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Published on 12/08/1999 All articles from this issue

LAH council to allow foundation meetings on Packard property meetings

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By Leslie K. Martin / Town Crier Staff Writer

Los Altos Hills City Council covered a lot of territory at last Thursday's meeting. Business moved from granting historic preservation for Morgan Manor to conditional use of residential property for non-profit meetings and a new look for the town's Web site.

Councilman Bill Siegel summarized the night's work: "This has really been a remarkable evening ... we put heritage preservation on Manor Mansion, and now we preserve the Packard Foundation property. If the rest of the session goes as well, we're in good condition."

The council unanimously approved historic preservation of Morgan Manor on Stonebrook Court. According to the staff report, this resolution allows owners Kelly and Christina Porter to "retain and enhance the historic character of the home" and provides "a tax benefit in exchange for maintenance of the manor consistent with its historic designation."

Attorneys for the Packard Trust and the Packard Foundation worked with the city attorney on two agenda items requesting permission to hold board and committee meetings at the Packard home on Taaffe Road. The council again unanimously agreed to amend a zoning code ordinance to allow the use of a single-family residence for meetings of non-profit charitable organizations. The amendment allows limited conditions and requires a use permit.

The Packard Foundation held neighborhood meetings to discuss the proposals with about 100 Hills' residents. The general consensus was favorable.

Councilmembers Toni Casey and Steve Finn pushed for leniency on what they believed were restrictive conditions. Councilman Bob Johnson said he believed it was important to stick with what the Foundation had worked out with staff and had presented to residents.

The conditions include setting aside the property's apricot orchard as a conservation easement, pathways construction and a limit of six meetings per year with no more than three consecutive days of use.

The meeting concluded with Councilman Johnson inviting residents to visit the newly renovated city Web site at: www.losaltoshills.ca.gov/index.html.

To date, City Clerk Pat Dowd has received only one application for the city council seat due to be vacated by Councilmember WilliamSiegel in Jan. So far, the lone, brave applicant is Jim Steiner. Applications must be filed no later than Dec. 10. For more information, call 941-7222, or pick up an application in person at the Los Altos Hills Town Hall, at 26379 Fremont Road.

Next week's Town Crier will cover discussion on agenda items for town hall renovation and garbage can fees.