Category: Stanford

Join the Stanford Community Plan Stakeholder Group

The County of Santa Clara Department of Planning and Development has begun the Stanford University Community Plan Update process and is starting initial community outreach including meetings with stakeholder groups, including neighborhood groups.

The planners would like to set up a stakeholder meeting soon to receive your input on the Community Plan Update. If you would like to be part of this stakeholder group, please email skwon@m-group.us with your contact information.

By way of background, the Stanford lands located within unincorporated Santa Clara County are governed by the goals, policies, and programs in the Stanford Community Plan (“Community Plan”) that is part of the Santa Clara County General Plan. The Community Plan was adopted by the County Board of Supervisors in 2000, and most recently amended in 2015. The Community Plan update is the first phase of planned work to update the overall County General Plan.

The Community Plan update will consist of background, data, and policy updates to the seven elements of the Community Plan: Growth and Development, Land Use, Housing, Circulation, Open Space, Resource Conservation, and Health and Safety. The project will also include preparation of a Municipal Services Study, Childcare Study, and a Graduate Student Housing Affordability Study to inform the updates to the Community Plan.

Visit the project website at StanfordCommunityPlanUpdate.org for more information.

Around the Terrace: October 27, 2020

Here are some recent announcements and news stories of interest to College Terrace and the surrounding area.

Stanford Community Plan Moving Forward
While Stanford withdrew its updated GUP application last fall, the County is moving forward with updating its Stanford Community Plan and is beginning the process of community outreach, including meetings with local stakeholders and neighborhood groups.

The Community Plan update will consist of background, data, and policy updates to the seven elements of the Community Plan: Growth and Development, Land Use, Housing, Circulation, Open Space, Resource Conservation, and Health and Safety. The project will also include preparation of a Municipal Services Study, Childcare Study, and a Graduate Student Housing Affordability Study to inform the updates to the Community Plan.

Visit the project website at StanfordCommunityPlanUpdate.org for more information or to sign up for updates. Also, the CTRA will be organizing a neighborhood meeting with the planners soon.

Halloween Celebrations Take On Different Look
The Palo Alto Weekly looks at some of the safe alternatives planned locally for Halloween this year, including CT resident Laura Forrest and her “candy chute” on Yale Street. Fun!

Annual AlertSU Test on Thursday at 12:05pm
Stanford will conduct its annual test of its AlertSU system this Thursday around noon. In addition to email alerts, the outdoor warning system will sound an audible tone for about 30 seconds from each of the 7 sirens around campus.

Stanford Limiting Public Access Starting Sep 1

Stanford announced Friday that it will be limiting public access to most of the campus starting Tuesday, September 1, as it prepares for the return of students, faculty, and staff for fall quarter. Areas like the Dish and Stanford Golf Course will remain accessible to the public, but most of the central campus will not. Here’s Stanford’s letter to the community:

Dear neighbors,

On August 7, the California Department of Public Health issued guidance for institutions of higher education as colleges and universities across the state work to resume operations curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines include limiting nonessential visitors from entering higher education campuses and using campus resources.   

To comply with this guidance, beginning September 1, Stanford University is implementing zones that restrict the public from entering the newly established Academic Campus Zone in the center of campus and other areas with student housing and academic, athletic and cultural facilities, while continuing to allow public access in Community Zones that include the Dish area, the Arboretum and the golf course and driving range. More details about the program are in Stanford Report and the FAQ. 

We anticipate these changes will be temporary and look forward to welcoming visitors back as public health conditions improve. 

Please send questions to communityrelations@stanford.edu. Thank you.

The map below shows the new zones and their restrictions; click through for a larger version. New signage will be installed on campus to help the campus community and visitors navigate these new restrictions.

Around the Terrace: June 25, 2020

Here are some recent announcements and news stories of interest to College Terrace and the surrounding area.

Cameron Park Renovation Project Meeting on July 2 at 6:30pm
The second online community meeting for the Cameron Park renovation project will be next Thursday, July 2, at 6:30pm. Email Jeanette.serna@cityofpaloalto.org to RSVP. The Parks and Recreation Commission will also discuss the project at their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, June 30, at 7pm. To participate in this meeting  please visit the commission’s home page the day of the meeting for the link.

Like California Ave, University Ave Will Close to Traffic
After the success of closing California Avenue to traffic to make room for outdoor dining and retail, the City Council voted to do the same on University Avenue between High Street and Cowper Street starting on July 3. (University Avenue will also be closed this weekend.)

Stanford Dish to Reopen in Early July
Stanford is actively preparing to reopen the Dish area, with the goal of allowing visitors again in early July. Changes include the installation of a new pedestrian access gate at Stanford Avenue and temporary signage throughout the Dish area, as well as the smoothing of areas next to the pathway to allow more room for passing.

Around the Terrace: April 22, 2020

Here are some recent announcements and news stories of interest to College Terrace and the surrounding area.

City of Palo Alto Coronavirus Daily Report
If you haven’t already subscribed, this is an excellent daily email from the City of Palo Alto that includes news from the city and county, online events, and resources for families and businesses.

Palo Alto Braces for $30 Million Revenue Loss
At Monday’s City Council meeting, City Manager Ed Shikada presented potential options to address the city’s projected revenue shortfall due to the pandemic. These options included closing library branches, scrapping its shuttle program, and suspending plans to spur housing production.

Stanford COVID-19 Community Town Hall
Join Stanford Medicine’s Office of Community Engagement this Thursday at 3:30pm for a virtual Town Hall on the COVID-19 outbreak. A panel of health experts will discuss current recommendations for shelter-at-home and social distancing, share latest COVID-19 research efforts at Stanford, and answer community submitted questions. Pre-register and a Zoom link will be sent before the town hall begins.