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Published on 04/27/1998 All articles from this issue

County considers building moratorium for country club area

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Town Crier Staff Report

Construction may be about to take an enforced pause in the unincorporated areas of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.

Santa Clara County Supervisors considered an urgent interim moratorium yesterday on new-house construction in the unincorporated areas around the Los Altos Golf & Country Club on lots that do not meet the minimum lot size under current zoning. "A moratorium is not something I undertake lightly," said supervisor Joe Simitian, who represents the Los Altos area and proposed the moratorium at Tuesday's meeting of the county supervisors.

During the moratorium, which would be a minimum of 45 days if passed but could last up to two years, Simitian's goal is to find common ground for design guidelines for smaller lots. He hopes a document can be prepared that is "respectful of both the neighbors and the developers/land owners," he said.

The proposed moratorium grew from increasing frustration of long-time residents in the area from Magdalena to Loyola, from Foothill Expressway to both sides of Highway 280. Many in this area belong to the San Antonio Hills Homeowners' Association, which has been using lawsuits for years to try and control development.