HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4.1 Supplemental 4From: John O'Connell <>
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2023 2:03 PM
To: Planning Commission <planningcommission@losaltoshills.ca.gov>
Cc: BCC - Kit Gordon <>
Subject: Comment item 4.1 Jan 27 Planning Commission
Hello,
We support Kit Gordon comments regarding the suitability of the Twin Oaks as an RHNA site supporting >30du/ac. A site
closer to Hillview & Deer Creek would have superior environmental and communications characteristics, and be a much
safer location for both the future residents and existing residents of LAH.
1.The access in/out of Twin Oaks for a high density housing development is dangerous.
o Traffic in/out of Twin Oaks would have to cross fast downhill traffic on Arastradero going towards the
Purisimma intersection.
o Traffic going through the Arastradero curved I-280 underpass towards Page Mill would have poor
visibility of traffic exiting Twin Oaks towards Page Mill which would be slow due to the standing start on
an uphill gradient.
o Traffic levels on Arastradero are significant, with many vehicles exceeding speed limits. It
is not uncommon at the 3-way stop signs at the Purissima and Stirrup Way intersections, for vehicle to
overshoot and stop in the middle of the intersections, or to go straight through.
o Adding an intersection for multi-family housing at the Twin Oaks site is just not practical.
2.It is unrealistic, with the level of law enforcement in LAH, to expect policing to enforce traffic laws and safety on
that section of Arastradero Rd.
3.For pedestrian and bicycle traffic there is no safe (or pleasant) route under the I-280 curve section of
Arastradero.
o There are no lights, no safe walkway, and it is a mess when it rains.
o The noise walking under I-280 at that underpass is LOUD.
o I don't think many LAH residents would feel safe walking or biking from the Arastradero-
Purissima intersection towards Twin Oaks in the dark, let alone want our children to do so.
o The pathway alongside Arastradero Rd towards several schools (Gunn, Ellen Fletcher, Bowman, etc) is
pleasant, very safe and usable by the families of such affordable housing both to get to school, work or
other social activities.
4.Both Valley Transit and the Stanford Marguerite have accessible public transport from Arastradero on the
Hillview/Deer Creek section. Twin Oaks is Access isolated from public transportation.
o In addition to the I-280 underpass, the walk along the path on the west side of Arastradero between
Deer Creek and Purissima is unlit and some people may feel unsafe in the dark.
5.The traffic & emergency implications of placing ~300 dwelling units at the Twin Oaks site needs thorough
analysis. The large number of new residents of such housing would only add to the current congestion at the
only two ways in/out i.e. the Page Mill intersection, and the route along Arastradero to the Foothill Expy
intersection. A site supporting 30du/ac must have convenient access to public transport.
6.The Planning Commission has placed the Twin Oaks site in the Wildland Urban Interface zone and the fire risk
assessment of placing a development of this nature at the bottom of a steep hillside on the west side of I-280
should be questioned. Has LAHCFD approved this proposal?
7.The extremely close proximity of developments at the Twin Oaks site to the high traffic of I-280 gives the
impression LAH does not care about the environmental issues of the future residents in deciding where to place
such housing.
8.We should have clear reasons why the Twin Oaks location was selected for >30du/ac housing, if locations with
superior environmental, communications, and safer characteristics were viable options, but not selected.
Item 4.1 Supplemental 4