of relatively frequent repeated incidents of fire, and areas of Town with constrained routes of evacuation access and egress, it does so in the context of a depiction of wildfire hazard and risk (the 2008 Cal Fire map) that mischaracterizes the actual extent of severe fire hazard. As noted above, the 2008 Cal Fire map on which the draft Safety element and IS/MND rely depicts 6% of Portola Valley as Very High Fire Hazard Severity and 0% as High Hazard. That is not a correct assessment of the fire hazards the Town confronts, or the cumulative impact of those hazards on evacuation capacity and preparedness.

In actuality, the extent and severity of fire hazard within Town is far greater than the 2008 Cal Fire map depicts, and the risk such elevated hazards pose to the population of Town and its surrounding areas is much greater and more immediate than the draft Safety element or IS/MND recognize or assess. Neither the draft Safety element nor the IS/MND provide an informed, competent assessment of the direct and cumulative impacts that the Town’s proposed amendments would have on such hazards and risk, or the steps that can and should be taken to mitigate such impacts to protect public safety in the event of a wildfire emergency.

For present purposes, the assessment of the direct and cumulative impacts of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments on existing evacuation capacity and preparation should be based on the fire hazard assessment depicted in the Moritz map, as well as the expected fire return interval and the existing evacuation capacity. That assessment should then be promptly updated once the district’s new hazard and risk assessment becomes available.

5. Assessment of Cumulative Impact on Fire Protection Services and Infrastructure. The reason high density development on fire-prone WUI lands can increase wildfire risk is due not 12 only to the severe hazard and potential risk of wildland fire, but also to the risk that any fire in a densely developed WUI setting poses for structure-to-structure ignitions and fire spread. Such ignitions can rapidly cause an uncontrolled conflagration. In other words, it is the density and nature of the built environment within a hazardous WUI setting, not just the wildlands alone, that cause both increased fire hazard and increased fire risk in communities with dense development.

In such settings, the risk of home ignition and structure-to-structure fire spread depends on two dominant sources of ignition: 1) embers lofted by fire, and 2) radiant or convective heat emitted from nearby fire.

In WUI communities, virtually every structure is exposed to the hazard of potential ignition by embers and should be hardened against such exposures.

But not all structures are necessarily exposed to the hazard of potential ignition by radiant or convective flux. In general, only those structures whose proximity to neighboring fuel sources or whose combustible construction renders the structure susceptible to ignition from radiant or convective flux are at increased risk of ignition. The greater the proximity of any structure to any other structure, or to any other concentrated fuel source, the greater the need for noncombustible methods and materials of construction. In short, we can greatly reduce the hazard and the risk of structure-to-structure ignition and fire spread, but only by adequately separating the structures we build, or by building them to resist ignition from intense radiant and convective flux.

Thus, zoning changes that result in high structural density should be preceded and anticipated by commensurate fire code amendments that
• mandate enhanced non-combustible construction methods, materials, and design, • limit exposures to flammable materials,
• mandate effective resistance to ignition caused by radiant and convective flux as well as burning embers, and
• mandate resistance to fire spread.

High-density development can also significantly complicate firefighting effectiveness and safety. The rapid expansion and intense heat of dense structural fires necessitates enhanced safety measures to protect firefighters and specialized equipment (such as expensive aerial units) to limit adjacent structure ignition and fire spread. Such measures and equipment require enhanced access and set up space that too often is ignored in development plans.

Here again, zoning changes that result in high structural density should be preceded and anticipated by a commensurate enhancement in structure fire procedures as well as increased training and capability.

6. Consideration of Necessary and Appropriate Mitigation Measures. The IS/MND inexplicably concludes that the proposed relaxation of existing land use and development safeguards, dramatic increase in the number of development projects and density of residential structures, large expansion in the population of the Town and increase in vehicles, and large increase in the intensity of land use and human activity in and around areas of very high and high fire hazard severity, have no significant impact on wildfire hazard and risk. On that basis, it then concludes that no mitigation measures are required to alleviate impacts on wildfire hazard and risk. 13 As noted above, the IS/MND is based on an erroneous characterization of the existing wildfire hazards and risks in Portola Valley, in conflict with maps adopted in the 2010 Safety Element and provides no competent assessment of the impacts that the Town’s proposed amendments would have on the documented wildfire hazards and risks that exist throughout the Town. Nor does it assess how the changes reflected in its proposed amendments would interact to cumulatively impact wildfire hazard and risk over time.

Until a competent CEQA assessment of the impacts of the proposed amendments is completed, it is premature to discuss specific mitigations that can and should be taken to alleviate the direct and cumulative impacts on risks. It is however, possible to identify some of the steps the Town can and should take immediately to implement its long-standing General Plan fire prevention policies and safeguard the town, its residents and those surrounding it against existing wildfire hazard and risk.

The findings, policies and objectives outlined in the 2010 Safety element provide a roadmap for the Town’s adoption and codification of ordinances in its Municipal Code that can serve to protect the community and its residents against extreme wildfire hazard and risk. For example:
• Adoption and codification of the High and Highest Hazard areas identified in the Moritz map as High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in accordance with Government Code §51179. Such designations should be updated as and when the district’s updated assessment of wildfire hazard and risk is completed and released. • Codification of the fire prevention policies of the 2010 Safety element regarding development in High and Highest Hazard areas identified in the Moritz map or any successor map approved by the district and Town
Further steps the Town should consider taking to mitigate its existing wildfire hazards and risk include:
• Adoption and codification of the individuated wildfire risk assessment and abatement procedures and standards of NFPA Standard 1140 §§ 10.1 thru 26.2.6, designating the Woodside Fire Protection District as the authority having jurisdiction under NFPA 1140 §§10.1-26.2.6 to administer and enforce the standards within the Town’s local jurisdiction. • Adoption and codification of Cal Fire’s minimum fire safe development regulations (14 C.C.R. 1270.01 thru 1276.05) throughout all High and Highest Hazard areas identified in the Moritz map or any successor map approved by the district and the Town, and designation of the Woodside Fire Protection District as the authority having jurisdiction under the regulations to administer and enforce their requirements within the Town’s local jurisdiction.
• Adoption and codification of a new Town ordinance establishing o minimum property line setbacks of 30 feet for all new parcels and all new residential development within all High and Highest Hazard areas identified in the Moritz map or any successor map approved by the district and the Town o minimum separation distance of 30 feet between all newly developed structures within a parcel in all High and Highest Hazard areas identified in the Moritz map or any successor map approved by the district and the Town 14 o provisions for reduction of required setbacks or separation distances where physically infeasible provided alternate means are demonstrated and provided to achieve the same fire risk reduction benefit that the required set-back or separation distance would achieve, such as reduction of structure enthalpy through use of noncombustible wall and roof assemblies; elimination of exposed windows and doors from closely spaced surfaces; installation of non-combustible walls between parcels and exposed structures.
• Adoption and codification of a new Town ordinance to establish the procedures and standards by which the Town shall review and determine the impact of proposed development projects on public health and safety in accordance with the provisions of the following State housing law mandates:
o Government Code §§ 65589.5(d)(2) (“a local agency shall not disapprove a housing development project … unless it makes written findings, based upon a preponderance of the evidence in the record [that] … [t]he housing development project ... as proposed would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact without rendering the development unaffordable to lowand moderate-income households”), o Government Code § 65852.2(a)(1)(A) (relating to accessory dwelling units), o Government Code § 66411.7(d) (relating to SB-9 urban lot splits), and o Government Code §§ 65913.4(a)(6)(D) and 65915(e)(1) (relating to bonus density concessions).

Based on its review of the draft Safety element and current IS/MND, the district believes that a thorough and competent environmental impact review (EIR) is needed to assess fully and carefully the direct and cumulative impacts of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments on wildfire hazards and risks within the Town and its surrounding environments. The review should include all relevant public safety impacts, including impacts on evacuation capacity and preparedness, emergency response capabilities and preparedness, as well as the mitigation measures needed to alleviate and address such impacts.

The district would welcome the opportunity to work closely with the Town to effectuate that review and to develop and implement an appropriate, comprehensive set of mitigations to help the Town achieve its housing objectives and policies in a manner consistent with public safety.

Sincerely,
Don Bullard
Fire Marshal
Woodside Fire Protection District
Office – 650-851-6206
Email- [email protected]

5/10/23, 2:16 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7014 1/2

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Submitter DB ID 7014
IP Address 2601:647:6000:930:838:ab7:3d41:acc6
Submission Recorded On 05/09/2023 6:47 PM
Time to Take the Survey 1 minutes, 35 secs.

First and Last Name
Helen Wolter
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
California
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
Housing Element
Comment
5/10/23, 2:16 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7014 2/2

11. SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AS PROTECTED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT – NOT REPRESENTING MY BOSS OR AGENCY Dear Honorable Council,
I am writing concerning the proposed Housing Element. I served on the Ad Hoc Housing Committee on finding solutions to the mandate required by state law to build more housing. It was not an easy task but one that many people spent hours on in thoughtful deliberation.

However, I am troubled that your governing body has decided to re-open the Housing Element. By not submitting to the State, it opens the issue to the State’s control. As you know, by not being certified, it leaves the door open to losing more local control.

Additionally, it is my understanding that the key issue is the Glen Oaks Stable which is privately owned by Stanford University. While the Alpine Road corridor is rural in nature – this is due to the long time zoning in place to create that character. I personally supported more housing at Nathorist Triangle and on the Road Remnant but was outvoted on the HEC. The proposals were the work of many years and many voices – they say that a good resolution in politics is when no one is happy.

While we are trying to retain our rural character – I would remind this Council that the Town has over 300+ acres per 1000 residents of open space. The National Recreation and Park Association standard is 10 acres of park space per 1000 residents. Under the Quimby Act which governs park space in California, it is generally understood that to have 3-5 acres per 1000 residents is preferred. I am confident that our community’s character will remain rural with more community members. Additionally, I would remind your body that the Town is not actually rural as we share resources such as SFO, SamTrans, various arts and culture in the near vicinity, and are 20 minutes from the economic engine known as Silicon Valley.

Additionally, by forcing others to drive hours – the environmental impact of the lack of housing *will* eventually burn our Town down due to the ongoing release from transit of GHG emissions. In California, transit is to blame for ~50% of emissions if we include industrial discharge. In the recently released UN Climate Change 2023 report, Sec. C.3.4
Urban systems are critical for achieving deep emissions reductions… Key adaptions…include land use planning to achieve compact form, co-location of jobs, and housing.

If we do not provide more housing, the disease known as climate change will not care whether there is housing here or not.

In closing, our zoning has allowed an abundance of open space, clean air, and good schools. However, we need to start zoning so that our community remains resilient. I respectfully ask that you vote in favor of the Housing Element.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Helen Wolter
4660 Alpine Rd
Portola Valley
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
5/10/23, 2:08 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7026 1/1

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11. Submitter DB ID 7026
IP Address 2620:149:4:302:2863:9605:930f:c09c
Submission Recorded On 05/10/2023 9:43 AM
Time to Take the Survey 4 minutes, 52 secs.

First and Last Name
Ian Van Hoven
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
Affordable Housing
Comment
In short, please adopt the Housing Element now. The town needs to support teachers, local business workers and other professionals who work each day in our town.

Thank you.

Ian Van Hoven
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
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11. Submitter DB ID 7021
IP Address 98.51.153.249
Submission Recorded On 05/09/2023 10:40 PM
Time to Take the Survey 2 minutes, 0 secs.

