Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 03/16/1998 All articles from this issue

Congregation Beth Am expansion approved

printer friendly version

By Carol Tiegs / Town Crier Staff Writer

Congregation Beth Am received conditional use and site development permits for construction at its 26790 Arastradero Road location from the Los Altos Hills Town Council March 18.

Plans call for construction of a new 7,050-square-foot multipurpose building, including 4,250 square feet of classroom and administrative office additions to the two existing classroom wings. The project includes 12,330 square feet of patios and walkways and 45,700 square feet of parking area.

Rabbi Richard Block and Richard Rudman, chairman of the congregation's facilities steering committee, said the additions are designed to alleviate overcrowding in existing classrooms and provide additional meeting space. Congregation Beth Am now includes approximately 1,200 families and has grown at a rate of about 1 percent per year for the past 10 years.

The congregation's application was the subject of planning commission hearings on Jan. 28 and Feb. 11 where neighbors expressed concerns about lighting, landscaping, traffic and drainage.

As one of the conditions for approval of the permits, the project now includes a catch pond to prevent increased flow along a drainage channel that runs through several neighboring properties.

The planning commission recommended approval of the permits on Feb. 25.

Town Planning Director said construction on the property could begin this summer.

On March 18 the town council also approved adoption of the housing portion of the town's general plan. Measures to encourage secondary housing units are key factors in this portion of the general plan, the only element that must receive state certification.

The goal of the state-mandated housing element is to insure affordable housing in California communities.