[0:09] This is the call to order for the [0:12] January 14th, 2026 meeting of the Town [0:16] of Woodside Planning Commission. [0:21] And we'll start with the Pledge of [0:22] Allegiance. [0:38] Indivisible, liberty, justice for all. [0:45] » Roll call, please. [0:46] >> Chair Weaver, [0:48] >> present. [0:49] >> Commissioner Abfell, [0:52] >> present. Remotely. [0:53] >> Commissioner Gerko, [0:55] >> present. [0:56] >> Commissioner Tober, [0:57] >> present. Vice Chair Gar is currently [1:00] noted absent. [1:04] » Are there any changes to the agenda as [1:07] published? [1:10] >> There are no changes to the agenda and [1:12] there are no desk items. [1:15] >> Um given that we will open the public [1:18] comment period for items which are not [1:22] on tonight's planning commission agenda. [1:25] This would be an opportunity for members [1:27] of the public to speak of items of [1:29] interest to the planning commission or [1:30] the town of Woodside, but which are not [1:32] on tonight's agenda. This is [1:34] traditionally limited to at the [1:36] beginning of the meeting to up to five [1:38] speakers, up to three minutes each. Such [1:41] items cannot be acted upon, but can be [1:45] taken down by staff and agendaized at a [1:48] future meeting. Is there anyone here [1:50] tonight that wishes to speak on an item [1:54] not on tonight's agenda? [1:57] >> For those online, if you'd like to make [1:59] a comment, please use the raise hand [2:00] feature. [2:05] » And I see no raised hands. [2:08] Given that we will close the public [2:11] comment period [2:14] and move on to the consent calendar [2:17] which consists of item one and item two [2:21] which are the approval of the minutes [2:24] from the December 3rd and December and [2:27] December 17th planning commission [2:29] meetings. [2:30] Do any commissioners, staff, or members [2:32] of the public have any comments, [2:35] additions, deletions, or elaborations on [2:38] those minutes? [2:44] Since there seems to be no request for [2:47] that, the chair would entertain a motion [2:49] to approve items one and two on the [2:52] consent calendar. [2:56] » Second the motion. [2:59] Uh, could someone make the motion first? [3:01] >> So moved. [3:06] » Chair Weaver. [3:08] >> Yes. [3:08] >> Commissioner Abfel. [3:10] >> Yes. [3:10] >> Commissioner Gonerko. [3:12] >> Yes. [3:12] >> Commissioner Tober. [3:13] >> Yes. [3:16] >> All right. Um given that we will move to [3:20] the next item on our agenda, which is [3:23] the [3:24] um a formal design review and [3:27] consideration of a variance for a [3:31] property at 125 Farm Road. [3:36] And I believe that Sarah's presenting on [3:48] this Sarah and I'll just clarify this is [3:51] for designer view um a gradient [3:53] exception and a maximum resident size [3:56] exception. [4:02] » Okay, thank you. [4:04] So I will be introducing the project at [4:07] 125 Farm Road. The project includes the [4:11] construction of a new single family main [4:14] residence with an attached garage as [4:17] well as a pool house, gym, ADU, swimming [4:21] pool, sport court, and other site [4:24] improvements on a vacant lot. [4:28] The project also includes a maximum [4:30] resident size exception and a grading [4:33] exception for site grading in excess of [4:36] 1500 cubic yards. [4:40] Um the property is approximately 4.8 [4:43] acres and it's in the SCP-5 zoning [4:47] district. It's located near um Portola [4:50] Road in the southern part of town. The [4:54] site has a gradual slope um away from [4:57] the road to the back of the property [5:00] where there is a town designated stream. [5:06] Uh the as I mentioned the property is [5:08] currently vacant and the new main [5:11] residence is proposed in uh the [5:13] approximate center of the property. So [5:16] that's um on the screen that's these [5:19] structures here. [5:22] There will also be an attached garage [5:26] here. [5:28] Um and there's uh several other [5:31] accessory structures that I mentioned. [5:32] So, there's a detached garage here. Uh, [5:36] this building over here is a detached [5:38] ADU. [5:40] And then over here, we have a pool [5:42] house, [5:44] gym, and then their proposed swimming [5:47] pool. And then on this side is a sports [5:50] court. [5:53] There is an existing driveway that will [5:56] be removed and a new driveway is [5:58] proposed in the northern corner of the [6:01] property. That's