First and Last Name
John Toor
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
5 Comment
Please approve the Housing Element now. Thank you.

Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
5/10/23, 2:18 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=8&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7011 1/1

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11. Submitter DB ID 7011
IP Address 98.37.248.208
Submission Recorded On 05/09/2023 6:25 AM
Time to Take the Survey 1 minutes, 37 secs.

First and Last Name
Josh Knowles
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
Housing element
Comment
PV Council Members,
We love PV! We have only lived in town for 2 years but could not be happier with the town, the schools and the activism. We voted in the last election and really like the current board. We support a measured plan towards the RHNA mandate doing all we can to preserve the rural nature of the town short of doing something that might endanger the ability of the town to control its destiny. We worry that by not submitting a housing plan by the state mandated deadline (albeit a little late) we may get a catastrophic outcome. The PVTC and citizens have collectively dedicated thousands of hours of analyses to this issue. Please, at this late date, do what you can to make sure we will both continue to be proud of our town as a whole and remain in control of our destiny as much as possible. Don’t delay submission of a compliant plan.

Thanks
Josh Knowles
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
5/10/23, 2:10 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7019 1/2

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Submitter DB ID 7019
IP Address 2601:647:6080:b460:9c7:7544:dcbe:1ea9
Submission Recorded On 05/09/2023 10:12 PM
Time to Take the Survey 4 minutes, 40 secs.

First and Last Name
Karen Askey
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
5a Housing Element
Comment
5/10/23, 2:10 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7019 2/2

11. Dear Town Council and Planning Staff,
I, like most residents, would like to see our Town adopt the Housing Element sooner than later, but I am NOT in favor of eliminating the jobs of 30 employees currently at the Glenoaks Equestrian Center, many of them at lower wages, to build market-rate housing. Glenoaks currently serves hundred of community members, and has been in business for 25 years.

If Stanford, the land owner, cannot guarantee that the existing business can remain, I would like to see the following amendments to our Housing Element (HE). And I’m hopeful that this would not impact the IS/MND as currently approved, so the HE could be adopted with amendments effective immediately.

1. Eliminate the Glen Oaks site and replace those planned 16 market-rate homes with:
*Six (6) units previously reviewed and agreed on at Town Center (at the end of the soccer field). We have now been told there are easement issues, but can’t we figure out a working solution to address that issue? *Two (2) SB-9 units at the sites who have currently submitted applications. HCD should allow that as we can provide exact details for those specific sites If those two sites will create more than 2 additional units, include that higher number. *Six (6) additional ADUs. Given the results of the recent ADU survey, conversion opportunities of existing structures, the state’s recent push on JADU’s, and our planned programs to promote ADUs, we can make a strong argument to HCD.

Elimination of two (2) planned units by taking away the buffer. As discussed, HCD is most concerned about having a buffer for the very-low and low income levels. As the current Glenoaks plan calls for 2 moderate and 14 above-moderate income units, the buffer is less important, and eliminating 2 units will not significantly impact our overall buffer.

2. With respect to 4394 Alpine Road, please consider Greg Franklin’s idea to revise the zoning to a maximum limit of R19. This will allow the Town and current land owner to achieve the 21 units identified in the Housing Element, and will eliminate any bonus density concessions so the Town retains mor control over the development. If, for some reason, this site is sold to a new owner, we would be protected from an overzealous developer.

To be sure, over the past 18 months a tremendous amount of time, effort and dollars have been spent, but that time has also allowed us to explore and apply new learning to fix flaws and enhance our plans. Let’s make these modest adjustments for “the next-generation” of Portola Valley.

Thank you,
Karen Askey
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
5/10/23, 2:06 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7031 1/2

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Submitter DB ID 7031
IP Address 98.42.0.168
Submission Recorded On 05/10/2023 12:58 PM
Time to Take the Survey 4 minutes, 41 secs.

First and Last Name
Katherine Gilpin
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028-7821
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
Affordable Housing
Comment
5/10/23, 2:06 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7031 2/2

11. Dear Town Council,
Please read the attached letter, which says: Please approve and submit the Housing Plan. We support affordable housing.

Of interest, 193 members of the community have endorsed the attached letter and you will see their names.

Many of us have come out of the shadows on this issue, including myself. Endorsements snowballed since this past weekend; endorsements hail mostly from residents of PV, but there are some from adjacent neighborhoods, as we share roadways; trails, parks and vistas; schools; businesses and many services.

Highly engaged community members have endorsed Affordable Housing here, including current and former ...

PV Mayors and Town Council Members
PV Town Committee Members
PVSD School Board Trustees
PVSD PTO Officers
PVSD School Parcel Tax + Bond Measure Leaders
PV Schools Foundation Officers + Board Members
Woodside High School Foundation Officers + Board Members Sequoias Residents + Board Members/Residents Association Alpine Hills Officers, Board Members, Members
Local Church Leaders + Members
Town Business Owners
PV High School students and Rising 9th Graders
Warmly - Katherine
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.

Letter to Town Council and PV Forum Posting (38).pdf
. First Submit to Town Council: May 10, 2023 12:45pm
Dear Town Council,
Please approve and submit the Housing Plan. We
support affordable housing.

Thank you,
Katherine Gilpin
● PV Resident since 2009, Parent
● Current Woodside High School Foundation President (2021-present) ● Former PVSF Board Member
● Former Alpine Hills Youth Co-Chair
Jeff Klugman
● Parent
● PVSD Board Member (publicly elected: 2017 - 2022); PVSD Board President (2019).
● 18 year resident of Portola Valley
May Chen, MD
● Parent, Volunteer
● 18 year resident of Portola Valley
● Medical Oncologist Stanford (trained at Stanford).

Alex Klugman
● Student (high school sophomore; K-8 in PVSD),
● Former Corte Madera School Student Council.
● High School Varsity Swimming
● Wants to see PVSD be more inclusive.

Izzy Klugman
● Student (high school sophomore; K-8 in PVSD)
● Former Corte Madera Co-Student Body President
● High School Varsity Basketball, Varsity Tennis
● Thinks PV’s ethnic demographic does not reflect the broader community.

Ian Van Hoven
● PV Resident since 2009
● Parent
● Former AYSO Reg 25 Coach and AYSO Board Member
David Cardinal
● 35-year resident of Portola Valley
Lorrie Duval
● 35-year resident of Portola Valley
● Thinks new residents will refresh PV’s spirit
David Ross
● PV resident since 2002
● ASCC Commissioner for ten years (five as Chair)
Nancy Powell
● PV resident since 1980
● Former member PV Trails Committee, San Mateo Co. Trails Committee Jerry Shefren
● PV Resident since 1984
● Member of the EPC
Joyce Shefren
● PV resident since 1984
● Former member of trails committee
Maryann Moise (Derwin)
● PV Resident since 1992
● Former Mayor and Council member, Portola Valley Council (17 years) Randy Von Feldt
● PV resident since 2001
● Former co-chair PV Schools Foundation
● Former AYSO board member
● Former Alpine Hills board member
Steve Toben
● PV resident since 1991
● Former Mayor and Council Member, Portola Valley Town Council (eight years) ● Former Planning Commissioner (four years)
Janice Toben
● PV resident since 1991
Shivani Nautiyal
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 2005
● Parent of children attending Portola Valley School
Sarah Dorahy
● PV resident since 2013
● Former Ormondale PTO Vice President and President
● Former PVSF Auction co-chair
● AHHEC
Sue Crane
● PV resident since 1964
● Founders Award for Lifetime Contributions to Portola Valley ● Mayor of Portola Valley 1985, 1989
● Resident of Sequoias
Alvin Sill
● PV resident since 1988
● Current member of ASCC
● Vice-Chair of AHHEC
● Past member of Water Conservation Committee
● Past member of Sustainability Committee
● Past member of Wildfire Preparedness Committee
Deb Smith
● Vista Verde resident for 25 years
● Past president of Ormondale Site Council
● Past president of Corte Madera PTO
● Past president of Vista Verde Community Assoc.
● Member of Ladera Community Church
Jane Wilson
● PV Resident since 2004, 2 children through PVSD, Woodside Priory and Woodside High School
● Current member of ASCC (7 years)
● Former President of Corte Madera PTO (2 years)
● Former President/Board Member Friends of Portola Valley Library (10 years) ● Former member of Parks and Recreation Committee (3 years) ● Woodside High School Foundation Board Member (4 years) ● Also: Friend of Sausal Creek; co-founder of Portola Valley Fiber Arts; co-chair of Portola Valley Holiday Fair (10 years); California Naturalist (3 years).

Patrick Van Hoven
● PV resident since 2009; Junior at Woodside High School, attended PVSD K–8 ● Managing Editor of the Woodside Paw Print (formerly Politics Editor) ● Subgroup lead, Electric Vehicles Subgroup, Student Advisory Board of Representative Anna Eshoo
● Junior tennis coach, Alpine Hills
● The Bay Area has a housing crisis, and the only solution to a housing crisis is to build more housing. This should be a shared solution among all communities.

Beth Gillbrand
● PV resident since 2004
● Past President Portola Valley School’s Foundation
● Past President Alpine Hills Board of Directors
Tricia Christensen
● PV Resident since 2011
● Volunteer and Housing Chair, Christ Church Portola Valley ● Past President, Portola Valley Schools Foundation
● Served on numerous school parcel tax and bond committees ● Past Board Member, Woodside High School Foundation
● Wants PV to be welcoming of new residents and new housing, not excluding Gavin Christensen
● PV Resident since 2011
● Lifelong San Mateo County resident
● Works in real estate and sees the need to increase housing stock on the Peninsula
Sue Ten
● PV Resident since 2014
● Former Portola Valley Schools Foundation Board member and Auction co-chair ● Served on school parcel tax and bond committees
● Current Board member & Auction co-chair, Woodside High School Foundation ● Arts Guild of Portola Valley Board member
Mia Farber
● PVSD: Grades 2-8
● Woodside High School Sophomore
● WHS Varsity tennis
● Human Rights Watch Student Task Force representative
● National Charity League Class of 2025 President
● Doesn't believe that there is enough socio-economic diversity in PV.

Craig Hughes
● Former Mayor and Councilmember
● PV Resident since 1997
Bud Trapp
● Resident since 1968
● Member of the EPC
Onnolee Trapp
● Resident since 1968
● Resident of Sequoias, former president of Resident Council Sandi and Andy Engel
● Residents since 2001
Dan Wernikoff
● PV Resident since 2005
● 3 Children attended PVSD Schools
Patty White
● PV Resident since 2001
● 2 Children attended PVSD Schools
Jim White
● PV Resident since 2001
● 2 Children attended PVSD Schools
Amy White
● PV Resident since 2001
● Employed in Portola Valley
Sophia Crouse
● High school senior
● PV resident since 2013
● Attended Ormondale and Corte Madera
● Co-President Corte Madera Student Council
Geoff Crouse
● PV resident since 2013
● 3 children through PVSD schools
● PVSF Foundation - Annual Campaign
Aaron Van Hoven
● PV resident since 2009
● Attended PVSD K-8; Headed to Woodside High in Fall for High School ● Junior Tennis Coach at Alpine Hills
● Current Priory Mavericks club basketball player
● Former AYSO region 25 soccer player and former Alpine Strikers player ● Affordable housing is necessary for our teachers and others who want or need to live here.

