By Editorial
Los Altos residents recently gave the planning commission an earful when addressing the subject of a proposed Creekside Protection Ordinance. Contrary to some beliefs, the city was not out to take resident properties, nor were officials working with the Santa Clara Valley Water District on a “land grab” in order for the district to proceed with creek restoration work. The intentions were noble: establishing a better buffer zone between creekside residents and the creeks to protect the riparian habitats from development right up to and beyond the creek bank.
The ordinance revised easements from the middle of the creek to the top of the creek bank, and changed set backs to 25 feet into back yards from the creek bank and 10 feet into side yards.
Residents, however, saw the proposed ordinance as a loss of property rights and a decline in land value. Many rightfully pointed out that the proposed law as written is too vague in defining the setbacks, since meandering creeks don’t allow for distinct definitions of back and side yards. Residents also brought up another important point: If the goal is creek protection, it has to apply to all municipalities containing the creeks, not just Los Altos. Neighbors argued those on the Palo Alto side of Adobe Creek, for example, would not have the same restrictions as Los Altos, and therefore could develop right up to or beyond the creek bank. Creekside rules also impact Los Altos Hills.
Since the Santa Clara Valley Water District is responsible for the maintenance of creek areas and it is in the process of revising its own creek protection policies, it makes sense to us that cities like Los Altos and Palo Alto contribute to that policy rather than adopt one individually. Otherwise, we see redundancy and possible confusion resulting from one policy overlapping another.
The problem with depending on the water district, however, is that, in some residents’ eyes, it has proved undependable. One resident complained of waiting six years since contacting the district about addressing creek bank erosion along Adobe Creek in back of his property. He has already lost one old-growth oak tree to erosion and expects another to fall by the wayside before the district gets around to making repairs. We understand the district covers a vast area and there are scores of projects on its agenda. But six years is a long time to address a problem, especially when the resident has communicated to the district repeatedly. District officials could stand to improve their awareness and responsiveness to local problems. It’s hoped they will learn from the reaction to the Los Altos creek ordinance.