up here in this corner. [6:08] The new driveway will include an autoc [6:10] court and parking areas as well as uh [6:14] firetruck turnarounds and access roads. [6:17] Um, and it'll extend to that sort this [6:20] auto court here for the detached garage [6:22] and attached garage. [6:26] There are vehicle gates proposed. One [6:28] sort of at the entrance to the property [6:30] and then um two others kind of in this [6:34] auto court area. [6:37] Um there's a number of fences proposed [6:41] um with various designs and heights. [6:52] The height of the residence will be [6:54] approximately 29.7 ft [6:58] um at the highest point. It will be [7:01] mostly single story with a modest second [7:03] story. Uh the main residence and all [7:07] accessory structures design will be [7:09] similar in style and materials and the [7:12] structures are spread throughout the [7:13] property to create a lowlying profile [7:16] and to be harmonious with the natural [7:18] features of the site. And the material [7:21] will be vertical wood siding, stone [7:24] veneer, vertical wood slat screens, um [7:28] painted metal windows and doors and [7:30] slate tile roofs. [7:33] Um and there are two exceptions as part [7:35] of the project. The first is a maximum [7:38] resident size exception. Uh this is a [7:41] formula based on the size of the lot. So [7:45] in the SCP-5 [7:47] zoning district, the maximum resident [7:49] size is 6,000 square ft. [7:52] However, the formula allows for [7:55] additional square footage depending on [7:56] the size of the lot. So, the proposed [7:59] main residence is about 7,400 square ft, [8:03] which does comply with the maximum that [8:05] they're allowed based on their lot size. [8:09] And the second exception is a grading [8:12] exception. So, the project includes [8:15] sight grading in excess of 1500 cubic [8:18] yards. The site grading is due largely [8:21] to the grading required for the [8:23] driveway. So the elevation of the road [8:26] is much higher than the elevation of [8:28] where the buildings are proposed. So [8:31] there's a sign significant amount of [8:33] grading um due to the existing terrain [8:36] and the access required onto the site. [8:40] Um engineering and planning staff have [8:42] reviewed the findings for approval of [8:44] the grading exception and recommend [8:46] approval [8:48] um as described in the draft resolution. [8:52] The project was reviewed by the ASRB in [8:56] July 2025 [8:58] and the board was supportive of the site [9:00] planning, building design, community [9:03] character and landscape elements um and [9:06] did recommend approval of the project. [9:09] Uh the grading exception does require [9:12] approval by the planning commission. [9:14] Therefore, uh the entire project shall [9:17] be reviewed by the planning commission. [9:19] So, the planning commission may approve [9:21] the project as presented in the draft [9:23] resolution. [9:25] Um, you may make changes or add [9:27] conditions of approval or deny the [9:29] project. But that uh concludes my [9:32] presentation and I'm happy to answer any [9:34] questions. Thank you. [9:37] >> So, this is where we note for the record [9:39] that during the staff presentation that [9:41] Commissioner Gar entered the room. [9:44] >> Yes. And it's noted in the minutes. [9:46] >> Thank you. [9:49] So, do any of the commissioners have [9:52] questions for Sarah? [9:56] » Start with Alex. [9:57] >> I don't have any. [9:59] >> Okay. [10:06] » Um, yes. [10:10] >> Okay. Um, if you're Um, hold on a [10:13] second. Let's see if we're done with [10:14] staff first. Um um um Matt Gar, you have [10:19] any questions for Sarah? [10:21] Okay. Um Sarah, I'm 99% sure the ent [10:27] driveway entrance that is still on Farm [10:30] Road, right? [10:31] >> Yes, that's correct. [10:32] >> It's just at the other corner of the [10:34] property. [10:35] >> Yeah, I can pull up um a plan and show [10:37] you. [10:40] Um [10:42] so this is like their existing [10:44] conditions. So right now their driveway [10:46] kind of comes in here sort of center on [10:49] the property and they're proposing to [10:52] remove that and then move it to like [10:54] this corner. But yes, both still on um [10:56] Farm Road. [11:00] » Absent. Any further questions for Sarah? [11:03] We would invite the applicant or the [11:05] applicant's architect to come up and [11:07] speak. You