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Published on 07/27/1998 All articles from this issue

Tree Farm project faces final review

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Correction

After 18 months of plans, hearings, changes and more plans, the Tree Farm project is scheduled for phase II final design review at the Aug. 18 city council meeting.

The 4.7-acre project on El Camino Real, between Los Altos Avenue and San Antonio Road in Los Altos, includes a three-story office building, a 130-unit three-story residence inn and eight below-market-rate rental condos.

On July 16 the planning commission voted to recommend approval, with some modifications, to the city council.

Several residents spoke at the planning commission meeting, said planning director Larry Tong.

The developers have installed a 12-foot cement wall, at the neighbors' request, that runs along the boundary lines between neighboring properties and the Tree Farm.

Residents "expressed pleasure that the wall is up and that they're happy with the project," Tong said.

"It shields them from noise," said Ray Avenue resident Monica Spiller. "It's a buffer - against the construction, not against neighbors," Spiller said.

The planning commission recommended lowering the wall to 6 feet along one neighbor's property, at the neighbor's request. He had said he thought the wall at 12 feet would "look like a fort."

Jim Mackenzie, Los Altos senior planner, described the changes as "nothing significant."

The adjustments include: adding details to the inn to make it more residential; using more turf block to reduce the amount of paving.

The city council meets at 7:30 p.m. in city hall, 1 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos.