Please review the Town's Zoning Map.

To add your residence to the Town's "Do Not Solicit" list, please send an email to the Town Clerk. Please be reminded that evangelical, missionary, religious, or political purposes that do not involve a solicitation of contributions and/or are only requesting a signature are exempt from obtaining a solicitation permit.

At this time, the Town has not developed a selection process for potential future owners of the affordable housing units but we will place your name on a list of interested parties. Please email Karen Kristiansson at kkristiansson@portolavalley.net

At this time, the Town does not have any specific proposals to develop affordable housing. However, unit size, design and other details would be developed with community input as the project goes through the public hearing process. As for the selling prices, the proposed units will likely be made available to moderate income households as defined by the State.

The Town maintains records of all new housing units constructed in Town, including second units, guest houses and in-law units. Any new units constructed during this current Housing Element period are counted towards the Town’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers. Room rentals are not considered new housing units and the Town does not maintain a list of rental properties or rooms for rent in the community.

State law requires that the Town meet its affordable housing obligations with new, permanent housing. Therefore, caretaking or renting an existing home would not count as helping to meet the Town’s housing need. However, a similar approach is already discussed in the Housing Element under Program 5, and that program could potentially be expanded to address caretaking in the next Housing Element.

Second units are counted towards meeting the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers assigned to the Town by the State, and in fact, most of Portola Valley’s housing need is met through second units. In the past two years, the Town has changed its second unit regulations and developed a second unit manual to help encourage homeowners to build second units. The Town is also open to looking at a new second unit amnesty program and other ways to expand the second unit program in future Housing Elements.

Housing at the Sequoias are existing dwelling units already accounted for in the Town’s Housing Element. State law requires that the Town adopt a Housing Element every 4 to 8 years that addresses the need to provide for new affordable housing units in accordance with the Regional Housing Needs Allocation numbers developed by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). Therefore, any new units that may be permitted at The Sequoias would be considered in future Housing Element calculations.

The Town is open to considering a new amnesty program in future Housing Elements. How much this would help to address future housing needs would depend on how the State would view the program. In upcoming Housing Element meetings, Town representatives will likely consider further ways to expand the second unit programs, including the possibility of a revised amnesty program in future years.

The homes will have deed restrictions ensuring that when one is sold, the house will be affordable to another moderate income household as defined by the State at the time of sale.

These homes would be available to households with incomes that meet moderate income limits as defined annually for each county by the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). For 2012, moderate incomes for San Mateo County range from $86,500 for a household of one to $123,600 for a household of four. The Town would give preference, in accordance with Town policy, to people who already work or live within the Town limits.

If a project moves forward, the Town would solicit proposals from qualified affordable housing developers not only to build the homes but also to manage the initial sale and future changes in ownership to ensure, through deed restrictions, that the homes remain affordable to moderate income households. The Town is not, nor does it want to be, in the business of land development. Therefore, the Town intends to find an entity experienced in affordable housing to undertake that work.

Yes, Program 3 of the Town’s current Housing Element calls for the Town to encourage residents to build more second units/guest houses through several actions. In 2011, the Town amended its zoning ordinance to streamline approval for certain kinds of second units. In addition, the Town developed a second unit manual to help property owners through the process of designing and building a second unit. Through these actions, the Town hopes to see the number of second units increase from an average of 4.9 units per year up to 6 units per year.

In addition to any other Town meetings to discuss affordable housing, community members will have opportunities to influence a project throughout the public review process. If the zoning and general plan designations for a property need to be changed, public hearings before both the Planning Commission and the Town Council would be required. If a rezoning is not necessary, then a conditional use permit or planned unit development permit, along with a thorough environmental review, will likely be required, necessitating approval from the Planning Commission, which would hold one or more public hearings on the proposal. Once a developer is chosen for the project, the developer would meet informally with neighbors and concerned members of the community about the design of the project and the proposed project architecture would be considered formally by the ASCC at one or more additional public meetings.

Without a certified housing element, the Town could be open to a legal challenge and face potentially significant penalties. For example, the Town could be prohibited from issuing any building permits or planning approvals, may be required to allow development at a density of 20 units per acre, or be required to pay attorneys’ fees. Honoring the commitments made in the current Housing Element will help the Town continue to have a certified Housing Element.

