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Committee says Stanford has applied for permits, schedules subcommittee site walk for Portola Terrace
Summary
Portola Valley Trails & Paths Committee was told Stanford submitted permits for tree removal and baseline grading at Portola Terrace and invited a limited subcommittee walk; building and planning has not yet distributed updated trail plans and residents noted some clearing has occurred without permits.
The Trails & Paths Committee of Portola Valley was briefed that Stanford University has submitted permits for tree removal and baseline grading at the Portola Terrace property and that a temporary fence, installed without a finalized permit, was later removed pending permit issuance.
The committee chair said Stanford is coordinating with conservation consultants on bird protections and has marked a proposed Alpine Trail route. Committee members Fred and Joe and the chair were invited to a limited site walk "on the 25th," with a noon—4 p.m. window and chair availability limited to noon—2 p.m. Building and planning has not yet provided the committee with the most recent set of plans showing trail locations, the chair said, so the subcommittees purpose is to compare Stanfords marked trails to the submitted plans and give initial feedback.
The visit is part of an early-stage review; the chair emphasized that formal committee recommendations will follow only after the project reaches the planning commission or town council. "This is not the end," the chair said, describing the walk as an initial step that will be agendaized at the committee's next meeting for discussion and to determine any recommended changes to trail alignment or construction.
A resident speaking during public comment said the property already looks "very naked" and expressed concern that work had taken place despite permits not yet being issued. The chair directed residents to the town building and planning web page, maintained by Building & Planning Director Sarah Wernov, for the most up-to-date project status.
Committee members noted a separate town agreement with Stanford to review possible post-construction trail additions; that broader discussion will occur through the planning process and could involve the public at later walkthroughs. The committee plans to review Stanford's materials after the subcommittee walk and to place the item on a future meeting agenda to prepare any recommendations to the planning commission or the council.
