Stanford
Portola Terrace
Portola Terrace rendering with actual trees and tot lot and sky

Frequently Asked Questions

Project Details

Has this project been approved by the Town of Portola Valley?
Yes, this project was fully approved by the Town of Portola Valley Council in December 2024.

Where will this project be located?
This project is located in the Town of Portola Valley at 3530 Alpine Road along the west side between Westridge Drive and Golden Oak Drive.

What components make up the project and how many residential units are being proposed?
Portola Terrace offers:

  • 27 for sale single-family, 2-story, 3-4 bedroom homes for Stanford faculty
  • 12 below-market rate studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom rental apartments for the community
  • Constructing approximately 1.2 miles of new trails

Who will live there?
Eligibility for residency at Portola Terrace will depend on the type of residential unit. Eligibility for the 27 single-family faculty homes will be based on a lottery system available to Stanford faculty who meet defined eligibility criteria.

The 12 below market rate apartments will be funded, constructed, and operated by the university, with eligibility criteria prioritizing first those currently living and working in Portola Valley. Stanford will manage the interest list, which will be accessible as the project nears completion. All housing units will be built in phases, with final completion anticipated in late 2028.

Will the affordable housing in Portola Terrace serve the needs of lower-income households?
Yes. The project includes 12 income-qualified apartments, providing housing for the community, and enabling local teachers, first responders, and others to live in the community where they work.

What are the benefits of Portola Terrace?
Portola Terrace will generate significant property tax revenues, fees, and other taxes for Portola Valley, the local public school districts, and the Woodside Fire Protection District.

The project also includes several improvements to the area:

  • Undergrounding of an existing PG&E power line along Alpine Road.
  • Creation of a 200’ defensible space between the structures and the large oak woodland maintained by the project.
  • Construction of a vegetation maintenance road into previously inaccessible areas of the 75-acre property to improve Stanford’s wildfire mitigation efforts.
  • Approximately 1.2 miles of new and improved trails on the property, including the new Portola Terrace Loop Trail, and an improved Alpine Road Trail on Stanford land.

How will Portola Terrace reduce wildfire risk and increase wildfire resilience for the surrounding homes and the community?
Reducing wildfire risk and increasing wildfire resilience is an important focus for Portola Terrace. Stanford is focused on reducing risk through the following:

  • Reduce Ignition Sources and Fuel Load
    • Continue to implement the Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) across the entire 75-acre property that provides long-term strategies for minimizing fire hazards and protecting ecological resources in the future.
    • Establish a new, permanent vegetation maintenance road to better facilitate the maintenance and removal of vegetation materials from areas of the site that are currently not accessible for mechanized equipment.
    • Underground existing overhead power lines which run along Alpine Road, eliminating a significant potential ignition source across the property.
  • Clustered Development
    • Designed as a clustered development pattern that concentrates homes within a smaller footprint, preserving larger contiguous open space areas and creating a more defensible development area in the event of a major wildfire.
  • Create Defensible Space Around the Residences
    • Construct a wildfire buffer of maintained low-fuel vegetation that separates the housing development from the natural undeveloped area.
  • Responsible Wildfire Resilient Design
    • Build with fire-resistant materials that meet the Town of Portola Valley’s Wildfire Preparedness Building Code for homes.

Is Portola Terrace a sustainable project?
Yes. Portola Terrace will provide homes near the residents’ workplaces, whether at Stanford or in Portola Valley and the surrounding area. This will greatly reduce the commute distances for those residents.

To address sustainability in the development itself, the cluster development is the most environmentally sustainable of all development choices. Cluster developments minimize land disturbance and preserve natural landscapes, which reduces urban sprawl and helps maintain green spaces, protecting local ecosystems and biodiversity by limiting habitat fragmentation.

Homes will be all electric, have solar panels, and are constructed with fire-resistant materials for longevity. Outdoor lighting codes will also be followed, providing dark sky compliant light fixtures only where it is needed for safety. The landscape will only use drought-tolerant, native plantings and environmental protections will be in place for all wildlife habitats in the surrounding property.

Is Portola Terrace consistent with the Portola Valley General Plan and Zoning Ordinance?
Yes. Both the General Plan, including the Housing Element, and the Zoning Ordinance designate the Stanford property for residential use. Portola Terrace meets the key goals of the town’s General Plan, including preserving and enhancing the quality of living for local residents, maintaining natural features and open space, minimizing disturbances to nature, reducing exposure to fire risk, providing safe evacuation routes, and implementing the Town’s policies in support of providing affordable housing.

Will new trails be added with the project?
Yes, Stanford is constructing approximately 1.2 miles of new trails within the project area.

The new publicly accessible Portola Terrace Loop Trail is about three-quarters of a mile in length with three connections to the Alpine Road trail, making it accessible from either the north or south.

The Alpine Road Trail will be reconstructed, to the extent feasible, and relocated from the Alpine Road right-of-way onto Stanford land.

Who can use the new trails?
The new trails will be added to the Town of Portola Valley’s trail system and will be open to the public, subject to the same rules, regulations, and maintenance standards that apply to other Town trails. This will expand public trail access while integrating the new trail segments into the Town’s existing recreational network.

Construction Hours and Mitigations

What are the construction hours for this project?
Construction hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and are consistent with the Town of Portola Valley’s Construction Standards.

How will construction activities impact traffic?
The vast majority of construction will be restricted to the project site. Activities such as tree removals, rough grading, undergrounding of utilities on Alpine Road, etc. may shift traffic patterns and advance notification will be given. The Town of Portola Valley independently assessed potential traffic impacts of the project through the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process and their Final EIR showed no permanent traffic impacts.

How can I receive notification of construction activity?
A sign-up form is available on the project website at https://portolaterrace.stanford.edu/contact-us. Construction notices will be distributed via email throughout the project as needed.

How will construction dust, noise, and lighting be managed?
We understand that noise and lighting can disrupt the quality of life, and it is a priority to the project team that disruptions caused by construction are minimized. As a result, construction is scheduled Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to ensure any potentially loud activities occur during reasonable daytime hours.

All project construction must comply with state and local regulations, including measures to avoid construction dust. During construction of the project, the contractors are required to implement dust control measures required as part of Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) basic dust control procedures required for construction sites.

Schedule and Work Hours

Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Construction Schedule*

  • Pre-Construction Phase: March – June 2026
    • Install perimeter fencing
    • Tree removal
    • Site preparation
  • Construction: July 2026 – December 2028
    • Grading & Utility
    • Foundations and Framing
    • Roofing and Siding
    • Exterior Finishing
    • Interior Finishing
  • Anticipated Completion: December 2028

*Please note that all construction dates are approximate and subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen conditions.