A Housing Element certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) entitles municipalities to qualify for certain State and Federal funds, such as the Community Development Block Grant Program. Furthermore, as land use and transportation become more closely linked, certain types of transportation funding are beginning to require a certified Housing Element.

The Town’s current Housing Element was officially adopted by the Town Council in December 2009 and certified by the state in early 2010. The next Housing Element is due in October 2014.

To comply with the Town’s current Housing Element, the eight for-sale moderate income units that were originally planned for the Blue Oaks lots need to be accommodated elsewhere in Town to meet the minimum number of moderate income units required by the State. Failure to comply with the commitments contained in the current Housing Element may make it more difficult to obtain certification of the next Housing Element.

No. The Town is not required to build affordable housing units. However, pursuant to State law, the Town is required to undertake all necessary actions to encourage, promote and facilitate the development of housing. In practice, this means that the Town needs to demonstrate that the number of units planned for in each income category in the Housing Element could realistically be expected to be built during the years covered by the Housing Element.

For communities like Portola Valley with low density residential development, high property values and strong zoning regulations, the development of affordable housing has been a very challenging State mandate. The most common approach to fulfilling the housing mandate is to encourage the construction of second units. Another common approach is to work with schools to provide housing for staff and teachers on the school grounds, like Portola Valley does with the Priory School. If those two approaches don’t provide enough housing, then other methods need to be developed. For example, during the last Housing Element cycle, the Town of Hillsborough proposed to meet some of its housing needs by annexing new land.

For the last Housing Element cycle, Portola Valley was assigned an overall total need of 74 units, Hillsborough was assigned 86 units, Atherton was assigned 106 units, and Woodside was assigned 65 units. For the 2014 – 2022 Housing Element cycle, the proposed sub-regional allocation for Portola Valley is 64 units.

The State’s overall goal is to ensure that enough housing is built to accommodate projected future growth. State law says that the “availability of housing is of vital statewide importance and…is a priority of the highest order.” As a result, for as long as the State projects that additional housing is needed in the Bay area, the Town will likely be expected to provide some of that housing.

The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) reviews all Housing Elements to determine if local agencies are substantially in compliance with the law and have in place goals, quantified objectives, policies and a schedule of actions to meet their allocation of housing units (both market rate and affordable housing). If HCD determines that the Housing Element is in substantial compliance with the law, HCD certifies the Housing Element.

State law requires that all municipalities adopt a plan to address regional housing needs every five to eight years in a document called the “Housing Element”. State law mandates that the Housing Element contain several parts, including an identification and analysis of existing and projected housing needs and a statement of goals, policies, quantified objectives, financial resources, and scheduled programs for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing. Most importantly, the Housing Element must plan for a certain number of housing units that are assigned to the Town as its housing need.

For each Housing Element planning period, the State assigns a certain amount of housing to the Bay Area as a whole. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) then allocates housing to each jurisdiction within the Bay Area through a complex process that is related to future growth. Information about the Regional Housing Needs Allocation process is available at http://www.abag.ca.gov/housing-top.html.

No. Placing your food waste in the Compostables bin is optional. Kitchen food waste can continue to go in the garbage if you choose. The yard waste/compostables service is free of charge and provides residents the option of recycling on a higher level (e.g., food waste).

Yes. If using their own bin, residents must use a 32-gallon can(s) for their yard trimmings and now compostable/organic material. The container should be labeled “Compostables.” Residents also have the option of renting a green Compostables bin from GreenWaste for a small monthly fee.

Yes. Residents using a GreenWaste “Yard Waste” container (and/or a 32-gallon can(s) of their own) are able to place not only their yard trimmings, but also their food waste, food-soiled paper products and compostable items in the Compostables bin as mentioned in the new Recycling Guide

Yes. Residents can put food waste directly into the Compostables bin, however placing these items in a paper bag, newspaper or compostable bag will help maintain a clean bin. If you are going to put food waste in the Compostables bin, it is also a good idea to use an enclosed container to prevent rodents and raccoons from getting in.

You may find it convenient to store your food scraps in a small container designed to store food scraps on the kitchen counter or under the sink. You can find many types of containers online; search for “Kitchen Compost Container” or “Kitchen Compost Pail.”