don't have to do so, but [11:09] you're welcome to do so if you want to [11:11] say a few words or a lot of words. [11:14] Keep it brief hopefully. [11:18] » Good evening. Um, my name is Marcus. I'm [11:20] from Arcano Architecture with the [11:21] architects on this project. Oh, [11:26] >> how about that better? [11:27] >> Oh, sure. [11:28] >> Uh, my name is Marcus. I'm from Arcano [11:30] Architecture, the architects of the [11:31] project. Um, as Sarah introduced [11:34] fantastically in this, uh, we have a a [11:36] grading issue with the site. Uh the [11:39] levels from Farm Road down to the [11:41] largely flat portion of the site are [11:43] challenging. Uh so we've relocated the [11:46] driveway as mentioned uh partly due to [11:49] um the building position which were [11:50] limited on by the uh the fault line kind [11:53] of trench investigation that was [11:55] conducted and then also on septic um [11:58] requirements. So percolation tests uh to [12:01] kind of locate that septic requirement [12:03] at the top of the site. Uh so by [12:05] shifting the driveway to the far corner, [12:08] we've tried to lower uh the actual you [12:10] know grading um levels that we're [12:13] working with. So it's the it's the [12:14] lowest corner of the site as well as [12:16] maximize the septic um allowance that we [12:20] can we can work with uh by keeping most [12:22] of the project or most of the site as [12:24] natural as possible. So, that's kind of [12:26] why the why we've moved the driveway. [12:29] And then the building itself, uh, we've [12:31] positioned to limit the amount of cut [12:33] and fill that's going on. So, we've pushed it up into the hill because [12:37] we know we're going to have to add some, [12:38] uh, some some, you know, earth to get [12:41] our driveway working. So, the goal is to [12:43] have a almost net um, even cut and fill [12:46] on the site. That's where this grading [12:48] exception is kind of coming into play. [12:51] Uh, in terms of the building itself, [12:53] we're kind of we're working with [12:54] agricultural forms. So, a number of [12:56] volumes in a courtyard uh orientation [12:59] and then several outbuildings with kind [13:01] of barnlike uh structures to kind of uh [13:05] break up the the massing and then also [13:07] lean into the the surrounding buildings [13:10] or the the agricultural um [13:13] lay of the land so to speak. Uh [13:17] that's the kind of just to you know jump [13:19] on the back of Sarah's introduction [13:21] that's the the overall picture. Um, I'm [13:23] happy to go into more of the the details [13:25] of the project. We've also got on the [13:26] call, we've got landscape architects um [13:28] from Grand Studio and we have our civil [13:30] engineers at BKF uh for more detailed [13:33] questions that I might not have the [13:34] answers to. [13:36] Thank you. [13:40] Okay. Um, [13:43] now would be the time for the [13:44] commissioners to uh what put questions [13:48] uh to the applicant if they have any. [13:52] Yeah. Hi. [13:53] >> Hi. [13:54] >> So, I I have a question regarding the [13:56] tree removal of the 54 significant [13:59] trees. I'm sorry. I I probably am not [14:02] looking and it's in the plans. Uh the [14:06] tree removal page. [14:08] >> Yeah. [14:09] >> Do you know which one that might be? [14:10] >> Uh A2. We've got the existing plan and [14:13] then A3 uh is our proposed. So A3 is [14:17] probably our friendliest one there. Can [14:19] you repeat that, please? [14:20] >> A 03. [14:21] >> A Z3. [14:22] >> Yes. [14:25] >> I noticed that uh you're planning a lot [14:28] of bushes [14:30] um along the bottom section of Farm [14:34] Road. [14:34] >> Mhm. [14:38] » And how high are those [14:41] when mature? [14:43] I am going to let uh our friends at [14:47] ground studio pop in that one. Uh the [14:49] landscape architects on the page. Have [14:51] we got uh yeah Johnson will jump in [14:53] here? [15:02] So if you could help me which area has [15:05] the majority of trees removed? [15:09] >> Uh it will be along the the northern [15:11] boundary. So along along Farm Road, [15:14] there's a [15:16] >> That's right. So along Farm Road and the [15:18] common uh the common property line on [15:20] the north side as well as there's some [15:22] removals that need to take place on the [15:24] western side. A majority of the trees [15:27] that were removed almost