The El Camino Real branch of Wells Fargo Bank was robbed at 3:50 p.m., July 3.
Police said a blond, white male in his 30s came into the bank located at 4540 El Camino Real at San Antonio Road. He presented a note to a teller and demanded money.
He left with an "undisclosed amount of cash," police said.
This is the fifth bank robbery this year in Los Altos, police said. The downtown Wells Fargo branch was robbed in February and June; the San Antonio Road Bank of America was robbed in May and June.
This most recent robbery "doesn't match anything we have," said Sgt. Mark Macaulay of the Los Altos Police Department.
Bank robberies are happening at about the same rate in 1999 as in 1998, police said. In 1998, there were 10 for the year; in 1997, 12; in 1996, 14; in 1995, 18; and in 1994, 23.
Commission considers one-story zoning
The Los Altos Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the possibility of one-story overlay zoning at its meeting 7:30 p.m., Thursday, in the city council chambers, 1 N. San Antonio Road.
The city council asked the planning commission to "look at residential design guideline alternatives, in addition to suggestions from the task force," said Larry Tong, Los Altos planning director. This is one of those alternatives.
During the past year, a 15-member task force reviewed the city's residential design guidelines. The issue that defied resolution was that neighbors in some one-story neighborhoods did not want two-story additions to houses on their streets.
Many neighborhoods in town have petitioned the city for a one-story overlay zone, where individual neighborhoods could decide if they wanted two-story additions.
The planning commission will be considering this option as well as numerous other alternatives.
Development proposals for First, Main streets
Los Altos City Manager Phil Rose will be reviewing the development proposals for the city-owned corner at First and Main streets.
The city received eight proposals by the May 14 deadline. In an executive session, the council asked Rose to review and report. Because of work on the city budget and possible ballot measure, Rose said he has not yet "gotten through a first round of reviews."
Rose said he expects to make a presentation to the council in an executive session on July 27.
The proposals, which range from a parking structure to a hotel, will have a major impact on downtown, said Mayor Lou Becker.
Sheriff's D.A.R.E. car wins award
The 1992 Santa Clara County Sheriff's Sharks D.A.R.E. car recently won third place in the 1999 International Best Police Vehicle Design Competition.
More than 400 entries competed for the prizes. The Sharks car won $100, which the sheriff's office will donate to the Special Olympics.
D.A.R.E. is an anti-drug education program for school districts that is run by law enforcement agencies.
Supes give $50,000 to Deer Hollow Farm
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors awarded a $50,000 grant to fund continued operations at Deer Hollow Farm, located on the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve.
"By giving local kids access to environmental education programs, Deer Hollow Farm helps develop the environmental stewards of tomorrow," said Supervisor Joe Simitian, who represents the Los Altos area.
Over the past five years, the county has contributed $250,000 to Deer Hollow's operations. Deer Hollow is operated by the city of Mountain View with partial funding by the county, on land owned by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, adjacent to Rancho San Antonio County Park. The Farm is open to the public.
- Joanne Griffith Domingue