Per the Town’s contract, GreenWaste is required to provide a Recycling bin to each household for free. The yard waste/compostables service has been ADDED and the service is free of charge, which provides residents the option of recycling on a higher level (e.g., food waste). If GreenWaste was required to provide another bin to each household, they would have to increase the rates to cover the cost of the additional bins.

Try contacting the Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto:

In-Kind Donations/Donation Pick-Up
650-323-7781 ext. 10
donald@ehpcares.org

General Office Information
2411 Pulgas Avenue, East Palo Alto, CA 94303
650-323-7781
650-833-0371 - Fax
info@ehpcares.org

In Person:
Lens Crafters
700 El Camino Real #160
Menlo Park, CA  94025
650-329-8181
The Menlo Park Lens Crafters accepts donations of used eyeglasses. Drop your glasses in the box behind the "Start Here Sign." Let a customer service person know if you would like a receipt for your donation.






By Mail:
Lions In Sight Warehouse
1404 Lemon Street
Vallejo, CA  94590Send your used eyeglasses by mail to the Lions In Sight Warehouse  (an official service activity of Lions Clubs International). Lions In Sight also accepts donations of used hearing aids, ink cartridges (any type) and old cell phones.

Note: If you would like a receipt for your donation, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. To find out more about Lions In Sight visit www.lionsinsight.org.

At the Town’s Annual Neighborhood Clean Up Day and Prescription Drug Disposal Event held at Ford Field every spring. This years event will be held on the morning of Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (or until bins are full).

You may also drop off your old medications at the confidential drop-off containers at the entrance to the Atherton Police Department or at the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office in Redwood City. For addresses and additional drop off locations, please download this flyer from the San Mateo County Health Department: Prescription Drug Disposal Flyer

If you have packing peanuts or other similar packing material, you can take it to the UPS Store, located in the Ladera Country Shopper Center at 3130 Alpine Road in Ladera for reuse.

We are still looking for a reliable source to recycle polystyrene (Styrofoam) items such as egg cartons, meat trays, take out "clam shells,” and so forth.

Residents now have the convenience of disposing of these items through GreenWaste by simply placing them in a clear, zip lock bag (each CFL should be placed in a separate bag), and leaving them on top of your recycling bin. Handlers from GreenWaste will then remove them with your scheduled garbage/recycled materials pick up.

This was a very important aspect of the Town's negotiations with GreenWaste and we are pleased this service is now provided as part of your overall service, at no additional charge.

To view the current class catalog and register for classes, click here. 

 

Please visit our page for prospective instructors, where you can download and complete the Town’s Instructor Services Agreement. You will also need to attach a brief description of the type of class or activity and make sure that the agreement and all other required documents are submitted in a timely manner so as to be approved and included in the next quarterly class schedule.

Yes. In the event that a class does not enroll the minimum number of participants, that class will be cancelled for the quarter, and all registration fees will be returned.

The minimum number of participants in a class shall be five (5) students, and the maximum shall be fifteen (15) students.

For full season classes, registration begins a minimum of three weeks prior to the first week of classes/activities, and shall end no later than the end of the second week of the class or activity. For one-day seminars or other short-term classes, you may register at any time prior to the class or until the class is full.

A refund may be obtained upon submitting a completed Refund Request Form to staff at Town Hall. Upon receipt of this request, the original check submitted at the time of registration shall be returned

If you find that after attending class it may not be what you had expected or that the class does not fit your needs, a refund may be requested up through the second week of scheduled class/activities.

You may download a Business License Application or pick one up from town center. Information and fees are listed on page two of the application.

The available trail maps, plus trail rules and regulations as well as the history of some of the trails in town, are downloadable from the trails section of this site.

You need to stop by the Town Hall to complete a request for a Residential Data Report (RDR). Information about the RDR is available on this site. For additional information , please contact Assistant Planner Carol Borck at (650) 851-1700 ext. 211.

For the latest class catalog, please visit our Community Classes section. Please note that each season has defined registration periods.

Agendas and minutes for the Town Council and Commission meetings and agendas for the Committee meetings are available for download on this site several ways. You can access a master list from the home page soft key, or, if you know the date of the meeting you can download agendas and minutes from the calendar. In addition, you may visit the Town Government section of this site and from the page of the Council, Commission or Committee you are interested in you can open a list of links to agendas and minutes.