in their [15:29] entirety. Uh you'll note uh along with [15:32] the corresponding arburous report are [15:34] trees that are in very poor health. And [15:37] actually since we have submitted for and [15:40] our our our initial set of documents, [15:42] there are several trees that have come [15:43] down on site of their own valition. Uh a [15:47] lot of this has to do with uh either [15:50] mistakes in planting trees long ago. [15:52] There's some African pines and there's [15:54] some eucalyptus trees on site that were [15:56] simply planted too closely together and [15:58] they've colonized um through the [16:00] agricultural use. Over time, as you [16:02] know, seeds get dispersed along fence [16:04] lines. And so, there's a very dense [16:07] collection of trees. And so, uh, as part [16:10] of our our urban forest best management [16:13] practices, we are doing we're proposing [16:16] some selective thinning of ailing trees. [16:19] Uh, and along with the on the tree [16:21] removal sheet, you can see the reasons [16:23] listed in the arborist report for those [16:25] trees coming down. So, yes, the number [16:26] is the number is what the number is. Um [16:29] but we feel very strongly that the moves [16:32] that we're making to protect the health [16:34] of the overall urban forest specifically [16:36] along common property lines um are meant [16:39] to enhance viewsheds rather than create [16:41] these you know uh unsightly barriers. So [16:44] to answer your question the largest [16:46] plants that we have uh currently planned [16:49] for common boundaries um would be in the [16:51] 7 to9 foot range. [16:56] » So in yellow would be 7 to 9 foot range. [16:58] Oh, excuse me. Sorry. That those those [17:00] trees we're thinking of of those as [17:02] ornamental olive trees that we would [17:04] keep in the 12 to 15 foot range. [17:08] >> And those are uh on the hill obviously [17:11] down at the the toe of the slope as you [17:13] head um head towards the house. [17:20] » All right. Thanks. [17:21] >> Mhm. And just to clarify um for the [17:24] record while we have you here, it's 54 [17:27] trees, not necessarily 54 significant [17:30] trees. [17:30] >> That's correct. [17:31] >> Okay. [17:36] » Uh gentleman was mentioning that uh [17:39] these a lot of them are unhealthy trees. [17:43] >> That's correct. [17:46] >> Be large and unhealthy. Significant and [17:48] unhealthy. [17:50] Um, Sage, how are um how are the trees counted in a report [17:57] like this? [18:00] You will have your number of trees and [18:03] then sometimes not all of them are [18:05] significant. So let's look at I think [18:08] what we're looking at uh AO2 I think. [18:14] » Yeah. So [18:16] AO2 will show the diameter size of the [18:20] different trees. Um [18:24] and they use the word protected or not [18:27] protected under significance. Uh so I [18:31] believe there will be some that for removal that [18:38] are not significant trees. There will be [18:40] a handful of those. [18:42] >> Right? Because where I get confused and [18:44] then you could perhaps educate me on [18:46] this is that [18:49] I would consider a significant tree in [18:52] the context of something that would [18:53] require a tree destruction permit from [18:55] the town if I were just doing [18:57] maintenance of my uh you know property. [19:00] >> You're exactly correct. So uh there's [19:03] three categories of significant trees. [19:06] Um there's a short list of fast growing [19:08] natives, a short list of slow growing [19:10] natives, and then there's everything [19:12] else. Um and so those three different [19:15] categories have different diameter size, [19:18] what is determined to be significant, [19:20] and you are correct that if you were not [19:22] deemed significant, it would not require [19:25] a tree destruction permit by the town. [19:27] So, there are a handful of trees here [19:29] that would not require a permit um if [19:31] they did not meet those size uh restrict [19:34] our size minimums. [19:41] Other questions for the applicant? [19:49] » Commissioner Appfell. [19:52] >> No, no questions from my end. Thank you. [19:56] Um [19:58] given that um if there are no further [20:00] questions for the applicant, we can go [20:03] ahead and move on to the public comment [20:05] period. [20:07] If there are members of the public [20:09] either in the room, which seems to be [20:12] the