Planning commission approves Filoli entrance upgrades on Canada Road

The San Mateo County Planning Commission on Sept. 10 approved a Filoli Estates project to widen the driveway at the Canada Road entrance, install a new gate and 11-foot-high sign, add five downward-directed light posts and perform grading and drainage work, finding the proposal categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.

The action (county file PLN202400109) implements what Filoli said are safety, stormwater and aesthetic improvements to the driveway immediately off Kenyatta Road. Camille Loom, the project planner, told the commission the application included a biologist’s report with avoidance and mitigation measures and called for conditions of approval in attachment A. Loom read grading quantities into the record: "853 cubic yards of cut and 855 cubic yards of fill for nonroad improvements, mostly drainage improvements, and 22 cubic yards of cut and 314 cubic yards of fill for road improvements." Loom also noted the applicant reduced the proposed lighting from 11 posts to 5 after county concerns about ambient light.

Why it matters: Filoli is a well‑visited historic estate on the county’s Midpeninsula. Commissioners and the applicant framed the project as intended to reduce conflicts among cars, tour buses, bicyclists and pedestrians at a constrained entrance, to repair a frequently flooding section of driveway and to improve the property’s visual gateway.

Project details and discussion

Alex Fernandez, chief operating officer of Filoli, said the proposal is "fourfold: safety, ... stormwater runoff management, nighttime visibility ... and ultimate beautification." Fernandez told commissioners Filoli’s regular visiting hours are "10 till 5, although we do have evening events," and that the estate hosts concerts, weddings and a summer nights program that require occasional extended hours. He said the paving and grading work aims to smooth sudden drop-offs at the apron and shoulder erosion caused by the existing drainage failures. Fernandez also said Filoli will remain open during construction and that contractors expect a roughly four‑month schedule with traffic control to maintain at least one lane for visitors.

The plans show an existing chain‑link booth will be removed, a new 6-foot‑10‑inch gate and painted wooden posts to match the fencing will be installed, and a new 11‑foot sign will replace a shorter existing sign. The application identifies the City and County of San Francisco (San Francisco Public Utilities Commission) as the property owner for the right-of-way; the applicant listed Sean Logan on the cover sheet and Fernandez spoke for Filoli at the hearing. The project includes a drainage retention area to capture and infiltrate surface runoff, and staff said building permits will follow the county’s grading and resource approvals.

Lighting and dark‑sky concerns

Commissioners pressed the applicant on lighting hours and intensity. Loom described a dimming schedule in the conditions: the five 20‑foot posts are downward directed, are set to turn on about 20 minutes before sunset, dim at 11 p.m. to about 40–50% output except for the two posts closest to Canada Road (which dim later), and turn off 20 minutes after sunrise. Fernandez said the lights serve both safety and security functions: "it's more about security. SFPUC was really interested about security... there are some activities that go on at Canada Road, later on at night," and Filoli staff said the lighting will be managed for events that run later than the property’s usual hours.

Public comment and commission reaction

Sydney Leung, a Woodside resident and vice chair of the board (speaker slip), spoke in support, citing safety and beautification. Several commissioners praised the design. Commissioner Garcia, who identified herself as a landscape architect, said the plan is "understated, and it's appropriate for the site" and that the driveway improvements and tree protections appeared thoughtfully handled. Commissioners also flagged that two London plane/sycamore trees at the entrance are proposed for removal; Fernandez and staff said the trees' removal remains under discussion with San Francisco PUC biologists and that trees removed will be replaced per conditions.

Action and permitting

Commissioner Gupta moved to find the project categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines sections 15301 and 15303 and to approve the resource management permit, grading permit and architectural review permit exemption for county file PLN202400109, adopting the findings and conditions in attachment A; Commissioner Garcia seconded. The motion passed unanimously (Commissioners Garcia, Gupta, Nugent and Chair Serrano Quan voting yes). The approval record cites CEQA Guidelines sections 15301 (existing facilities) and 15303 (new construction) and attaches conditions intended to implement the project’s avoidance and mitigation measures.

What remains

Staff and the applicant said the San Francisco PUC must provide a letter of consent for work in the PUC right‑of‑way, and the project will require subsequent building permits. Filoli also has operated a temporary‑event program on site; staff noted those temporary permits require restoration and that Filoli has applied to make the entrance improvements permanent but that the county application is not yet complete.

Files and identifiers: county file PLN202400109; APNs 093090070 and 093102110.