The Los Altos City Council is scheduled next month to consider a unanimous Planning Commission recommendation for parking lot and carport modifications from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The recommendation came amid protests that the foundation was needlessly expanding its parking lot space and removing trees – seemingly in conflict with its “green” philosophy.
Commissioners Sept. 2 recommended the council approve the proposed plans for Packard’s 345 Second St. headquarters. Foundation officials proposed merging all five separate lots, with a current capacity of 58 spaces, into one large lot with 86 stalls – 41 of them catering to electric vehicles. Plans include a 5,610-square-foot carport structure covering 32 spaces in the interior portion of the lot, with a photovoltaic or solar energy system mounted atop the structure.
The larger parking area would include a two-way drive aisle with access from Second Street only. The proposal also includes new landscaping, lighting and other surface improvements associated with the parking lot area. The council is slated to take up discussion of the plans at its Oct. 26 meeting.
Tree replacement
The project discussion was continued from an Aug. 5 meeting at which commissioners asked foundation officials to provide renderings for the carport structure and enhanced tree-planting on-site to provide an additional buffer to residential units under construction nearby. Also requested was an enhanced tree replacement agreement and partnership with environmental advocacy nonprofit GreenTown Los Altos.
Concerns among speakers at the meeting centered on the 18 trees targeted for removal for the project.
Accompanying Packard’s presentation was a letter from Kris Jensen, GreenTown Los Altos executive director, pledging to plant 27 trees to replace the 18 lost, and to plant native tree species as well as other varieties “that will do well here.”
But speakers at the Sept. 2 meeting bemoaned the loss of trees in an area considered an entrance to downtown Los Altos.
“While I do appreciate the applicant’s desire to add solar panels and change the traffic flow, it should NOT be at the expense of the trees on site,” Jon Baer wrote to the commission. “Removing trees and planting 27 elsewhere, while politically correct, does not mitigate the removal of trees from that portion of the town.”
However, Commissioner Mehruss Ahi pointed out that most of the trees set for removal were small and not in good condition.
“I think this argument that we’re somehow removing these amazing, incredible trees and disturbing this usable green space is just not very accurate,” he said.
Best use of space
Craig Neyman, vice president and chief financial officer of the foundation, said reasons for the project were environmental as well as practical. He noted that the purchase of two additional parcels since its Second Street headquarters opened allowed for pursuit of expanded parking. And increasing EV charging stations from the current four to 45, he added, would result in a decrease in the foundation’s overall carbon footprint.
“If we had owned all five of those lots (at the time of project approval), we would have offered the city a plan much like that currently before you,” Neyman said.
The separate agreement with GreenTown, he added, results in a tree increase that will help the environment.
“The primary purpose of the current plan is to more coherently utilize the space that we now own, address unfavorable design elements of the original plan and incorporate sustainability features, particularly the photovoltaic canopy to generate electricity to be used in the electrical vehicle chargers for our commuters,” Neyman said.
Commissioner Shelley Doran voiced support for the project. She pictured an alternative reality in which five different lots ended up with five different buildings.
“It’s to our benefit to have these lots merged together,” she said.
