As Stanford University prepares to obtain a new permit for future campus development, the university is hosting a series of open house events to inform the community about the major planning effort.
Two of these events will take place this week: one at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, in Palo Alto and another 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, in Menlo Park.
The meetings will focus on Stanford's effort to obtain a new General Use Permit from Santa Clara County, a document that lays out rules, policies and conditions for future campus development. The document, along with Stanford's Community Plan, are the two main entitlement documents that guide the university's land use. Currently, Stanford operates under a 2000 General Use Permit, which set a limit on academic and housing development and imposed a policy of "no net new car trips" on campus.
The university plans to submit its application for the new permit in late summer of this year and to continue environmental reviews thorough 2017 and into 2018, according to a press release from Stanford.
Once adopted in 2018, the permit would guide campus development until 2035, according to Stanford. It would also be aligned with a Sustainability Development Study that the university completed in 2009, which showed how new campus development can be accommodated within the existing academic-growth boundary until at least 2035.
The new permit, according to the press release, will intend to "continue to reflect the moderate, responsible model of campus growth outlined in that plan, while also preserving the goal of generating no net new commute trips."
"As we plan for Stanford's academic needs, we also want to do our part to sustain and enhance the quality of life of the Peninsula and Silicon Valley," said Jean McCown, Stanford's associate vice president, government and community relations. "We are fully conscious of the fact that Stanford is connected to a larger community and has an important role to play in supporting the livability of that larger community."
Catherine Palter, Stanford associate vice president for land use and environmental planning, said in a statement that the Community Plan and the General Use Permit have been "very effective tools for Santa Clara County and for Stanford."
"It is now time to think about the next phase of campus development," Palter said. "An updated GUP will enable Stanford to continue achieving new heights of academic and health care excellence while also being a good neighbor, directly incorporating the needs and concerns of our surrounding communities into our planning."
The June 4 meeting will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Terman Middle School, 655 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto. There will also be an open house 6-8 p.m. on June 9, at La Entrada Middle School, 2200 Sharon Road, Menlo Park.
Comments
College Terrace
on Jun 5, 2016 at 6:46 pm
on Jun 5, 2016 at 6:46 pm
Request the following
1. Standard avenue traffic reduction solution
2. Next generation transportation system similar to London tube that can move people around on an electric train
3. Assurance that the trees are not removed
4. Growth is limited to no more than 5%
5. No buildings taller than Enchina hall
6. Maintain current ambiance of Stanford
Many of us like the way we are. Please preserve our cherished stamforx life.
Respectfully
Midtown
on Jun 6, 2016 at 9:20 am
on Jun 6, 2016 at 9:20 am
No more hiking only trails(think Dish tr)
Connect off pavement multi-use(hike-horse-bicycle)trails from Lake Lagunitas to Rosatti's entirely on Stanford owned dirt corridors.
Re-open Searsville and Felt Lakes to non motorized public access,connect both by multi use trails.
Construct multi use trail from Junipero Serra+Page Mill rd west along Old Page Mill to existing 280 underpass just N of Old Page Mill rd that connects to Felt Lake(NOT the Page Mill-280 automobile underpass=death trap)