Council adopts multifamily rezones for Raymundo and Canada College overlay

The Woodside Town Council voted to adopt a package of zoning ordinance amendments that add a new multifamily zoning district and apply multifamily overlays to portions of Canada College and other parcels, including the Raymundo Drive parcel (APN 072-041-040). The council approved the ordinances 4–2 after public comment raised safety, grading and infrastructure concerns.

Staff and outside counsel reiterated that the programmatic EIR adopted for the housing element does not preclude project-level CEQA review; Matt Francois, outside counsel, said a project-level analysis is required when a specific development seeks discretionary approvals. The council also directed staff to examine additional egress options for the Raymundo parcel and to explore possible steering-committee-style public engagement for town-owned sites.

Residents argued at length that the Raymundo area is already served by a single fire apparatus road and said adding units would exceed fire-code thresholds for dwellings on a single apparatus road. Town staff and the town attorney said the fire code section referenced (D107) generally triggers a second-access requirement when a single parcel proposes 30 or more one- or two-family dwelling units, while acknowledging community worries about evacuation and urging further study.

The ordinances rezoned multiple parcels and added development standards for the new multifamily district; council members said additional design standards, slope and grading rules, and traffic/utility infrastructure will be handled during subsequent project review and RFP processes. The council also asked staff to begin RFP planning in 2025 and to prioritize a drainage master plan and egress studies where needed.