Portola Valley Fights Monster Homes

Every new house and remodeling in Portola Valley, CA, isreviewed by the town's Architectural and Site Control Commission. The five-membercommission listen to neighbors, study blueprints,and suggest changes. Silicon Valley's rich favoringPortola Valley to build new homes have to get theirdesigns approved by the commission. Among the design elements that the commission dislikesare: multiple exterior lights, tall buildings, reflective glass, solid fences, big gates, and lawns. The commissionconsists of volunteers from the town and two of them are architects.Several Bay Area communities such as San Jose, Palo Alto, Los Gatos and Menlo Parkfacing building booms and trying to balance homeowners rights with preserving thecharacter of older neighborhoods. have passed"monster home" ordinances limiting size and designs ofnew and remodeled homes.