By Los Altos Hills

Probably the one thing that won’t change in Los Altos Hills between now and 2010 is residents fighting over how and whether to preserve the “country” nature of the town.

“The population is changing because people are leaving or retiring and the new families generally are tearing down houses built in the 1950s and putting up houses built for the 21st century,” said Councilwoman Toni Casey. “My vision is essentially to strive to keep the town’s semi-rural countrified character.”

“We want the town to maintain its beautiful legacy of open space,” said Duffy Price, secretary of the Hills 2000 organization, “rather than plucking in stuff that looks like it belongs in Scotland.”

Despite the fight over it today, there’s little doubt that by 2010 there will be new ordinances, increasing the maximum development allowable on lots. Casey said she believed the town will also push for bigger setbacks of homes “to create the feeling of open space.”

Furthermore, Casey said, the town will maintain and develop paths along major roads. These won’t be cement sidewalks, but something more in tune with the country setting.

Among other changes will be a new city hall in the next two to three years, and making open space reserves more “family friendly,” according to Casey.

Price agreed, noting that the reserves may add more picnic tables and the like.

But it may not be all love and harmony. “What I think we’ll see hugely debated is the preservation of views of residents,” Price said. When new houses come up, so typically does new landscaping, which is sometimes not pleasing to the neighbors, she said.

- Susan Kerr