Neighbors critique Stanford's land plan
Some wish proposal called for permanent protection of space

By Anne Rochell Konigsmark

Santa Clara County's proposal to extend open-space protections in Stanford's development plan is a step in the right direction, but doesn't go far enough, according to some who spoke at a packed public hearing Thursday night.

Members of the Stanford Open Space Alliance and other groups told the Santa Clara County Planning Commission that the university should commit to permanent protection of its existing open space, particularly the 2,000 acres of foothills on the edge of campus. Stanford, in its plan submitted last fall, said the foothill area would remain untouched for 10 years. The county is recommending 25 years of preservation.

"We're hoping the county will come up with a maximum build-out plan," said Peter Drekmeier, director of the Stanford Open Space Alliance.

Further, Drekmeier called the guidelines for the 25-year academic growth boundary, which limits where Stanford can build on its 8,000-acre campus, "weak and misleading."

That's because Stanford may not have to wait 25 years before it can propose encroaching into areas now designated as open space, he and other critics say. Stanford can ask for more developable space once the university has built an additional 5 million square feet of academic buildings within the current academic growth boundary. The county and Stanford estimate that it will take 25 years to reach that density level, but critics say Stanford's stepped-up development plans make it possible that the university could be asking for more space in 15 years.

Stanford is proposing to build 4 million square feet of academic space and housing in the next decade. That's as large as three Stanford Shopping Centers, and would increase density on campus by a third.

Speakers applauded the county recommendation to forbid "new net commute trips," or increased traffic, as a result of development.

And they approved the county's recommendation that housing development be linked to academic development. Stanford, however, said that would be too limiting on academic development.

Golfers approved of the county's call to preserve most of Stanford's historic golf course, which the university wanted to include within the developable area. But the county's preliminary recommendation says Stanford may develop housing where the first hole of the private, 18-hole course is now located. The hole would be moved.

"The county has moved 17/18ths of the way toward what the golfers want," said Richard Harris of Save Stanford Golf Course. "Now the issue is the first hole. We disagree that the first hole is the only place to build more housing."

Although most of the approximately 200 at the hearing had concerns about Stanford's development, some residents spoke in favor of the university's plan.

"Stanford has a good custodial track record," said Mark Savin, a Palo Alto resident.

This is the first time in more than 100 years that Stanford, the largest landowner on the Peninsula, has had to submit plans to the county for its future growth. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will adopt or reject Stanford's plan in October.