By Elizabeth Cloutman

Los Altos Hills

plans

A group of Los Altos Hills residents have begun a campaign opposing the architectural plans for the new town hall.

The city council appears to be close to approving the schematic plan for the proposed $3.5-4 million building within the coming months. The council has asked the architect to make only a few minor changes. However, a newly formed group called LAH Outrage has formed a list of complains against the plan and had even drawn up an alternative siting plan.

Members said the proposed town hall is too expensive, too large and was designed with little citizen input.

Group members also complained that council members have refused to meet with residents living on nearby Esperanza Drive and hear their concerns. “We were hoping to be a part of the process,” said resident Alan Bien.

Resident Dave Stewart said he believed that at $500 per square foot, four times the average cost of building typical office space, the construction is too expensive. Casey had proposed that the new town hall be funded by donations, resident Nancy Kelem said, but no fund-raising campaign has been launched.

Members also noted that one of the two parking lots - the one near where the Heritage House now stands - will mean paving over the only open field on the town hall property. They said building this lot also means that the existing Heritage House will be moved or destroyed.

Mayor Toni Casey told the Town Crier the Heritage House “will not be destroyed.”

LAH Outrage has proposed some changes. First, the new town hall should be resited and downsized to fit the existing footprint of the present town office building, council chambers and Purissima Hills Water District building. However, water district officials said in April that they want a facility separate from the new town hall.

For more information on LAH Outrage, logon to www.lahoutrage.com.