Bob Adams
● Resident of PV for 42 years.
● Founder of the Portola Valley Schools Foundation
● Founder of the Woodside High School Foundation
● Founder of Summit Preparatory Charter Public High School Alex Von Feldt
● PV resident since 2001
● Former Conservation Committee member
● Former ASCC member
● Former Planning Commissioner
Alison Farrell, PhD
● Resident since 2005 of Los Trancos Woods, unincorporated San Mateo county ● Parent of 2 children in PVSD schools, K-8
Aaron Straight
● Resident since 2005 of Los Trancos Woods
● Parent of 2 in PVSD schools
Joshua Harmssen
● Resident since 2013
● 3 Bond Measure Campaigns Volunteer
● Portola Valley Schools Sports Commissioner 6 years
● Former Alpine Hills Board Member
● 3 Children
Ronny Krashinsky
● PV resident since 2021
● Sustainability Committee member
● ADU Ambassador Team member
● Planning Commissioner
Richard Crevelt: In support of Housing Plan
● Local Business Owner and Employer
● Initiator of PV Hardware summer intern program for High School students ● Resident since 2003
● Two Children through PV Schools
● Past President Woodside Highlands HOA (PV)
● Past President and Founder Hawthorns Preservation Trust Foundation Richard Tincher
● PV resident for 40 years
● Two children attended PV schools
● General Contractor in PV for 35 years
Crystal Ciancutti
● PV resident for 17 years, grandparents lived in town for 57 years. ● Three children in PV Schools
● Past chair/co-chair of the PV Holiday Fair
● Co-founder of the PV Women’s Club
Mike Armsby
● PV resident for 13 years
● 4 children in PV Schools
● Past President Board of Directors for Alpine Hills
Susan McLaughlin
● PV resident since 2011
● 2 children attended PV Schools
●
● Former Ormondale PTO Vice President and President
● Served on school bond measure and parcel tax committees Karyn Bechtel
● 2 children attended PV Schools
● Former PVSD Board Member and President
Anne Kopf-Sill
● PV resident since 1988
● Former Woodside High School Foundation Board Member and President ● Former member and chair of PV Emergency Preparedness Committee ● Member of Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee
● PV Planning Commission
Emily Jagoda
● Resident since 2012 of Los Trancos Woods
● Parent of 2 children who attended PVSD schools, K-8
● Local business owner (architecture)
● President, Los Trancos Woods Community Association since 2019 Serra B. Simbeck
● Resident since 2005
● Parent of 3 kids who attended PV Schools
● Past President of PV Schools Foundation
● Past Chair of PV Schools Endowment Committee
Mauricio Simbeck
● Resident since 2005
● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
● Local small business owner
Colin Duwe
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 2011
● Parent of 2 children (PVSD & WHS)
● Former Cub Scout Pack Leader
Hilary Duwe
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 2011
● Parent of 2 children (PVSD & WHS)
● Former member of PVSF (~2013-2022)
● Current member of WHSF
Brooke Day
● PV resident since 2010
● Former PVSD Board Member and President
● Former Ormondale PTO Vice President and President
● Parent of former PVSD student
Jack Day
● PV resident since 2010
● Former PVSD Student (ORM, and Corte Madera School)
● Current Woodside Priory Student
Neil Day
● PV Resident since 2010
● Parent of former PVSD Student
Michael McLaughlin
● PV resident since 2011
● Parent of 2 children graduated from PV schools (Ormondale and Corte Madera) Bao Chang
● PV resident since 2001
● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
Michael Chang
● PV resident since 2001
● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
Sarah Murphy
● PV resident since 2016
● Parent of 3 children
● Alpine Hills Club Member
Liz Landis Jasinskyj
● PV resident since 2007
● Parent of 5 children who attended/graduated from PV schools (Ormondale and Corte Madera)
Linda Waissar
● PV resident since 2013
● Alpine Hills member
Kate and Andy Hamel
● PV residents since 2011
● 2 children attended PVSD schools and currently attend Woodside High School Aimee Armsby
● PV Resident since 2010
● Current Trustee, Portola Valley School District
● Current Governing Board Member, Alpine Hills Swimming & Tennis Club ● Current Board Member, San Mateo County Oversight Board ● Current Board Member, Woodside High School Foundation ● Past President, Portola Valley Schools Foundation
● AHHEC Member
● Thinks inclusiveness is a Portola Valley value, and that affordable housing can help address declining enrollment in our local schools
Michele Turner
● PV Resident (Vista Verde) since 1992
● 3 children attended/graduated PVSD schools
● Alpine Hills member
Brad Turner
● PV Resident (Vista Verde) since 1992
● 3 children attended/graduated PVSD schools
● Alpine Hills member
Aimee Blum
● Grew up in PV and returned as an adult to raise our children here ● Vista Verde resident since 2018
● 2 children attend/graduated from PVSD Schools
● Former CMS PTO Vice President and President
● Alpine Hills Member
Peter Blum
● Vista Verde resident since 2018
● 2 children attend/graduated from PVSD Schools
● Member Community Advisory Committee, Los Trancos County Maint District ● Alpine Hills Member
Izzy Armsby
● Junior at Woodside High School, varsity volleyball player and Freshmen Transitions leader
● Former Student Council member at Corte Madera
● Swim Instructor and Children’s Supervisor at Alpine Hills ● Believes that affordable housing is vital in PV
Maddie Armsby
● Sophomore at Woodside High School, Portola Valley resident since age 4 ● Attended Ormondale and Corte Madera
● After-school employment in Portola Valley
● Believes that people who work in service jobs in Portola Valley should be able to afford to live here
Trish Heald
● Portola Valley resident since 2006
● 3 children through Ormondale and Corte Madera School
● Former PVSF Board member and Annual Campaign Co-Chair ● Former WHSF Board member
● ADU Ambassador - Phase 1
Brenda Gilpin
● PV Resident since 2021
● Sequoias Resident
● Family living in PV since 2009; grandmother to local PV students ● Current working artist
● Former public middle school teacher
Lynn Mortensen
● PV Resident since 2021
● Sequoias Resident
● Current Chair Sequoias Annual “Treasure Sale”
● Current Board Member Sequoias Residents Association
● Current working artist
● Former Engineering Assistant for SRI
Barbara Finn Ph.D.
● PV Resident since 2022
● Sequoias Resident
● Sequoias Emergency Preparedness Medical Committee
● Licensed Psychologist since 1987
Laura Kavanaugh
● PV Resident since 2004
● 2 children grew up in school district
● Former member Portola Valley Schools Foundation
● Former member Woodside High School Foundation
Jennifer Youstra
● PV Resident since 2000
● 4 children through Ormondale and Corte Madera Schools ● Former PTA President (Ormondale)
● Founder of PVSD Learning Difference and Abilities Group (5 years) ● Former PVSD Board Trustee (2 years)
● Former Priory Board of Trustees (3 years)
● Former member of the Wildfire Preparedness Committee (2 years) ● Believes CA needs more housing and we all have to do our part in the most intelligent and safe way we can.

Reid McLaughlin
● PV Resident since 2011
● Graduate of Ormondale and Corte Madera Schools
● Freshman Menlo School
Bill Youstra
● PV Resident since 2000
● 4 children through Ladera, Windmill, Ormondale, Corte Madera, Priory ● Former Volunteer Youth Athletics Coach (10+ years)
● Former Committee Chairman, PV Boy Scouts
● Former Member, PV Schools Foundation Advisory Board
● Former Trustee, PVSD Board (8 years)
Danny Youstra
● Lifelong PV Resident
● PVSD & Woodside Priory student
Bobby Youstra
● Lifelong PV Resident
● Former PVSD student (K-8) and Priory student (9-12)
● Volunteer election poll worker for PV
● Volunteer intern with Marc Berman, CA Assembly
● Thinks that we should break the cycle of building too little housing and making the housing crisis in California and the Bay Area worse Jack Youstra
● Lifelong PV Resident
● Former PVSD student (K-8) and Priory student (9-12)
Eve Kavanaugh
● Lifelong PV resident
● Ormondale graduate
● Woodside Priory Student
Bob Kavanaugh
● Raised in Portola Valley
● Ormondale, Corte Madera graduate
● Former President, Portola Valley Schools Foundation
Hilary Harmssen
● PV Resident since 2013
● Former PVSF Co-President & Annual Campaign Chair (6 years) ● Parent of 3 children at PV schools
Joerg Zimmermann
● PV Resident since 2015
● Member of the Conservation Committee
Kevin Ford
● Portola Valley resident since 1993
● Past Co-President of Portola Valley Schools Foundation ● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
● Former Volunteer Youth Athletics Coach
Celeste Ford
● Portola Valley resident since 1993
● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
● Former Volunteer Youth Athletics Coach
Judith Mendelsohn
● Portola Valley resident since 1994
● Parent of 3 children who attended PV schools
● Believes our wonderful community can build safe and attractive affordable housing
Andrew Mendelsohn
● Portola Valley resident since 1994
● We need to trust the hard work and due diligence of town staff and citizens over the last two years to find a viable approach to affordable housing in Portola Valley Nicole Rubin
● Portola Valley resident since 2011
Amir Dan Rubin
● Portola Valley resident since 2011
Jocelyn McArthur
● Portola Valley resident since 1998
● Chair, Portola Valley Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee ● Former Portola Valley School District Trustee
● Former Portola Valley Schools Foundation Co-President Robert Wilson
● Portola Valley resident since 2004
● Ormondale and Corte Madera graduate
Josh Knowles
● PV resident, 2021
● 2 kids in PV schools
● Corte Madera Girls bball coach
● PV AYSO Board member and coach
Linda Hawes Clever, MD
● PV resident and voter since 2016
● Sequoias resident
Jon Goulden
● PV resident since 1986
● Former parent volunteer at Ormondale and Corte Madera ● 2 children attended both Ormondale and Corte Madera
● Former PVSF Co-President
● Former Cub Scout den leader
● PV Planning Commission
Kelly Osborn
● Portola Valley Resident since 2016
● Employed in Woodside
Megan Richards
● Portola Valley Resident since 1985
● Graduate of Ormondale and Corte Madera School
● Conservation Committee member
Janet Briggs
● Portola Valley Resident since 1997
● Former parent volunteer at PVSD
● Child attended Ormondale and Corte Madera
Kwok Lau
● 37 year PV resident
● President - Friends of the Portola Valley Library
● Block captain Neighborhood Watch
● Former president of Alpine Hills Tennis and Swimming Club ● Former Parent volunteer PVSD
Beth Rabuczewski
● PV resident since 200
● Two children attended PVSD
Nicolas Simbeck
● PV resident since 2005
● Attended PVSD
● Former employee Alpine Hills Club and Alpine Inn restaurant Daniel Cornew
● PV resident since 1998
● Parent of 4 ormondale / CMS grads
● Worked in PV back in 1984
Rosalie Cornew
● PV resident since 1998
● Parent of 4 ormondale/CMS grads
● Founder of the New Family welcome program.

Thomas Cornew
● The former iPhone kid that repaired iPhones while you wait.

Susan Adams
● PV resident since 1979
● Treasurer and Board Member of Friends of the Portola Valley Library ● Parent of two Ormondale/CMS grads
● Former parent volunteer at Ormondale/CMS
● Former member of the Portola Valley School Board
Pat Skillman
● PV resident since 2008
● Resident, Sequoias Portola Valley
Andrew Pierce
● PV Resident since 2009
● Member Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee
Angela Schillace
● PV resident since 1996
● 2 kids through Portola Valley Schools, 1 through Woodside HS ● Former PVSD and Woodside HS volunteer (PTO, Foundation, Measure O, etc.) ● Executive Director of the San José Chamber Orchestra and private violin instructor
Sam Schillace
● PV resident since 1996 (24 years)
● 2 kids through Portola Valley Schools, 1 through Woodside HS ● Strong supporter of affordable housing. YIMBY.
● Deputy CTO, Microsoft corporation, past Google executive, entrepreneur.

