Hearing officer approves landscape screening, fencing and conditions for 13021 North Alta Lane in Los Altos Hills

A Los Altos Hills hearing officer approved a site-development permit on Feb. 3 for landscape screening and related minor hardscape at 13021 North Alta Lane, finding the project eligible for a categorical exemption under CEQA section 15.304(b) and imposing project-specific conditions.

Jonathan Fox, the town project planner, described this as the second public hearing for the property’s landscape screening, following approval of the main residence in 2023. Fox said the revised plan emphasizes California-native plant species (about 70 percent of the species in the current plan), fills gaps in vegetation along Alta Tierra and North Alta Lane, and adds a new vehicle gate and open-style metal perimeter fencing. Planting notes include five 36-inch-box strawberry trees, seven 24-inch-box coast live oaks, a 24-inch red oak and approximately 45 Toyon shrubs in 15-gallon containers.

Neighbors and volunteer committees had raised concerns about visibility at the intersection of North Alta Lane and Alta Tierra, drainage at that corner, and the health of a 42-inch blue oak in the rear yard. Fox summarized committee input and staff’s changes: moving several plantings upslope to improve sightlines, increasing vertical spacing between shrubs and trees, and addressing drainage. "I think they've provided a calculation here that 70% of the species are gonna be native," Fox said during his presentation.

Staff recommended conditions that the hearing officer adopted: removal of the eucalyptus identified as tree number 30 in the front yard; an arborist evaluation and recommendations to protect and improve the health of the 42-inch blue oak; trimming or removal of vegetation that obstructs the vision triangle at North Alta Lane and Alta Tierra; outdoor lighting at the gate and mailbox that complies with the town’s outdoor-lighting policy; reduction of the gate-column height to 6 feet or less at the roadway-facing location; submission of revised grading and drainage plans addressing the intersection; removal of all oleanders on the subject property; adjustments to the red oak location to mitigate views from properties to the north; and a recommendation to alternate Toyon plantings with another California-native evergreen shrub.

Residents asked about planting sizes, whether strawberry trees would block views, and whether any additional trees could be planted near the blue oak to provide backup screening. The applicant’s representative agreed to inventory existing plantings and remove oleanders on the subject property, and staff said that the transformer location is not yet approved by PG&E and remains subject to utility review.

Hearing Officer Jay Bradford said the project had addressed the committee and neighbor concerns and approved the site-development permit with the listed project-specific conditions and the town’s standard conditions. The approval is subject to a 14-day appeal period.