Portola Terrace Makes Portola Valley a More Resilient Community

Stanford is excited to announce that the Portola Valley Town Council voted unanimously to approve the Portola Terrace (Stanford Wedge) Faculty and Community residential project on December 5.

Through numerous town committee meetings, conversations with residents, and at Town Hall meetings, we heard of several priority areas for Portola Valley residents, including housing availability and affordability, wildfire resilience and fire safety, trails, and the preservation of open space. The project approved last night reflects this community input and provides new housing that complements the town’s character. 

With the plan for the Portola Terrace residences approved, Stanford will continue to work with Portola Valley staff to obtain building permits, followed by project construction. We are committed to keeping you informed as this process continues and look forward to contributing to a stronger Portola Valley.

Portola Terrace faculty and community residences address two critical issues: affordable housing and wildfire resilience. This proposed community of homes for the town workforce and Stanford faculty is designed with wildfire resilience and environmental sustainability as top priorities.

Portola Terrace is designed to:

• create a residential community that complements the Town’s rural character and enhances the natural features of the area;
• maximize the woodland landscape and foster a sense of community by clustering the homes together;
• minimize disturbance to terrain and vegetation; and
• prioritize natural beauty and open space.

Portola Terrace is Designed to Reflect the Character and Lifestyle of the Town

Members of the local workforce, including teachers, first responders, health care workers, and other essential service providers, are integral to our community but face significant housing challenges. Portola Terrace will help the Town of Portola Valley meet its share of the regional housing demand so that more of the local workforce can live in the community it serves.

Surrounded by woods and trails, the property will be managed according to a comprehensive Vegetation Management Plan (VMP). The VMP, together with fire safety measures in the housing development, will significantly improve wildfire resilience for the entire community.