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Published on 07/13/1998 All articles from this issue

LAH council questions questionnaire

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By Carol Tiegs

Special to the Town Crier

Request to change Morgan Manor's historic designation

A questionnaire developed by the town's Community Relations Committee to solicit feedback on town services will be reconsidered at the Aug. 19 meeting of the Los Altos Town Council.

The committee received feedback on a second draft of the proposed questionnaire from the three council members present at the July 15 council meeting: Elayne Dauber, Sid Hubbard and Bob Johnson. The council members debated the merits of the questionnaire.

Dauber expressed concern that "it sets up false expectations that something will be done (in the case of complaints)." She suggested a book, available at Town Hall, that would list specific suggestions made and the town's responses. This works well in the library system, she said.

City Manager Jeff Peterson agreed that "there are many reasons behind complaints, and many problems can't be changed by a single person."

Council members on July 15 agreed to wait until the full council could discuss the issue before giving further direction to the Community Relations Committee.

At the request of owners Victor and Jacy Meshkovsky, the council agreed to hold a public hearing at its Aug. 19 meeting on changing the historical designation granted to their property in 1993.

The Meshkovsky's own Morgan Manor, located at 12335 Stonebrook Court.

Built in 1914-15, the residence and former day school is one of the unique estates built on the Peninsula following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

The 1993 historical designation applies to the Meschkovsky's property as well as the Morgan Manor building. The Meschkosky's plan to sell the property.

One interested buyer wishes to clarify that the designation applies merely to Morgan Manor and a specific amount of property surrounding it rather than to the entire estate. This would mean the remaining property could potentially be subdivided in the future.

City Attorney Sandy Sloan told the council that the same notice and public hearing process necessary to create a historical designation was required to amend or cancel that designation.

The Los Altos Hills Town Council will not meet on Aug. 5. It is next scheduled to meet on Aug. 19.