David Smernoff
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 1998
● MROSD Board member 1995-1998
● LT County Water District board member 2006-2014
● Co-Founder, Board member Grassroots Ecology (and predecessors) 1990-present
● Daughter attended PVSD K-8 and WSH 9-12. Board member of both school foundations.
● Life long advocate for social and environmental justice. Time to build truly affordable housing for our teachers, firefighters, public employees and others.

Lisa Wan
● Resident of PVSD since 2001
● Parent of 2 kids who attended PV schools & WPS
● Board of Trustees PVSF - two terms
● Board of Trustees WPS - two terms
● Supports equal housing opportunities for ALL - in our neighborhood and everywhere.

Caroline Diarte Edwards
● PV resident for 8 years
● 4 kids through PV school district; regular school volunteer ● Local AYSO board member for 4 years
● Entrepreneur and admissions coach; Co-founder of Fortuna Admissions Heriberto Diarte
● PV resident for 8 years
● 4 kids through PV school district;
● Ex member of the PV Schools Foundation
● Current member of PVSD Finance committee
● Ex-member of the PV Parks and Recreation committee
● Venture Investor in Climate Tech & Sustainability
Abigail Krenz
● Vista Verde resident since 2003
● Ormondale and Corte Madera alumna
JoAnn Loulan
● Los Trancos resident since 1987
● One child went through Ormondale and Corte Madera schools ● Member of the first parental board in 1995
● School volunteer for 9 years
● Active community member since 1987
Ronny Crawford
● Los Trancos resident since 1997
● One child went through Ormondale and Corte Madera schools ● Local music teacher for hundreds of local students since 1997 ● Community volunteer
Conrad Berke
● PV resident since 2016
● WHS junior
Anna Grzymala-Busse
● PV resident since 2016
● 3 kids through or in Ormondale/CMS
● Stanford professor
Josh Berke
● PV resident since 2016
● 3 kids through or in Ormondale/CMS
● UCSF Professor
Charlie Krenz
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 1999
● 2 kids through Windmill/Ormondale/CMS
● 10 year Board Member, Los Trancos County Water District ● Community volunteer/community videographer
● Time to move on! Let’s get this built!
Nancy Freire
● Los Trancos Woods resident since 2012
● Vista Verde Community Association
● co-president 2016-2018
● California resident since 1974 and believer that housing is in critical shortage around Bay Area and we can work together to find good solutions in PortolaValley
Linda Wong
● Portola Valley Resident since 2003
● Parent of 2 children who attended and graduated from PV schools ● Former Treasurer, Ormondale PTO
● Former Member, Parcel Tax Committee
● Former Trustee, Portola Valley School District Board
● Active community volunteer
Gregory Sampson
● Portola Valley resident since 2010
● 3 children who attended and graduated from Ormondale/CMS Ginny Borelli
● Portola Valley resident since 2010
● 3 children who attended and graduated from Ormondale/CMS ● Nature and wildlife lover
Irene and Pedro Ruiz
● Portola Valley residents since 2007
● 4 children attended and graduated from PV Schools
● School and community volunteers, dedicated to social justice, and community responsibility
Michealene and Eric Risley
● Portola Valley residents since 1993
● 3 children through PV schools (Ormondale, CM, Priory and W, High) Carolyn Carhart-Quezada
● Portola Valley resident since 2003
● 2 children attended Windmill School
● Former President, Board of Directors at Windmill School ● 2 children attended PV schools
● Former Co-President, Ormondale PTO
Tobias Freccia
● Portola Valley resident since 2012
● 3 children attended and graduated from PV Schools
● Scout Master and Den leader, PV Cub Scouts
● AYSO and Little League parent volunteer
Lucy Neely
● Portola Valley resident since 1986
● Local business operator
● Member, PV Finance Committee
● Chair, Race and Equity Committee
● Thinks diverse housing can make our community stronger.

Peggy Dennis
● PV Sequoias Resident for past two years
● Prior resident of Woodside for 60 years
Elizabeth “Glynn” Mapes
● PV Sequoias Resident since 2022
● California registered voter since 2022
● Grandparent
Jennifer Harris
● Sequoias Portola Valley since 2003
● Forner secondary school science for 23 years - Los Angeles, Ukiah and Lusaka, Zambia. ● Received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching in 1986 for California in Science
● Received the Mendocino County Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award for 2003 ● Received Margaret Nicholson Service Award from California Science Teachers Association in 1997
● Former President of Sequoias Portola Valley Residents Council, Association of Presidential Awardees, California Science Teachers Association, Mendocino County 4-H Council, Mendocino Ballet, and chair of the Mendocino County Public Health Advisory Board.

Ann Davidson
● Current Sequoias PV Resident
Mark Schreiber
● Current Sequoias PV Resident
Molly Upton
● Current Sequoias PV Resident
Carolee Houser
● Resident Sequoias Portola Valley
● Former Deputy County Counsel for San Mateo County
Kirsten Kingdon
● Resident of the Sequoias Portola Valley since March 2013 ● I am a retired lawyer who practiced in California, Michigan, and Washington, D.C. ● I am strongly in favor of your passing the Housing element tomorrow:
● The cost of living and housing in California is harmful and the lack of affordable housing is causing numerous problems. This is an extremely difficult problem to solve, but as I’ve followed the attempts to solve it, I’m convinced that adding to the sheer number of housing units is an absolutely necessary step in that direction. ● There are no perfect places to place additional housing in Portola Valley. The ones identified have been designated as the result of a great deal of work and listening to residents and others.
● As a community with a lot of advantages in many domains, I’d hope that we could be leaders in addressing a common problem, rather than resisting being a part of solutions. ● Finally, I want us to be able to maintain the ability of how best to be a part of the solutions, rather than risking having decisions about where to allow housing being taken from us.

Richard Opsahl
● PV resident since 2010
● Resident at the Sequoias PV
Sally Hart
● Current Sequoias Resident
Mariquita West
● I am a resident of Portola Valley - (at The Sequoias) ● I support more equal opportunities in our country as a whole ● I am a fourth generation Californian
● I am a member of the League of Women voters
● Affordable housing locally would help alleviate chronic staff shortages here at The Sequoias and at other local businesses. I believe it could be built so as not to spoil the wonderful beauty of this valley.

Scott Elrod
● Resident of PV since 2018
● Chair of PV Sustainability Committee
Sara Leith-Tanous
● Resident of PV since 1984
● Parent of child who attended and graduated from PV schools Donald Neeper
○ Sequoias Resident since 2014
○ Sequoias Facilities committee, Auditorium Console Committee ○ Leader of solar buildings research group, Los Alamos National Laboratory Cindy Rowe
● Vista Verde Resident since 1988
● Parent of 2 children who attended and graduated from PV schools ● Former PV Schools Foundation board member (5 years)
● Former AYSO Board member (6 years)
● Former Alpine West Menlo Little League Board member (5 years) ● Founder of Portola Valley Pickleball
● Executive Board member of Friends of the Portola Valley Library Steve Rowe
● Vista Verde Resident since 1988
● Parent of 2 children who attended and graduated from PV schools ● Former Parks and Rec Committee Member
Mark Wan
Resident of PV since 2015
Parent of 2 children who attended PV schools
Lynn Holthaus
● PV resident since 1969
● Parent of 3 boys who attended and graduated from PV schools ● Former employee of PVSD (7 years)
Tammy Crown
● PV resident since 2003
● Parent of 3 children, who all attended PV schools. Long-time supporter of PV schools. ● Active community leader and volunteer in the Environment and K-12 education Bill Crown
● PV resident since 1999
● Parent of 3 children, who all attended PV schools.
● Strong supporter of the Portola Valley community
Tom Sabel and Jill Helms
● PV residents since 2005
Kathryn Fitzgerald
● Resident of PV 1998 to present
● 2 children educated in PV (Windmill, Ormondale, Corte Madera, Priory) ● Former volunteer Town of PV, PVSD (Annual Campaign Chair) ● Former Co-President Priory Parent Association
● Former Priory Board of Trustee Member
● Fully support affordable housing and increased diversity.

Peter Fitzgerald, MD
● PV Resident since 1998
● 2 children who attended PV schools K-12
● Community member and business owner with office in Town.

Sarah Tennyson “Sally”
● Sequoias Resident since 2010
● Former resident of Menlo Park for 53 years
● Awarded Outstanding Contribution of Service to the Community by the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce
● Children attended Menlo Park schools K-8, M-A High School and local private high schools; Grandchildren currently attending nearby local schools Michael Fitzgerald
● Resident since the age of 1 year
● Proudly educated in PV @ Windmill, Orm, Corte Madera, Priory Shannon Fitzgerald
● Lifetime Resident of PV
● Attended Windmill, Orm, CMS and Priory
Joyce Chung
● Resident of PV since 2007
● Former Co-President and board member of PV Schools Foundation ● Former President and board member of Alpine Hills
● Parent of 2 children, who attended PV schools
Linda Kamran
● Resident of PV since 2016
● Incoming Co-President of PV Schools Foundation
● 3 year Chair, PVSF Annual Campaign
● Chair, PVSD Parcel Tax Campaign, 2021
● Parent of 4 children at PV schools (Windmill, ORM & CMS) ● Fully support affordable housing and increased diversity.

Amanda Smoot
● Resident of PV since 2010
● PVSD PTO Treasurer
● Served on several school parcel tax and bond committees ● Parent of 3 children at PV schools (Windmill, Carillon, ORM & CMS) ● Fully support affordable housing and increased diversity.

Kristine Lange
● Parent of two children attended/attend PV schools (Windmill, ORM, CMS) ● Volunteer home room parent/Grade captain for ORM/CMS
● Member of adult softball PV league
● Board member WHS Foundation
James Masterson
● Sequoias Resident for past eight years
● Sequoias Medical Committee and Flower Delivery
Barry Bryan
● Sequoias Resident since 2021
Margaret Dennis “Peggy”
● Sequoias Resident for past two years
● Prior resident of Woodside
Jon Stoumen
● Sequoias Resident for past two years
● Prior resident of Palo Alto
● Sequoias Evacuation and Emergency Preparedness Committee, Design Committee
● Retired Architect in Palo Alto and local counties
● Designed Affordable Housing for Seniors and numerous ADUs in addition to many other buildings including those wildland urban interface O’Malley Stoumen
● Sequoias Resident for past two years
● Prior resident of Palo Alto
● Sequoias Art Committee and Charlotte’s Garden Committee Bob Spears
● Sequoias Resident since August 2020
● Prior resident of Palo Alto and Pescadero
● Currently run a series of programs at Bechtel International Center, Stanford Jock Walker
● New Sequoias Resident as of this year
● Longtime PV resident since 1969
● Children attend PVSD schools; grandchildren currently PVSD schools ● Biomedical Engineer and sailor
● Former SUHSD Committee Member for Redistricting
Barbara Kitchen
● Sequoias Resident since 2021
● Prior resident of Menlo Park and Atherton
● Former Reading Specialist for low-income children at Henry Ford Elementary Redwood City.
● I have seen the effects of poor housing on students when they are crammed into apartments, sleeping on floors, and living in trailers. I totally support and recommend that all people have safe, clean housing.

