Los Altos City Council – May 2025
May 13
The City Council considered the unanimous recommendation of the April 3, 2025 Planning Commission decisions about the mixed commercial and residential area often called Sherwood Triangle. The triangle formed by the corners of El Camino Real, San Antonio Road and Sherwood Avenue, including housing on both sides of Sherwood, was first discussed in January 2025.
The area was designated in 1999 as the Sherwood Gateway Specific Plan. The 42 parcels located in the area have inconsistent zoning designations which city staff has recognized as unenforceable. The council discussed the possibilities to correct the various zoning designations to Commercial Thoroughfare (CT) that will allow residential changes to the many older homes on Sherwood Ave. Two public comments approved of the changes to zoning considered at the meeting.
Density in the area will not be reduced. The city is precluded by the California Senate Bill 330, known as the “Housing Crisis Act”, from reducing the density of a zoning or land use designation. The new ordinances will repeal the 1999 Sherwood Gateway Specific Plan and make zoning changes and amendments. The plan will be reviewed at the next council meeting.
May 27
By consent the City Council adopted ordinances for the Sherwood Triangle from the last meeting. The provisions repealed all of the Sherwood Gateway Specific Plan for the mixed-use area. As recommended, any further development goes by CT development standards. This re-zoning creates consistency between zoning and land use requirements of California’s planning and zoning law. It is expected that other mixed-use areas in Los Altos will be re-zoned consistent with the California Housing Crisis Act (SB 330).
Also by consent, the City Council extended its agreement with Grassroots Ecology for an additional 3-year term with an annual increase in price for Redwood Grove Stewardship services. In the late spring and early summer, Grassroots Ecology removes invasive weeds through scything or hand-pulling and has transplanted native plants to the area. All of these projects decrease fire hazard in the area. The Grove’s redwood trees undergo stress during the hot dry summers. They were planted over 100 years ago out of the coastal fog belt, their natural range. Continued irrigation utilizing specialized watering machinery has been set up by Grassroots Ecology staff.
Claire Noonan, Observer