uh the empty set or anyone online [20:16] that would like to comment on this, now [20:18] would be your time to uh speak up. [20:22] And as a reminder for those online, [20:24] please use the raised hand feature if [20:26] you'd like to make a comment. [20:32] » There are no raised hands. [20:34] >> Given that we will close the public [20:36] comment period and move on to [20:38] commissioner deliberation. [20:40] And I invite Commissioner Gar to start. [20:45] Sure. Um, so I mean looking at it, I [20:48] guess a number of things, you know, as [20:49] far as the grading in particular, it's [20:52] basically [20:53] >> if you could speak into the microphone, [20:54] just make sure everyone on Zoom here is [20:56] listening. Is it There we go. Um, [20:59] the the volumes are relatively balanced, [21:02] so there's not a lot of inflow outflow. [21:04] So I think that's great. We talk [21:06] sometimes about, you know, lots of [21:07] trucks and traffic and road damage. So [21:10] this will all sort of be contained on [21:11] site, which seems good. Um I mean it [21:13] looks like the area that we're [21:15] traversing of the high slope is as far [21:18] as I understand it kind of condition [21:19] coming off of the road that was graded [21:21] previously. Uh so kind of going over [21:24] that seems fine. We also you know in [21:26] many cases have looked at 35% and found [21:30] it acceptable as well. So it seems [21:32] pretty uncontroversial. I mean I agree [21:34] on the ASRB [21:36] uh findings in general in the house is I [21:38] think quite tasteful. blends in like a [21:40] lot of square footage but looks kind of [21:42] it I sort of it fades in nicely. It's [21:45] kind of like almost like type of design [21:47] which which is kind of cool. And so from [21:50] my perspective it seems it seems pretty [21:52] reasonable. [22:02] » Richard, do you have any comments? [22:05] >> No negative comments this time. [22:11] Alex, [22:13] >> no I don't. I think I I follow the [22:15] staff's rationale on the formal design [22:17] review with regards to community [22:19] character and [22:21] site planning. I think the site planning [22:23] has some constraints [22:26] with regards to the building design and [22:28] the landscape elements. I think with [22:30] regards to the two exceptions [22:33] on resident size, I mean it's within the [22:36] >> Sorry again. you just speak into the [22:38] microphone. The people on Zoom can hear. [22:40] >> I think with regards to the exceptions [22:42] um it's with it's within the [22:46] um within the except with within the [22:49] exception [22:51] um and then under grading as Matt said, [22:54] I mean it's [22:56] it nets out. So good. [23:00] >> Commissioner, [23:03] >> I have nothing substantive to add to my [23:05] fellow commissioners. I'm uh very [23:07] supportive of the project. [23:10] >> I will just echo what Commissioner Afel [23:12] said. I'm supportive of the project and [23:14] can make the findings. [23:17] >> So given that we could entertain a [23:19] motion to approve the draft resolution. [23:23] >> So moved. [23:27] » And I second. [23:32] » Chair Weaver. [23:33] >> Yes. [23:33] >> Vice Chair Gar. [23:34] >> Yes. Commissioner Appfell, [23:37] >> yes. [23:37] >> Commissioner Gonerko, [23:38] >> yes. [23:39] >> And Commissioner Tober, [23:40] >> yes. [23:42] >> All right, [23:44] that takes care of that item. And moving [23:48] on, Sage, do you have anything for us [23:50] tonight? [23:50] >> Um, first, I'll just note that there is [23:52] a 10-day appeal period. And if anyone [23:54] would like to appeal the decision of the [23:56] planning commission, uh, please see the [23:57] deputy uh, town clerk. Um, and [24:00] >> there is a fee involved for appealing. [24:02] >> Yes. Yes. Thank you. Um, and as far as [24:06] you do have two director's reports from [24:07] November and December in your packet. [24:10] Um, I'll just go to the December one. [24:13] Most notably, something that's kind of [24:15] this nice new inclusion into these [24:17] reports are what our housing numbers [24:20] are. And so we completed 2025. So, um, [24:26] we can note that the town had a total [24:29] of, let me double check on my head, uh, [24:32] 11 single family dwellings, which is [24:34] actually a little bit higher than [24:36] typical. Typical or a little bit close [24:38] to 10 or under 10. Um, and then we had, [24:42] uh, 