Helen Bigelow
● Sequoias Resident since 2015
● Active member of the Sequoias community
George Deabill Ph.D.
● Sequoias Resident for 13 years.
● Prior resident of Palo Alto.
● Former Treasurer of the Sequoias Residents Association ● Private practice in psychotherapy for 50 years
Jane Funkhouser
● Sequoias Resident for four years.
● Active volunteer; writer for Sequoias Newsletter; and Gift Shop Committee Loretta “Lorelle” Fallon
● Sequoias Resident for eight years
● Currently on the Sequoias Emergency Preparedness Committee ● PV Friends of the Library
● Run the presentations at Sequoias, including Hanson Hall Linda Liebes
● Sequoias Resident since 2019
● Former Member San Mateo County Grand Jury
William A. Thacker
● Sequoias Resident since 2020
● Retired Lieutenant Colonel in US Air Force
● Auxiliary Air Force Search and Rescue Pilot for 30 years ● Graduate work in Industrial Arts
John Richards
● Resident since 1954
● Town Council 2009-2022
● ASCC 1986-1992
● Planning Commission 1992-1994
Sharon Richards
● Resident since 1985
Todd Van Horn
● PV resident
● PVSD parent and volunteer
Heather Cunningham
● PV resident
● PVSD parent and volunteer
René Lacerte
● Resident of PV since 2007
● Parent of 2 children, who attended PV schools
Kei Befu
● Sequoias Resident Since 2004; Moved from Stanford Campus ● AAUW, Palo Alto Adoption Group, Stanford Women’s Faculty Club, Palo Alto Friends Meeting, The Sequoias Education Committee, etc.

Judith Murphy
● Portola Valley Resident since 1990
● Conservation Committee member for 12 years; chair for 8 years ● Former member Water Conservation Committee, Sustainability Committee. ● ADU Ambassador, phase 1
Edward Oates
● PV resident since 1986
● Parent of 1 child, who attended PV schools
Jennifer Hammer
● PV resident since 1986
● Volunteer in PV church, schools, and community for 28 years ● Chair of the Portola Valley Wildfire Preparedness Committee ● Co-founder of the PV Women’s Club
● Parent of 1 child, who attended PV schools
Andy Koontz
● PV resident since 1990
● 2 children attended PVSD schools
● PVSD and community volunteer
● Former member Woodside Priory board of trustees
Jessica Brodt
● PV resident
● PVSD parent and volunteer
● Woodside Priory parent and volunteer
Letter Submittal
-----------------------------193 Endorsers as of 12:50pm May 10, 2023-------------------------- YES! You can still endorse and we want you to.

The process has changed just a tiny bit.

We Got This, PV!
Click on Link Below:

From 12:40pm on today, Tuesday 5/10/2023, please use this link.

I will move your names over to this periodically.
5/10/23, 2:15 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7015 1/1

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9. 10.

11. Submitter DB ID 7015
IP Address 76.103.208.30
Submission Recorded On 05/09/2023 6:50 PM
Time to Take the Survey 9 minutes, 53 secs.

First and Last Name
Laurie Berger
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Silicon Valley Law Group
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
San Jose
State
California
Zip Code
95113
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
3 and 5
Comment
Please see attachment
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.

May 9 2023 Letter to Town (10629797xA1026).pdf
May 9, 2023
Via United States Mail and Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Mayor Aalfs
Vice Mayor Wernikoff
Town Attorney Cara Silver
Portola Valley Town Council
765 Portola Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028
RE: Comments – Housing Element and IS/MND
Dear Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Council Members and Ms. Silver:

This letter is a follow up to my letter of May 4, 2023, regarding the Town of Portola Valley’s approval of the Portola Valley Housing and Safety Elements Update and Conforming General Plan and Zoning Code Amendments Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND).

My previous letter references the Woodside Fire Protection District’s January 4, 2023, letter to the Town Council. The January 4, 2023, letter sets forth the deficiencies of the IS/MND and explains why the Moritz Map provides the most accurate and reliable fire hazard assessment currently available upon which the Town’s land use planning should be based. We believe this letter is relevant to your consideration of the Proposed Housing Element and General Plan Amendments as it addresses the impact the amendments will have on public safety, fire prevention, wildfire hazards and risk and evacuation capacity and capability. This letter was recently produced by the Fire District and is attached to this letter. The January 4, 2023, letter is a material public document that should have been publicly and promptly released when it was first received from the Fire Marshal.

More importantly, the concerns raised in the January 4, 2023, letter were required to be part of the CEQA analysis as part of a complete study of wildfire impacts. The IS/MND was required to analyze the significant impact to wildfire hazards. The Town failed to conduct this analysis. There was substantial evidence that the project will impact the wildfire risk, and as a result the Town must properly evaluate these impacts and the other inadequately evaluated environmental factors in an environmental impact report.

Letter to Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikof, Town Council and Cara Silver May 9, 2023

10629698.DOCX
The Town’s reliance on vague future commitments to update the Safety Element described in the March 29, 2023, resolution adopting the IS/MND is not a substitute for the complete analysis required under CEQA.

Very truly yours,

SILICON VALLEY LAW GROUP
A Law Corporation
_______________________________________
Laurie Berger

ATTACHMENT
1 Woodside Fire Protection District Fire Prevention Bureau 808 Portola Road Portola Valley, Ca. 94028
(650) 851-1594
www.woodsidefire.org
Don Bullard – Fire Marshal
January 4, 2022
Dear Portola Valley Town Council,
I understand the Town of Portola Valley is currently performing an assessment under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of the impact that proposed amendments to its General Plan and Municipal Code would have on public safety, including the impact they would have on wildfire hazards and risk. While the district is generally aware that the Town is in the process of amending its General Plan and Municipal Code, it does not have a clear understanding of the totality of changes the Town is proposing to make to its existing land use, development and zoning policies or ordinances, or the specific details of all such changes.

To my knowledge, the Town has not asked the district to assess the impact that the Town’s proposed amendments would have on public safety, fire operations, fire prevention, wildfire hazards and risk, or its evacuation capacity and capability. Nor, to my knowledge, has the Town asked the district to comment on the findings and conclusions set forth in its CEQA analysis (Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration or “IS/MND”) regarding such matters. While a competent assessment of such impacts would obviously require extensive information detailing the specific changes in policy and regulations the Town proposes to make, to date, I am not aware of the Town providing the district the specific information needed to perform such an assessment.

Although Town staff and consultants have on occasion contacted the district for feedback on specific fire safety and prevention issues, the issues for which feedback is sought have been narrowly framed and accompanied by limited information. As an example, the Town’s planning consultant contacted the district on July 18, 2022, stating “We are writing to you to request information regarding the project’s potential impact related to physical facilities necessary to provide adequate fire protection services,” and provided a brief summary of five sites for potential development.

In a similar vein, last month when the Town requested an informal assessment of the existing fire hazard severity of five potential development sites, I was unaware that it would later be used to support proposed zoning changes at those locations. If I had known the intended use of this information, I would have requested greater insight into the changes that were proposed and performed a far more comprehensive investigation and assessment.

The district is eager to work with the Town to provide an informed and comprehensive assessment of the direct and cumulative impact of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments on public safety. The district urges the Town to draw on the district’s experience and competency to help assess the impact that its proposed amendments can have on the existing and future wildfire hazards and risk within the community and the district more broadly, their impact on evacuation capacity and fire protection services, the propriety of the Town’s proposed negative declaration of “No Significant 2 Impacts” on wildfire hazard and risk, and the nature and extent of mitigation measures that should be taken to alleviate such impacts.

Based on the district’s preliminary review of the Town’s published IS/MND’s assessment of impacts on wildfire hazards and risk, the district believes the assessment contained in the IS/MND has several important deficiencies. In particular, the district wishes to point out the following deficiencies in the published IS/MND:

1. Assessment of Existing Wildfire Hazards. Any assessment of the impact on public safety of proposed changes in land use or in the location, density or nature of development should begin with a baseline assessment and characterization of the existing hazards the land presents. The 2008 Moritz map, adopted in the Town’s 2010 Safety element as the basis on which the Town characterizes and assesses its existing wildfire hazards, is currently the best, most accurate and reliable characterization, and assessment of the existing natural fire hazards within Portola Valley.

The district is currently in the process of developing a new assessment of district-wide wildfire hazards and risks which will, in time, hopefully provide a superior, updated assessment. The district believes that an accurate, comprehensive assessment of wildfire hazards within the district and the risk such hazards pose is of paramount importance, and it is committed to developing the most competent, accurate and informative assessment it can as quickly as possible.

Until that time, however, the district believes the Moritz map provides the most accurate and reliable fire hazard assessment available on which to base decision-making regarding proposed land use planning, zoning, and development.

The Moritz map was developed in 2008 after the fire district identified several short-comings and omissions in the fire hazard maps prepared by Cal Fire for the local responsibility areas within the district’s jurisdiction. At the fire district’s recommendation, Ray Moritz, an experienced and highly respected fire arboriculturist, was retained by the Town to assess the severity and extent of its natural fire hazards based on an aerial and ground surveillance of the entire town and its immediate surroundings.

The methodology used by Moritz to prepare his hazard assessment and map adapted and improved on the methodology used by Cal Fire for its hazard assessment and maps. Like Cal Fire, Moritz characterized both the topography and vegetation of Portola Valley’s lands according to directly comparable standards of fire hazard. He did so, however, with much greater resolution and precision than Cal Fire was able to apply. Unlike Cal Fire, he characterized the topography of Portola Valley’s lands at much higher resolution, which enabled him to identify physical features of the landscape (ravines, ridgelines, chimneys, aspect) that can cause rapid fire expansion and spread. Unlike Cal Fire, he ground-truthed the lands he characterized, which enabled him to confirm the type, density and vertical as well as horizontal distribution of vegetative fuels on the landscape. And unlike Cal Fire, he characterized each of eleven (11) different vegetative fuel types present on the landscape, which enabled him to better resolve the burnability and interaction of vegetative fuels on the land. All of this in combination enabled him to better assess the locations, density, and hazards of the many different natural fuel complexes throughout Portola Valley.

I have repeatedly cautioned the Town’s Planning Department that the Moritz map provides a superior basis for planning purposes and not to use the Cal Fire map. On May 12, 2022, I wrote you and others questioning the Town’s preliminary draft Safety element, which used the 2008 Cal Fire map in lieu of the Moritz map. When the planning department persisted in using the Cal Fire 3 map as the basis for its Town-wide assessment of fire hazards in its draft Safety element, I again wrote you on September 13, 2022, and explicitly warned against its use:
“The district does not approve of or support the use of the limited CalFire map from 2008 as it is too old and too limited based on our assessments. 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.”
I went on to note that the district also disagreed with the Town’s assessment of its wildfire hazards as reported in its FEMA Hazard and Risk Ranking:
“The district feels that the Town should update the wildfire ranking to be more in alignment with the Fire District and the Town of Woodside. Both the Fire District and the Town of Woodside have ranked wildfire of the highest hazard where Portola Valley has ranked it as medium to almost low hazard. The Town of Portola Valley should update their MJLHMP as soon as possible to reflect the true wildfire hazards faced by the Town.” The district believes the Moritz map provides the most accurate and reliable fire hazard assessment currently available on which to base Portola Valley’s land use planning, zoning, and development decision-making. Until the district’s updated hazard maps are approved and adopted, the Moritz map, not the 2008 Cal Fire map, should be used to assess the impact of proposed changes in the Town’s land use policies and development regulations on wildfire hazards and risk. The Moritz map, not the 2008 Cal Fire map, should form the basis on which any CEQA assessment of the environmental impact of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments is based.