Some ordinances are available at in the Building & Planning section of our website, all others are available for review at Town Hall.

Resolutions are available for review at Town Hall.

The Town Council meets in the Old School House at Town Center on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7:30 pm.

The Town Council page shows all the current Town Council Members along with their contact information.

The Town Center Hours for the administrative staff are: Monday - Friday (Holidays excluded) 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Planning Department Hours are: Monday - Friday (Holidays excluded) 8:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Call the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center at (650) 513-0330 or visit the PCRC website at www.pcrcweb.org.

A building permit is required to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, or demolish any building or structure, or make any installation, alteration, or improvement to an electrical, plumbing, or mechanical system.

• One-story detached accessory buildings not exceeding eight (8) feet in height and not exceeding 120 square feet projected roof area.
• Exterior decks or walkways that do not exceed 120 square feet and are not greater than thirty (30) inches in height from the deck-walking surface to natural grade.
• Wood fences not exceeding six (6) feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the fence located on non-street frontage property lines.
• Retaining walls less than four (4) feet in height as measured from the base of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.
• Painting, papering, and similar finish work.

Keep in mind that all proposed work must conform to Town Zoning Ordinance and Design Guidelines whether or not a building permit is required.

You will need to complete a Building Permit application, pay appropriate permit, plan check and any other applicable fees and deposits for review, and submit wet signed and stamped building plan sets, structural calculations, and Title 24 calculations.

Building permit applications require a filing fee, plan check fee, inspection fee, and sometimes additional fees and deposits for professional services. In addition, there may also be a construction and demolition fee and deposit. The costs vary based on the type/scope of work, the value of the proposed improvements and the plan reviews that will be required (e.g. Town Geologist, Town Planner, Health Officer).

An encroachment permit is required whenever work is to be conducted in the public right-of-way. This includes paving driveways, trenching for utilities, installing approved landscaping, etc. An encroachment permit application must be completed and submitted to the Town Engineer for review along with the required plans and payment of fees and bonds prior to the commencement of any work.

Early contact with town staff is highly recommended. Staff can assist in identifying any areas of concern that should be addressed prior to finalization of your project plans. As your plans develop, meet with staff to share your direction. Staff is available to meet at the proposed project site or in the office to review your proposed project plans and how they relate to the community.

The Architectural & Site Control Commission (ASCC) design review board is comprised of five volunteer residents of the town; they focus on how proposed plans fit the unique conditions of the site and neighborhood. Review and approval of applications before the ASCC is guided by the principles set forth in the Town's Design Guidelines and are based upon conformity with the Town's Zoning and Site Development Ordinances.

The ASCC meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the Town's Historic Schoolhouse. Often the ASCC conducts a site visit with the applicant and project design team. Adjacent property owners to the subject property under review are notified of the hearing date and time scheduled.

ASCC reviews applications for buildings or additions of four hundred square feet of larger, or two stories or more; all commercial buildings; all building permits on parcels fronting arterial roads as shown on the Portola Valley General Plan; tennis courts and paddle courts; conditional use permits; restoration or reconstruction of nonconforming buildings; buildings with historic resources; grading activities of at least one hundred cubic yards but not over one thousand cubic yards or where cuts and fills exceed five feet and matters referred to ASCC by Staff, Planning Commission and Town Council.

Generally, your application could be on an ASCC agenda as quickly as two weeks after submittal, depending upon its completeness. However, there are certain times that numerous applications are received to be scheduled for hearing, and the agenda cannot accommodate all applications; your application will be placed on agenda in a timely fashion. Often a site meeting and regular ASCC meeting would suffice, however, sometimes adjustments are necessary and modifications to the proposed plans would require another meeting with the ASCC.

The ASCC approval becomes in effect sixteen days after its approval, to allow for a fifteen day appeal period. The ASCC approval shall expire if the permit has not been issued within two years from the date of approval. You may apply for building permits after the sixteen day appeal period.

Your application shall be referred to the Town Geologist for: all site development permits; foundation repair and replacement involving more than 35 lineal feet; swimming pools; building permits subject to provisions of the Alquist-Priolo Act; building permits for sites located within the E-F zone setbacks; building permits for sites located within a flood zone; new residential construction and additions exceeding 500 square feet.