23 accessory dwelling units, hoping [24:45] for that 25, but we did get to 23. And, [24:48] um, that is also a fair number. Um we [24:52] have been kind of hovering around the 20 [24:54] to 23 range over the last few years. Uh [24:58] if everyone may recall that our housing [25:01] element targeted 15 per year for ADUs. [25:04] Um so we've always uh for every year of [25:07] this housing element cycle, we have been [25:09] um well above that 15 number. So that's [25:12] good news for the town. Uh well that's [25:15] good news. There's still a ways to go um [25:17] through this cycle. we still need to uh [25:20] have varied types of housing throughout [25:22] the town. So town will continue to [25:24] pursue the different programs and [25:26] strategies within the housing element. [25:28] Um but it is nice to report that those [25:31] numbers for single family dwellings and [25:33] ADUs um are at or above where we would [25:37] expect them to be. [25:38] >> As are those the SFRs are all net new? [25:41] >> Uh they're I wouldn't say net new. um [25:44] the the HCD uh used to count finaled [25:49] permits and they would do a net [25:52] calculation. Um so demolished versus uh [25:56] what's new. Um they still have you track [25:59] the demolished units although that does [26:01] not come into play with regards to units [26:04] being counted towards your arena [26:05] numbers. And so and also the numbers uh [26:09] now are counted based on permits issued [26:12] as opposed to permits final. Um and so [26:16] there's a a bit of a different [26:17] methodology. So sometimes people will [26:20] gasp and maybe should at the larger uh [26:23] allocations distributed to the different [26:25] jurisdictions noting that there is some [26:28] slight changes in how units are counted [26:31] uh which would be to the benefit of [26:32] jurisdictions being able to just count [26:34] all new units. [26:37] >> So the 11 and 23 are issued [26:40] >> those are all permits issued in 2025. [26:43] Yep. [26:46] Um, and with that, um, yeah, I mean, [26:49] you'll see the valuations and permits [26:50] listed. You know, we continue to keep [26:52] busy. Uh, we've just received, um, I [26:55] don't know, four or five planning [26:57] applications in the last, uh, two to [26:59] three weeks, um, extending back to right [27:01] before the break. So, uh, there will [27:04] still be more stuff. and uh been working [27:07] with the town manager and town [27:08] attorney's office and we're focusing on [27:10] some goals um many of which will be come [27:13] before the planning commission this year [27:15] and uh some which will likely be in the [27:18] first quarter of this year [27:21] >> and then we will definitely be having [27:23] another meeting next week. [27:25] >> Um no. [27:27] >> Okay. [27:27] >> No, next week has been cancelled. The [27:29] next meeting is scheduled for February [27:31] 4. [27:32] >> Okay. [27:32] >> Yeah. So that concludes my report. [27:35] >> We don't have it. [27:38] >> Okay. Um [27:40] >> does that mean it may or may not happen? [27:42] >> It means uh we don't have any items [27:44] confirmed yet for the February 4th um [27:46] meeting. Um we'll know two Fridays. I [27:49] think two Fridays before then we'll have [27:51] it confirmed. [27:53] >> Did anyone else have anything for Sage [27:55] or staff? [27:58] >> Nothing for me. [27:59] >> Oh, sorry. Um yes, thank you. There's [28:01] just one more thing I'd like to report [28:03] um that some commissioners are probably [28:05] aware of. Um for districts, one in three [28:08] of our planning commissioners, so [28:09] Commissioner Gar and Commissioner [28:11] Appfell terms are expiring here in [28:14] February. And so those um the town is [28:18] accepting applications for those that [28:20] are due by February 4th. So this is for [28:23] districts one and three. Um [28:27] so uh if you know anyone in those [28:28] districts who would like to apply uh [28:31] there is a provision that the council [28:33] can point someone out of district with a [28:35] four-fifths vote. Um they probably [28:38] usually tend to defer to folks who are [28:40] in the districts but um if there are [28:42] none who apply within the districts uh [28:44] they would likely consider some other [28:46] alternatives. [28:50] » All right with that we will close [28:52] tonight's meeting. Thank you very much [28:53] everybody.