The Town’s 2010 Safety element expressly adopts the Moritz map as the approved basis for assessment and regulation of the impact of proposed development within Town on wildfire hazards and risk. 2010 Safety element §4138. Nonetheless, the Town’s current draft Safety element and the IS/MND both appear to use the less accurate assessment of fire hazard contained in the 2008 Cal Fire map as the stated baseline assessment of wildfire hazard and risk for the community. The district is unaware of any sound justification for this change.

The district believes that substitution of the 2008 Cal Fire assessment of hazard for the Moritz assessment of hazard will under-state and misrepresent the impact that proposed development can have on wildfire hazard and risk within the Town. For example, the 2008 Cal Fire map used in both the current draft Safety element and in the IS/MND as the baseline depiction of wildfire hazard within Portola Valley shows approximately 6% of Town as Very High Fire Hazard Severity and 0% of Town as High Fire Hazard Severity. By way of comparison, the Moritz map characterizes approximately 40% of Town as Highest Hazard and 49% of Town as High Hazard. It is hard to imagine a starker contrast.

Substitution of the 2008 Cal Fire assessment for the Moritz assessment also acts to inappropriately downplay the need for appropriate measures to mitigate the impacts on hazard and risk such development would entail.

The district believes that any CEQA analysis of the impact of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments on wildfire hazard and risk should be based on the Moritz map, not the 2008 Cal Fire map, and that a CEQA analysis of the Town’s proposed amendments based on the Moritz map will differ significantly from the assessment currently provided in the IS/MND. 4 2. Elimination of Important Fire Prevention Policies. The Town’s 2010 Safety element sets forth several important wildfire prevention and protection policies that are keyed into and based on the Moritz hazard assessment and map. For example, in all areas of Town characterized by Moritz as Highest Hazard, the Safety element prohibits construction for human occupancy unless adequate mitigation reduces fire risk to an acceptable level.
“Do not construct buildings for human occupancy, critical facilities and high value structures in areas classified as having the highest fire risk unless it is demonstrated that mitigation measures will be taken to reduce the fire risk to an acceptable level.” 2010 Safety element § 4151(1)(emphasis added).

In all areas of Town characterized by Moritz as High Hazard or greater, the Safety element mandates for each new subdivision a study that describes its wildfire risk, the factors contributing to that risk, actions to reduce the risk to an acceptable level, the cost and means of providing fire protection to the subdivision, and an indication of who pays for that. 2010 Safety element § 4151(2)(emphasis added). Similarly, in all areas characterized as High Hazard or greater, the Safety element mandates special protective measures to control spread of fire and provide safety to occupants, including but not limited to types of construction and use of appropriate materials. 2010 Safety element § 4151(6). And the Safety element calls for establishment of a public information program based on the Moritz assessment to inform residents of local fire hazards and how they can be reduced. 2010 Safety element § 4151(5). It also calls upon homeowners to provide adequate clearance around structures to prevent spread of fire and ensure adequacy emergency access and fire suppression.

The policies outlined in the Town’s 2010 Safety element laudably apply several of the most important wildfire prevention principles:

First, fire safe land use, development and construction of our built environment constitute the first line of defense against wildfire expansion and spread. Prudent location, layout, design, and construction of our built environment are often the most cost-effective and important steps we can take to protect our families and our communities against the destruction caused by wildfire.

Second, the severity of wildfire hazard and risk posed by lands used or developed for human use should govern and determine the stringency of fire prevention and protection regulations and standards for the land’s use and development. This well-recognized principle was pioneered in part by the Town’s adoption of its seismic safety policies and regulations in the early 1970s. It is now thoroughly embodied in State law and widely championed by both Cal Fire and the National Fire Protection Association in their minimum fire safe development regulations and wildland fire protection standards.

Third, in assessing the impact of land use and development, it is important to distinguish between the concept of “hazard” and the concept of “risk.” The concept of “fire hazard” refers to the propensity for fire to expand, intensify and spread from a given fuel complex (as defined by the kind, arrangement, volume, condition, and location of fuel sources on the landscape). The concept of “fire risk” refers to the probability and severity of adverse effects that can result from exposure to a given fire hazard. For example, a severe fire hazard within an undeveloped forest may pose very little risk, whereas the same fire hazard near or within a populated residential neighborhood may pose severe risk. Thus, while fire hazards are important to identify and mitigate, not all hazards pose severe risk, 5 and it is the hazards that pose the greatest risk that should be our greatest priority to mitigate.

Fourth, in assessing wildfire risk, the propensity for rapid fire expansion and spread within populated residential areas is of paramount concern. Not only does it determine the limited time available to contain and hopefully control the spread of fire, but it also determines the number and distribution of people and resources that must be protected and/or evacuated, the speed with which that must be accomplished, and the resources needed to do so.

Accurately and candidly assessing the risk posed to residential communities such as Portola Valley is also essential to acquiring, training, and deploying the appropriate resources and measures needed for effective, safe emergency response. And it is also essential to identifying, prioritizing, and funding the most important mitigation measures that can be taken in advance of any fire to reduce extreme risk.

Fifth, effective assessment of wildfire hazard and risk on WUI lands as topographically variable and fire prone as Portola Valley requires an individuated assessment of each important fuel complex in the context of its particular setting, the fuel sources comprising the hazard, and the lands, resources and fuels sources surrounding it. Cal Fire, the National Fire Protection Association, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the insurance industry’s Institute for Business and Home Safety all agree. A “one size fits all” approach to land use and development will not adequately account for the site-to-site differences in hazard and risk that characterize Portola Valley’s fire-prone, vertiginous terrain and built environment.

Sixth, effective mitigation can and will save lives and other valued resources. Nowhere is the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” more apt. A comprehensive, accurate assessment of hazard and risk is essential to the effective identification of appropriate, cost-effective mitigation steps as well as their prioritization.

The fire prevention policies adopted in the Town’s 2010 Safety element outline some of the most progressive principles required for effective long-term reduction of exposure to the risk of uncontrolled wildfire in WUI communities such as Portola Valley. By emphasizing the hazard and extreme risk posed by rapid fire spread, by calling for more stringent land use and development protections in areas of heightened fire hazard, by calling for individuated, project-by-project and subdivision-by-subdivision assessment of impacts on risk as well as fire hazard in areas of heightened hazard, and by linking the need for mitigation to risk, not just hazard, the 2010 Safety element anticipated many of the most important safeguards now championed by Cal Fire and the National Fire Protection Association.

In September 2022, when the district previously submitted comments on the draft Safety element, it was unaware and uninformed that the 2010 Safety element contained these important policies, and I wrote you noting that the Town’s current draft Safety element omitted such policies. That is why I provided written comments calling for the addition of policies to implement some of these important principles.

I now understand that the current draft Safety element no longer supports some of the more important fire prevention policies previously adopted in the 2010 Safety element, but instead substitutes in their place new, less protective policies. These new policies would:
• Eliminate application of the Town’s fire prevention policies to much of Portola Valley by substituting the 2008 Cal Fire map for the Moritz map
6 • Eliminate application of the Town’s fire prevention subdivision policies to areas of Town characterized as High Fire Hazard Severity and restrict their application to only those areas of Town characterized in the 2008 Cal Fire map as Very High Fire Hazard Severity • Eliminate the mandate for an individuated site-by-site assessment of fire risk associated with each development in areas of Town characterized as Highest Hazard • Eliminate the mandate for mitigation measures by developments within Highest Hazard areas to reduce risk to acceptable levels, substituting instead compliance with the minimum requirements of Cal Fire’s fire safe development standards irrespective of risk • Eliminate the requirement for special protective measures to control spread of fire and provide safety to occupants in all High and Highest Hazard areas, substituting instead design measures to enhance fire protection of structures Perhaps most importantly, the draft Safety element’s substitution of compliance with minimum hazard reduction standards for the requirement set forth in the existing Safety element for individuated site-specific assessment and mitigation of fire risk does not, in my opinion, adequately protect public safety against fire risk. As noted above, the paramount goal of effective wildfire risk reduction is the prevention and/or containment of rapid-fire expansion and spread to neighboring homes and fuel complexes. Achievement of that objective can vary significantly from site-to-site, and typically requires different measures than minimum development and building standards entail.

Notably, the IS/MND does not disclose the changes the new draft Safety element would make to the Town’s existing fire prevention policies. Nor does it assess the impact such changes would have on wildfire hazards and risk or explain why the wildfire prevention policies previously adopted in the 2010 Safety element are being replaced with less protective, more permissive development policies.

The district believes that any CEQA analysis of the impact of the Town’s proposed amendments should include an assessment of the impact that the changes in fire prevention policies proposed in the current draft Safety element would have on existing wildfire hazard and risk. The district believes that the elimination of individuated, project-by-project risk assessments for subdivisions in High and Highest Hazard areas, and for projects in Highest Hazard areas, is a step backward that could adversely affect public safety and should be avoided. The requirement for minimal design and construction standards to protect buildings against ignition from vegetative fire is beneficial but alone insufficient to protect communities against the risk of rapid-fire expansion and spread, especially where the density of construction increases the risk of structure-tostructure fire ignition and spread. In such communities, additional mitigation is needed, including adequate separation between structures, dramatic reduction of combustible fuel sources, fire-safe design practices, and greatly enhanced construction standards, materials, and practices.

3. No Assessment of the Impact of Proposed Zoning Code Changes. Portola Valley’s planning department appears to be developing and releasing a still-evolving set of proposed amendments to the Town’s zoning code. The current draft IS/MND does not disclose the specific set of zoning amendments the Town is proposing. Nor does it assess the direct and cumulative impact such zoning code amendments would have on wildfire hazard and risk or evacuation capacity.

An informative and detailed assessment of the impact that proposed zoning code changes would have on existing wildfire hazards and risk requires an informed understanding and assessment of 7 the way such changes would alter or affect the fuel complexes that can be created within the zoned area. This requires informed consideration of:
a. The location(s) where such changes would apply
b. The minimum required parcel size for each residential structure c. The maximum number of allowable buildings per parcel d. The minimum separation distance between buildings within a parcel e. The maximum allowed building square footage
f. The maximum building height
g. The number of resident and guest vehicles allowed (anticipated) per parcel h. The off and on-street provisions for parking
i. The road widths, staging areas, and emergency vehicle access areas Each of the above zoning provisions forms an important component of the allowable fuel complex that can be built or maintained on affected parcels within a given zoning district. In combination, these provisions, together with the related subdivision and building code provisions for construction in such areas, define the allowable fuel complex that may be built on each parcel of land and, collectively, the fuel complexes that can be created within subdivisions or similarly zoned neighborhoods. By regulating each of these variables in relationship to one another and to the existing hazards of the lands and homes that surround them, it is possible to contain and hopefully mitigate or even prevent the spread and expansion of fire from structure-to-structure, parcel-to-parcel, and neighborhood-to-neighborhood.

An informative and detailed assessment of the cumulative impact of proposed zoning code amendments should be based on all of the zoning code changes to be made and should identify all of the mitigation measures needed to alleviate the effects of increased zoning density.

That, in turn, will require consideration of much additional information not contained in the IS/MND. It is possible, however, to identify some of the important fire hazard and risk implications of increased zoning density within WUI communities such as Portola Valley. It is also possible to identify some of the important principles for effective mitigation of the incremental risk created by increased building density.