The Town Geologist has provided guidelines on Minimum Standards for Geotechnical Reports to aid you and your Geotechnical Professional. The goal of the guidelines is to inform you and your consultant of the expected scope of work and necessary documentation to be included for geotechnical investigations.

Resolution No. 500-1974 approved the Town's Geologic Map and Movement Potential of Undisturbed Ground Map and established land use policies. Deviations from the land use policies are considered under public hearing by the Planning Commission, only after the Town geologist has reviewed and recommended approval of the proposed project, and when it is clearly demonstrated to the decision making body that such deviations will not unduly jeopardize life, public property or private property. When application for deviation is made, a written report describing such deviation and reasons therefore shall be made and filed with the Town Geologist.

Under Resolution No. 500-1974, it was recognized that the Geologic and Movement Potential of Undisturbed Ground Maps were based upon a certain level of geologic information and that further study may permit their improvement. The Planning Commission may, after recommendation from the Town Geologist, modify the map(s). Where a modification is approved, a written report shall be prepared indicating the nature of the change, the reasons therefore and filed with the Town Geologist.

A Site Development Permit is required when: 1) Excavation, fill or any combination thereof exceeds fifty cubic yards; 2) Fill will exceed three feet in vertical depth at its deepest point measured from natural ground surface; 3) An excavation will exceed four feet in vertical depth at its deepest point; 4) An excavation, fill or combination thereof, will exceed an area of five thousand square feet; 5) Vegetation is to be removed from an area exceeding five thousand square feet on any vacant parcel of land or any parcel of land in excess of ten acres; and 6) A significant tree is to be removed or would be affected by actions which would tend to injure, mutilate, destroy or kill the tree, including placing fill within the dripline or substantially reducing tree in size.

• Grading work under one hundred cubic yards: application is generally performed by the Town Engineer, Town Geologist and Town Planner.
• Grading work of at least one hundred cubic yards but not over one thousand cubic yards or where cuts or fills exceed five feet: application is generally performed by the Town Engineer, Town Geologist, Town Planner and other appropriate members of the site development committee and ASCC.
• Grading work in excess of one thousand cubic yards or removal of vegetation or both: application is generally performed by the Town Engineer, Town Geologist, Town Planner and other appropriate members of the site development committee, ASCC and Planning Commission.

A basement is a floor level directly under a building which meets provisions as outlined in the zoning ordinance (Section 18.04.065). The basement ceiling height shall not exceed twelve feet directly under the first floor of the building above. Further, a basement is not counted towards floor area.

Floor Area for residential uses is the total floor area as measured from exterior walls, for all buildings on a parcel.

Impervious Surface are surfaces that will not allow or will greatly reduce the penetration of water into the ground. Impervious surfaces include: concrete; asphalt; bricks; paving stones; swimming pools; turf stone; plastic sheeting; compacted gravel and rock areas; corrals and similar surfaces.

The allowed floor area for your property is based upon the acreage, average slope, geologic or flood zone areas and zoning district. Town Staff can provide you with your allowed Floor Area and Impervious Surface Calculations. The 85% calculation for Floor Area regulates the mass of the residence including first floor/second floor and required off street parking (two car attached/detached carport or garage).

Building height is the vertical distance at any point from the natural ground level which existed prior to grading for any building or from the building pad if excavated below natural ground level, whichever level is lower to the highest part of the building directly above. The maximum building height is the vertical distance between the lowest point of contact with the finished ground surface to the highest point of the building or its appurtenance.

The height limit for zoning districts of 1 or more acres is 28'; the maximum height limit is 34'. In the 7.5M - 20M zoning districts the height limit is 15-28'; with a maximum height of 34'.

When your application is before the ASCC for review, the perimeter of all proposed structures should be clearly staked and labeled on the site; in addition, the ASCC may ask that you show the actual bulk of the proposed structure with storey poles.

A building permit is not required to build any fence 6' or less in height. However, when a fence, regardless of height, is to be built within your property's building setbacks, on your property line, or adjacent to a trail easement, a fence permit is required. Regulations for fence style, color, height, and opacity vary depending on the zoning district that your property is located within. Please refer to the Town's fence ordinance for fencing regulations and permit requirements.