January 19, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

News Digest

Increased traffic and noise are topping public concerns over the proposed Stanford/Palo Alto Mayfield deal, which would add soccer fields to the corner of El Camino Real and Page Mill Road and 250 housing units near the College Terrace neighborhood.

At last week's Planning and Transportation Commission meeting, College Terrace neighbors asked the city to accurately assess the impact that construction, soccer fields and additional housing would have on the area.

Resident Erika Enos said Stanford University needed to identify the kinds of residents who would be moving into new housing built on California Avenue. If the housing is targeted toward Stanford employees, the traffic through College Terrace -- which lies next to the university-- would pick up, she said.

Neighbor John Cicarelli, a professional transportation planner, recommended a bicycle and pedestrian road be completed concurrent with the athletic fields, so that children could walk to practices and games without being driven by their parents.

Commissioner Michael Griffin expressed concern over a predicted traffic backup on Page Mill Road, coming off of Highway 280 during construction. He already spends 10 minutes in the morning and at night on Page Mill, he said. "An additional seven years or more of increased traffic - dramatically increased traffic - is a chilling thought," he said.

Anti-noise crusader and Midtown resident John Abraham took issue with the project's environmental report, which he said didn't address a possible escalation of noise. He called the omission "a major, glaring defect."

Neighbor Craig Laughton, however, felt noise would not be an issue.

"I don't think kids having fun on fields is what I would consider noise. I would consider it more in the nature of music."

In December, Stanford and Palo Alto officials proudly unveiled an agreement for Stanford to lease land to the city for soccer fields and to build at least 250 housing units in two locations near College Terrace. In exchange, the university would receive the right to build on 300,000 square feet in the Stanford Research Park.

The public may comment on the draft environmental impact report through Jan. 27. Copies are available at the College Terrace, Downtown, Mitchell Park, and Main libraries, as well as at the city's Development Center and Planning Department. Comments may be submitted to Tricia Schimpp at Palo Alto's Planning Department, City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto 94301.

The City Council is scheduled to consider the deal on March 7.
-- Jocelyn Dong

Curb the kicking and screaming of kindergarten

It's a day parents dream about: their child's first day of school. For some, that day is coming this fall. To help ease their concerns and answer their questions, the Palo Alto Unified School District will hold an upcoming kindergarten information meetings for parents preparing to send their young ones off to the institution of higher learning. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Palo Verde Elementary School, 3450 Louis Road. Parents will receive registration packets and have the opportunity to ask questions. For more information, call the district's Young Fives Coordinator, Sharon Keplinger, at 856-0833. <
-- Alexandria Rocha

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