This week's update:
NEW Housing Element-Related Materials and Meeting Schedule
NEW! FAQ on the Housing Element update and related environmental review process
The tentative public meeting schedule has changed – see revised dates below:
• January 24, 2023 – Planning Commission review of Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (ISMND) and response to comments
• January 25, 2023 – Town Council review of work program and schedule
• Additional meetings TBD
To stay up to date on the process, please sign up for Town eNotices and choose Housing (calendar) and Housing News.
Useful Links:
Town's Housing Element Update webpage
Town's Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee's webpage
DATE EXTENDED - Apply to be an Architectural and Site Control Commissioner by January 27
The Portola Valley Town Council is seeking two volunteers to serve on the Town's Architectural and Site Control Commission (ASCC). One of these term’s expires in December 2023 and the other expires in December 2024.
The ASCC consists of five members appointed by the Town Council, and meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. The ASCC is charged with the review and approval of design review applications and site development permits, including applications for new homes, second units, larger additions, second-story additions, and commercial buildings. In addition, the ASCC provides comments on conditional use permits, subdivisions, variances, and other matters referred by the Town Council, the Planning Commission, or Town Staff.
To apply, please submit a letter of interest to the Town Council to towncenter@portolavalley.net by 5:00 pm on January 27, 2023. The Town Council will conduct interviews and appoint new members at a scheduled meeting during the week of January 30, 2023. This time is TBD, dependent on the number of interviews to be conducted. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Town Clerk, Melissa Thurman at towncenter@portolavalley.net.
Storm Information
Stay informed of current and forecast conditions. Monitor changes in the weather forecast. Get notifications for storm emergencies by signing up for the SMC Alert Emergency Notification System and look up your zone at the Emergency tracking system if you need updates on local road closures, warnings, evacuations, and more at community.zonehaven.com
Report damage. For issues such as flooding in the street, downed trees, or other storm-related damages please report them to the Portola Valley reporting system requests to the PV Connect
For other ways to be storm-ready, visit our website at Winter Storm Preparedness | Portola Valley, CA
Wildfire Preparedness Committee Tip - Understanding the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
The Wildfire Preparedness Committee has created a series of tips to help the community prepare for wildfire season. You can see the current tip and download any past tips on the website.
Sheriff’s Contract Update – Share Your Thoughts
What are your public safety concerns? How would you like to see public safety enhanced in Portola Valley? What public safety efforts in Portola Valley are working well?
The 5-year public safety agreement between the Town of Portola Valley and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office expires in June 2023. The Town needs input from Portola Valley community members as it enters into discussions with the Sheriff’s Office about a new public safety contract.
There are several opportunities for you to provide input on your feelings about public safety. This input will be used to inform discussions about a new contract:
Learn how you can participate in the process
Draft Safety Element Available for Review
The Public Review Draft of the Safety Element is available for review and public comment. The Town’s technical team, including staff and consultants, have developed this draft based on the content of the existing Safety Element, State law, guidance from the State and regional agencies, and best practices. This draft was guided by preliminary comments received from the Sustainability Committee, Geologic Safety Committee, and Emergency Preparedness Committee on early memos prepared by the technical team.
Town Committee Review of Draft Safety Element
View the recording of the October 26 Joint Committee meeting with the Wildfire Preparedness, Emergency Preparedness, Sustainability, and Geologic Safety Committees. The technical team presented the Draft Safety Element at the meeting. These committees will have opportunities to further discuss the Draft Safety Element at their individual committee meetings.
Opportunities to Provide Input on the Draft Safety Element
There are several opportunities for members of the public to provide input on the draft Safety Element:
Submit written comments
- Submit electronic comments using the form on the Town’s website at www.portolavalley.net/safetyelement.
- E-mail comments to safetyelement@portolavalley.net
Provide input at public meetings.
- TBD Emergency Preparedness Committee meeting
- TBD Geologic Safety Committee meeting
- TBD Sustainability Committee meeting
- TBD Wildfire Preparedness Committee meeting
Members of the public are encouraged to engage in these committee meetings and provide feedback at any stage in the process. Comments on the Draft Safety Element are requested by January 13, 2023.
In addition to the committee meetings, the Planning Commission and Town Council will review the Draft Safety Element. These meetings will provide additional opportunities for community members to provide input on the Draft Safety Element. Dates for these meetings will be added to the Safety Element webpage when available.
To receive updates on meetings and other Safety Element matters, you may sign up for eNotifications on the Town’s website by going to the “Community” page, navigating to “Stay Informed,” then “Subscribe to Town eNotices” and selecting Safety Element. You may directly access the “Subscribe to Town eNotices" page here.
Credits:
• Kari Chinn "Historic Schoolhouse", "Redwood Grove", "Town Picnic tables on a winter morning", "Town Center"