Where highly combustible structures such as wood framed buildings are situated near one another, the hazard of structure-to-structure ignition and resultant fire spread from radiant and convective heat flux can increase dramatically. As Cal Fire, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the insurance industry’s Institute of Business and Home Safety have all recently explained in detail, no amount of home hardening through the adoption of ember resistant features such as non-combustible siding, roofing, or cladding can protect such structures against ignition and structure-to-structure fire spread when they or other highly combustible structures are exposed to other burning structures that are less than 25 feet away. WUI Structure, Parcel, 8 Community Fire Hazard Mitigation Methodology, NIST TN 2205 (2022). That is why Cal Fire’s minimum fire safe development regulations (14 C.C.R. 1206.1) call for 30-foot property line setbacks for all buildings in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the National Fire Protection Association’s Wildland Fire Protection Standard 1140 calls for 30 feet of separation between all buildings in WUI lands (Standard 12.2).

To appreciate the critical need for adequate separation between such combustible structures, it is important to understand the immense concentration of combustible energy contained within a typical wood framed residential structure, the magnitude of energy that can be released from combustion of such structures (the “enthalpy” of the structure), and the enormous difference between the heat flux measured in both peak intensity and duration of energy released by a burning wood framed structure and the energy released by burning vegetative fuels.

A wood framed residential structure can release thermal energy upon combustion that is hundreds to thousands of times greater than the energy released by burning vegetative fuels.

And the duration of such high energy release from structural fires can be sustained for time periods that are 50 to 100 times longer than the energy released from combustion of vegetative fuels.

The comparatively high enthalpy of burning structures can cause radiant and convective thermal fluxes that are much more intense and prolonged than the radiant and convective fluxes produced by vegetative fires. This is what makes the combustion of structures so potentially dangerous, and the concentration of structural fuels in ever denser clusters or groupings without adequate separation between them even more dangerous.

To appreciate the critical importance of adequate separation between structures, just consider how the dense aggregation of structures on ever smaller parcels with ever less separation between structures on each parcel increases and concentrates the magnitude of energy potentially released if those structures are exposed to structure-to-structure ignition and fire spread. The illustration on the left below shows the limited concentration of enthalpy when two wood framed structures are separated from one another by at least 50 feet. The illustration on the right below shows the much more intense concentration of enthalpies when wood framed structures are separated from one another by less than 25 feet.
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9 In circumstances such as those depicted above, the magnitude of radiant and convective heat flux from a single burning structure is so intense and so prolonged that no amount of protective noncombustible cladding or roofing can protect the underlying wood framing and interior fuels of closely spaced neighboring structures from also quickly igniting and rapidly spreading fire from structure-to-structure creating an urban conflagration. In the situation depicted on the left, the greater separation between structures provides protection against structure-to-structure ignition through radiant and convective flux. In the situation depicted on the right, the separation between structures is insufficient to protect any structure against ignition by a neighboring structure. In such circumstances, the hazard of rapid structure-to-structure ignition and spread can prove catastrophic. That is the lesson we must all understand and apply from California’s most destructive residential fires, from Coffey Park to Paradise.

While adequate separation of structures is the most effective and prudent safeguard against structure-to-structure fire spread among combustible, wood framed buildings, it is not the only means by which structures can be built in closer proximity to one another. Another alternative for increased density of structures is to reduce the enthalpy of the structures by utilizing noncombustible materials other than wood or other combustibles to frame and build the houses we live in. By utilizing thoroughly non-combustible materials and methods for the entire framing of wall and roof assemblies rather than wood, it is possible to reduce the enthalpy of each structure and thus the requisite distance required to safely separate them from one another to prevent structure-to-structure ignition and spread.

The following graphic illustrates the potential reduction of enthalpy that can be achieved by using entirely non-combustible materials for wall and roof assemblies instead of wood. In the illustration on the left below, densely spaced structures framed in wood have highly concentrated enthalpies. In the illustration on the right, the concentration of enthalpies can be greatly reduced by using only non-combustible wall and roof assemblies to frame and build closely spaced structures.
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10 By dramatically reducing the potential energy release of each structure through completely noncombustible wall and roof assemblies, it may be possible to reduce the distances required for safe separation of residential structures and thus increase the density of such structures.

Use of non-combustible materials for roof and wall assemblies are just two of the mitigation steps that should be taken when it is otherwise not possible to achieve adequate separation between parcels and structures. Other important mitigation steps include:
• Thickened wall assemblies to reduce the conduction of heat between exterior and interior spaces
• Layout and design of building clusters to maximize the separation between structures, offset closely spaced wall surfaces, and avoid closely spaced parallel wall surfaces • Construction of non-combustible privacy walls between parcels to shield exposed structures from neighboring structures and vehicles
• Elimination of exterior apertures such as doors, windows, or large vents from closely spaced wall surfaces
• Use of heat hardened window and door assemblies with heat resistant glazing • Provision of non-combustible door and window screens to shield apertures against heat penetration
• Provision of adequate on-street parking to ensure simultaneous access and egress notwithstanding resident and guest parking
• Provision of suitable space and facilities for emergency access and staging as well as shelter in place for occupants
It is also possible to identify some of the more important mitigation measures needed to alleviate the adverse impacts of likely increases in residential density on wildfire hazard and risk. In particular, the district believes that certain specific zoning code amendments to protect against structure-to-structure and neighborhood-to-neighborhood fire spread should be adopted and implemented before any amendments that increase structural density and fuel loading are 0 200
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11 adopted. I address below some of the more important mitigation measures that should be adopted.

4. Assessment of Cumulative Impacts on Evacuation Capacity. Both the draft Safety element and the IS/MND overlook the direct and cumulative impacts of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments on the Town’s evacuation capacity and preparation.

As noted above, rapid expansion and spread of fire poses a severe risk to populations and structures surrounding hazardous fuel complexes. That is especially true in communities like Portola Valley where vertiginous terrain, abundant natural and man-made fuel sources, and constrained evacuation routes pose difficult challenges to effective, safe evacuation under urgent, rapidly changing conditions.

Such conditions make it particularly important to carefully assess the direct impact that the location and hazard of the fuel complexes created by new development will have on the existing fire hazards and risks that actually surround them, and the cumulative impact such aggregated hazards and risk will have on existing evacuation capacity and preparation.

By substituting the 2008 Cal Fire map for the Safety element’s existing assessment of wildfire hazard and risk throughout Town, both the draft Safety element and the IS/MND understate and mischaracterize the severity and extent of wildfire hazards and risk, the impact that development can have on such hazards and risk, and especially the impact that development can have on the extent, urgency, and possibility of effective evacuation of populations within areas surrounding areas of new, concentrated development.

While the draft Safety element purports to identify areas of Town with elevated risk of relatively frequent repeated incidents of fire, and areas of Town with constrained routes of evacuation access and egress, it does so in the context of a depiction of wildfire hazard and risk (the 2008 Cal Fire map) that mischaracterizes the actual extent of severe fire hazard. As noted above, the 2008 Cal Fire map on which the draft Safety element and IS/MND rely depicts 6% of Portola Valley as Very High Fire Hazard Severity and 0% as High Hazard. That is not a correct assessment of the fire hazards the Town confronts, or the cumulative impact of those hazards on evacuation capacity and preparedness.

In actuality, the extent and severity of fire hazard within Town is far greater than the 2008 Cal Fire map depicts, and the risk such elevated hazards pose to the population of Town and its surrounding areas is much greater and more immediate than the draft Safety element or IS/MND recognize or assess. Neither the draft Safety element nor the IS/MND provide an informed, competent assessment of the direct and cumulative impacts that the Town’s proposed amendments would have on such hazards and risk, or the steps that can and should be taken to mitigate such impacts to protect public safety in the event of a wildfire emergency.

For present purposes, the assessment of the direct and cumulative impacts of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments on existing evacuation capacity and preparation should be based on the fire hazard assessment depicted in the Moritz map, as well as the expected fire return interval and the existing evacuation capacity. That assessment should then be promptly updated once the district’s new hazard and risk assessment becomes available.

5. Assessment of Cumulative Impact on Fire Protection Services and Infrastructure. The reason high density development on fire-prone WUI lands can increase wildfire risk is due not 12 only to the severe hazard and potential risk of wildland fire, but also to the risk that any fire in a densely developed WUI setting poses for structure-to-structure ignitions and fire spread. Such ignitions can rapidly cause an uncontrolled conflagration. In other words, it is the density and nature of the built environment within a hazardous WUI setting, not just the wildlands alone, that cause both increased fire hazard and increased fire risk in communities with dense development.

In such settings, the risk of home ignition and structure-to-structure fire spread depends on two dominant sources of ignition: 1) embers lofted by fire, and 2) radiant or convective heat emitted from nearby fire.

In WUI communities, virtually every structure is exposed to the hazard of potential ignition by embers and should be hardened against such exposures.

But not all structures are necessarily exposed to the hazard of potential ignition by radiant or convective flux. In general, only those structures whose proximity to neighboring fuel sources or whose combustible construction renders the structure susceptible to ignition from radiant or convective flux are at increased risk of ignition. The greater the proximity of any structure to any other structure, or to any other concentrated fuel source, the greater the need for noncombustible methods and materials of construction. In short, we can greatly reduce the hazard and the risk of structure-to-structure ignition and fire spread, but only by adequately separating the structures we build, or by building them to resist ignition from intense radiant and convective flux.

Thus, zoning changes that result in high structural density should be preceded and anticipated by commensurate fire code amendments that
• mandate enhanced non-combustible construction methods, materials, and design, • limit exposures to flammable materials,
• mandate effective resistance to ignition caused by radiant and convective flux as well as burning embers, and
• mandate resistance to fire spread.

High-density development can also significantly complicate firefighting effectiveness and safety. The rapid expansion and intense heat of dense structural fires necessitates enhanced safety measures to protect firefighters and specialized equipment (such as expensive aerial units) to limit adjacent structure ignition and fire spread. Such measures and equipment require enhanced access and set up space that too often is ignored in development plans.

Here again, zoning changes that result in high structural density should be preceded and anticipated by a commensurate enhancement in structure fire procedures as well as increased training and capability.

6. Consideration of Necessary and Appropriate Mitigation Measures. The IS/MND inexplicably concludes that the proposed relaxation of existing land use and development safeguards, dramatic increase in the number of development projects and density of residential structures, large expansion in the population of the Town and increase in vehicles, and large increase in the intensity of land use and human activity in and around areas of very high and high fire hazard severity, have no significant impact on wildfire hazard and risk. On that basis, it then concludes that no mitigation measures are required to alleviate impacts on wildfire hazard and risk. 13 As noted above, the IS/MND is based on an erroneous characterization of the existing wildfire hazards and risks in Portola Valley, in conflict with maps adopted in the 2010 Safety Element and provides no competent assessment of the impacts that the Town’s proposed amendments would have on the documented wildfire hazards and risks that exist throughout the Town. Nor does it assess how the changes reflected in its proposed amendments would interact to cumulatively impact wildfire hazard and risk over time.

Until a competent CEQA assessment of the impacts of the proposed amendments is completed, it is premature to discuss specific mitigations that can and should be taken to alleviate the direct and cumulative impacts on risks. It is however, possible to identify some of the steps the Town can and should take immediately to implement its long-standing General Plan fire prevention policies and safeguard the town, its residents and those surrounding it against existing wildfire hazard and risk.

The findings, policies and objectives outlined in the 2010 Safety element provide a roadmap for the Town’s adoption and codification of ordinances in its Municipal Code that can serve to protect the community and its residents against extreme wildfire hazard and risk. For example:
• Adoption and codification of the High and Highest Hazard areas identified in the Moritz map as High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in accordance with Government Code §51179. Such designations should be updated as and when the district’s updated assessment of wildfire hazard and risk is completed and released. • Codification of the fire prevention policies of the 2010 Safety element regarding development in High and Highest Hazard areas identified in the Moritz map or any successor map approved by the district and Town
Further steps the Town should consider taking to mitigate its existing wildfire hazards and risk include:
• Adoption and codification of the individuated wildfire risk assessment and abatement procedures and standards of NFPA Standard 1140 §§ 10.1 thru 26.2.6, designating the Woodside Fire Protection District as the authority having jurisdiction under NFPA 1140 §§10.1-26.2.6 to administer and enforce the standards within the Town’s local jurisdiction. • Adoption and codification of Cal Fire’s minimum fire safe development regulations (14 C.C.R. 1270.01 thru 1276.05) throughout all High and Highest Hazard areas identified in the Moritz map or any successor map approved by the district and the Town, and designation of the Woodside Fire Protection District as the authority having jurisdiction under the regulations to administer and enforce their requirements within the Town’s local jurisdiction.
• Adoption and codification of a new Town ordinance establishing o minimum property line setbacks of 30 feet for all new parcels and all new residential development within all High and Highest Hazard areas identified in the Moritz map or any successor map approved by the district and the Town o minimum separation distance of 30 feet between all newly developed structures within a parcel in all High and Highest Hazard areas identified in the Moritz map or any successor map approved by the district and the Town 14 o provisions for reduction of required setbacks or separation distances where physically infeasible provided alternate means are demonstrated and provided to achieve the same fire risk reduction benefit that the required set-back or separation distance would achieve, such as reduction of structure enthalpy through use of noncombustible wall and roof assemblies; elimination of exposed windows and doors from closely spaced surfaces; installation of non-combustible walls between parcels and exposed structures.
• Adoption and codification of a new Town ordinance to establish the procedures and standards by which the Town shall review and determine the impact of proposed development projects on public health and safety in accordance with the provisions of the following State housing law mandates:
o Government Code §§ 65589.5(d)(2) (“a local agency shall not disapprove a housing development project … unless it makes written findings, based upon a preponderance of the evidence in the record [that] … [t]he housing development project ... as proposed would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact without rendering the development unaffordable to lowand moderate-income households”), o Government Code § 65852.2(a)(1)(A) (relating to accessory dwelling units), o Government Code § 66411.7(d) (relating to SB-9 urban lot splits), and o Government Code §§ 65913.4(a)(6)(D) and 65915(e)(1) (relating to bonus density concessions).

Based on its review of the draft Safety element and current IS/MND, the district believes that a thorough and competent environmental impact review (EIR) is needed to assess fully and carefully the direct and cumulative impacts of the Town’s proposed General Plan and Municipal Code amendments on wildfire hazards and risks within the Town and its surrounding environments. The review should include all relevant public safety impacts, including impacts on evacuation capacity and preparedness, emergency response capabilities and preparedness, as well as the mitigation measures needed to alleviate and address such impacts.

The district would welcome the opportunity to work closely with the Town to effectuate that review and to develop and implement an appropriate, comprehensive set of mitigations to help the Town achieve its housing objectives and policies in a manner consistent with public safety.

Sincerely,
Don Bullard
Fire Marshal
Woodside Fire Protection District
Office – 650-851-6206
Email- [email protected]
5/10/23, 2:08 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7026 1/1

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11. Submitter DB ID 7026
IP Address 2620:149:4:302:2863:9605:930f:c09c
Submission Recorded On 05/10/2023 9:43 AM
Time to Take the Survey 4 minutes, 52 secs.

First and Last Name
Ian Van Hoven
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
Affordable Housing
Comment
In short, please adopt the Housing Element now. The town needs to support teachers, local business workers and other professionals who work each day in our town.

Thank you.

Ian Van Hoven
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
5/10/23, 2:09 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7023 1/1

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11. Submitter DB ID 7023
IP Address 73.202.129.80
Submission Recorded On 05/10/2023 7:31 AM
Time to Take the Survey 4 minutes, 24 secs.

First and Last Name
Matt Rollefson
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
5 Comment
I strongly encourage the Town Council to approve the revised Housing Element, arrived at after years of intense debate and public engagement, to satisfy our legal obligations and move forward with our efforts to make the town more affordable for the wonderful people who provide services to those of us who live here but who right now can't afford to live here themselves.

Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
5/10/23, 2:08 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7027 1/1

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11. Submitter DB ID 7027
IP Address 2600:387:f:6117::7
Submission Recorded On 05/10/2023 10:39 AM
Time to Take the Survey 4 minutes, 6 secs.

First and Last Name
Megan Michael
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
Housing Element
Comment
My household is in full support of Passing the Housing Element! Thank you, Council, for your tireless work on this.

Megan Michael
Terry Hicks
Lou Michael
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
5/10/23, 2:18 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=8&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7012 1/1

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11. Submitter DB ID 7012
IP Address 2600:1700:a460:1a80:f421:735c:14a3:ef81
Submission Recorded On 05/09/2023 8:37 AM
Time to Take the Survey 3 minutes, 30 secs.

First and Last Name
MJ Lee
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) none
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
5 housing element
Comment
please use the attached file
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
mj letter to TC on HE may2023.pdf
Dear Jeff Aalfs, Sarah Wernikoff, Craig Taylor, Mary Hufty, and Judith Hasko, Thank you for the huge number of hours that you put in to serve the people of Portola Valley. Thank you to the AHHEC and Town staff, who put in an unprecedented amount of effort on the Housing Element. All that good work should be respected.

We need to move forward.

Every person in this Town has had almost 2 years to give input on the HE. Everyone is exhausted. To delay further only satisfies a few PVNU members and won’t produce a better Housing Element. At this late date, the worst thing a Town Council member can do is to say, hey I know better. Or hey, have you thought of this?
I believe the HE is a good product that reflects our Town’s values. Our Town wants to do the right thing. Our townspeople are changing along with the rest of California, even if begrudgingly. Yes, we love our Town. Why can’t we share a little more of it? And the Stanford Wedge? As the HazardHub founder told me, “New development protects old development”. Stanford’s housing project will build the safest, most fire-resilient housing in the Town, with the shortest evacuation time. It will be the safest place to live in PV. And the development of its 75 acres will make Portola Valley safer.

It saddens me that members of PVNU continue to spread disinformation and file lawsuits against the Town and its volunteers in order to achieve an anti-housing agenda. It is particularly frustrating to me that PVNU and Rusty Day use wildfire as a fear-mongering tool, citing it as the primary reason no more housing should be built.

It’s time to move forward with the Housing Element. Please adopt it now.

Regards,
-mj lee
MJ Lee Meadowood Drive
Portola Valley
To: Portola Valley Town Council From: MJ Lee
Phone: Date: 5/9/23
Re: Please approve the Housing Element without further delay 5/10/23, 2:08 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7029 1/2

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Submitter DB ID 7029
IP Address 98.51.43.71
Submission Recorded On 05/10/2023 12:54 PM
Time to Take the Survey 37 minutes, 21 secs.

First and Last Name
Nan Shostak
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name

5.a. (Housing Element)
Comment
5/10/23, 2:08 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7029 2/2

11. Dear Council Members,
I am concerned that consideration for Portola Valley residents' basic need for safety has been buried under a landslide of public comments on the Housing Element. The tradeoff you face tonight is for short-term risk (submitting the Housing Element too late) vs. long-term risk (weak fire safety rules).

Whatever you decide tonight, it is imperative that Fire Marshal Bullard's recommendations be incorporated into the municipal code as soon as possible.

It's not enough to say they will be included in the Safety Element and then later implemented in the municipal code. The Safety Element itself does not insure fire safety--it's just makes suggestions.

Tonight please authorize a process to expedite incorporation of Marshal Bullards' recommendations directly into the municipal code. Don't wait for the new Safety Element--that process will take many months. These fire safety recommendations are necessary and integral to the physical safety of the Town. They need to be implemented now.

Sincerely,
Nan Shostak, representing myself
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
5/10/23, 2:11 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7018 1/2

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Submitter DB ID 7018
IP Address 2601:647:4c01:5550:45c5:6d37:8983:d569
Submission Recorded On 05/09/2023 9:42 PM
Time to Take the Survey 8 minutes, 31 secs.

First and Last Name
Onnolee Trapp
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
California
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name

5. Public Hearing - Housing Element
Comment
5/10/23, 2:11 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7018 2/2

11. To: Town Council
As a resident of Sequoias, I know that it is difficult to find men and women who can afford to drive more than 50 miles each way to work at our community, but that is what many of our most valued staff do. A family of four with an income of $149,000 is classified low income, but a family with that income cannot afford to purchase or rent a home in Portola Valley.

By not having a variety of less expensive housing opportunities, we are missing opportunities to acquaint ourselves with people who can bring fresh energy and attitudes to our town. We need adults who can fill jobs that employers such as Sequoias offer and we need their children. Our public school enrollment is about 1/3 of what it was when our children attended PV schools.

It is time for the Town Council to adopt the proposed Housing Element and Conforming General Plan Amendments and submit these documents to HCD. The Town Council needs to validate its confidence in the months of hard work by our professional Town staff and the volunteer Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee. The members of the Council have sworn to uphold the laws of the state, and they can do this on May 10.

Onnolee Trapp
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
5/10/23, 2:13 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7017 1/1

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11. Submitter DB ID 7017
IP Address 108.243.33.47
Submission Recorded On 05/09/2023 9:18 PM
Time to Take the Survey 23 minutes, 39 secs.

First and Last Name
Sofie Vandeputtte
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
California
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
Housing Element
Comment
To the PV Town Council,
I write you in support of the current Housing Element and urge you to vote "yes" on the current plan.

Thank you and members of the Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee for the countless hours you have dedicated to this most challenging task.

With gratitude and respect,
Sofie Vandeputte
Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
5/10/23, 2:17 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=8&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7013 1/1

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11. Submitter DB ID 7013
IP Address 98.42.90.223
Submission Recorded On 05/09/2023 5:18 PM
Time to Take the Survey 5 minutes, 53 secs.

First and Last Name
Tricia Christensen
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
Portola Valley
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
5a
Comment
With many thanks to our Town Council, Town staff and all the committee members who have gotten us to this point.

I urge the Town Council to pass the Housing Element at this meeting. I have not read or heard anything about fire safety or environmental review which I feel warrants this needless delay. We need to move into the execution phase, and start welcoming residents into our town.

Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.
5/10/23, 2:09 PM Manage Survey Statistics - Text Report https://www.portolavalley.net/Admin/Components/Form/Statistics/TextStatisticsDetail/?page=9&size=30&formId=67&itemID=93237&id=7022 1/1

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11. Submitter DB ID 7022
IP Address 108.243.33.47
Submission Recorded On 05/09/2023 10:49 PM
Time to Take the Survey 29 minutes, 21 secs.

First and Last Name
Ward Vercruysse
Email address ( will not be publicly displayed)
Organization ( Enter name of organization, business, or non profit if you are submitting comments on their behalf.) Not answered
Street address ( will not be publicly displayed)
City
PV
State
CA
Zip Code
94028
Date of Meeting you are submitting comment for.
05/10/2023
Agenda Item number or name
5: housing element
Comment
Dear PV Town Council,
The current Housing Element plan is a reasonable compromise that meets the legal requirements.

Please vote YES before Sacramento decides we do need their adult supervision, and please work with Stanford for a fire-safe implementation of the wedge project.

Thank you and the various committees for your hard work, much appreciated.

Optional: You can upload a copy of your comments.