Town Meetings & News
The City Council will have a Special Meeting on Monday, February 26 at 4:00 PM. The Planning Commission will have a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, February 28 at 6:00 PM. Agendas for both meetings will be available online by clicking here. To view past meeting videos of The Town of Atherton Committees and Commissions visit: Atherton YouTube
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This week's Atherton Online features:
- Housing Element Update
- Message from Police Chief on Preventing Burglaries
- Save the Date for Earth Day
- Get Creative this Spring with the Atherton Arts Foundation
- Visit Town Hall's Public Art Exhibit
- Election News and Information
- Stay Alert Near Caltrain Tracks
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Housing Element UpdateAt this week's City Council meeting, the Council Introduced for 1st Reading the Ordinance to update the Town's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance to bring it consistent with State law. Second reading and adoption is set for the March 20 City Council meeting. Following adoption, the Ordinance is effective 30 days later. However, the Ordinance must also be approved and certified by the State. Upon adoption, the Town will send a copy of the Ordinance to the State to initiate that review. The Town has limited control over the provisions that are required within the ADU Ordinance. The Council adopted a few provisions that will be unique to the Town. These include provisions related to a Bonus ADU Program, provisions related to ADUs over garages, required fencing and additional screening, and lastly, provisions applicable to Heritage Tree standards. The Town has received a preliminary draft of the Environmental Review Analysis for the Housing Element and is finalizing it for public release. Once released, there will be a 30-day noticing and comment period before review first by the Planning Commission and then the City Council. The draft Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance and Objective Design Standards Ordinance will also soon make their way to the Planning Commission and ultimately the City Council for public review and consideration. Finally, once these have been finalized, the entire Housing Element will be presented to the Planning Commission and then the City Council for review, adoption, and certification before sending to the State for approval. For more updates, visit: https://www.ci.atherton.ca.us/civicalerts.aspx?AID=2159
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Message from the Police Chief on Preventing BurglariesPolice Chief Steve McCulley shares best practices for preventing burglaries in his latest letter to the community. View it by clicking here.
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Save the Date for Earth Day!The Environmental Programs Committee is excited to announce the highly anticipated return of Earth Day Festival on Sunday, April 21, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Holbrook Palmer Park, 150 Watkins Avenue, Atherton. This year's event promises to be a vibrant celebration of our planet, featuring engaging activities, informative booths, and ample opportunities to connect with the community while inspiring action for a sustainable future. "Earth Day is a cherished tradition in Atherton, reminding us of our collective responsibility to protect the environment," said Mayor Diana Hawkins Manuelian. "This year's festival celebrates the theme of action, offering something to inspire everyone to take meaningful steps at home." Highlights of the Atherton Earth Day Festival: - Engaging Activities: Immerse yourself in an interactive art exhibit, encounter live animals, groove to music, indulge in delicious food trucks, and treat your little ones to the dedicated Kids' Zone, complete with a pop-up bug museum.
- Informative Booths: Connect with local organizations at the forefront of sustainability and climate resilience efforts, learn about eco-friendly practices, and discover resources to reduce your environmental footprint.
- Giveaways: Explore the event and stand a chance to win sustainable products and services, promoting local businesses and encouraging eco-conscious choices.
Register now to attend this free community event at https://climateaction.ci.atherton.ca.us/blogs-and-events. Let's come together to celebrate our planet and pledge to build a more sustainable future this Earth Day! |
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Get Creative this Spring with the Atherton Arts Foundation
Participate in an art class (or two!) with the Atherton Arts Foundation. Spring brings new offerings - including the much anticipated water colors! Plus, community favorite sewing, botanical arts, felting, and drawing classes are back! Get signed up at www.athertonartsfoundation.org.
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 Photo courtesy of Dorothy Hunter, Atherton Arts Foundation. |
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Visit Town Hall's Public Art ExhibitThere is now a public art exhibit at Town Hall, 80 Fair Oaks. The exhibit titled "Called by the Trees" was provided by the Atherton Arts Foundation and will be up through May 23, 2024. The featured artist is Patricia Larenas and her artwork highlights the sacredness and fragility of life, as experienced through the lens of trees. She studies and draws individual trees on location, often naming them in order to elevate their visibility and tell their stories. Her recent work includes collecting local soils and charcoal from wildfires to make paint, and using renewable, recycled, or handmade papers. Patricia values using her work to promote conservation and nurture our connection with nature. In the spring of 2021 she became Artist in Residence with Palo Alto based non-profit Canopy, and is currently planning workshops on making soil and charcoal paint at San Vicente Redwoods with the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. She recently completed an artist residency near Joshua Tree National Park (the resulting artwork is included in this exhibition). Patricia teaches classes on drawing trees and book arts through the Atherton Arts Foundation (AAF), and serves on their board of directors. She studied in the Filoli Botanical Art Certificate Program in Woodside, and received her B.A. degree in Studio Art from San Jose State University. She is the NorCal Chapter Coordinator of Artists for Climate Awareness. Patricia was born in Chile and immigrated to the USA as a child. She lives in Mountain View (where her two children were born and raised), with her husband and a menagerie of trees. Visit Patricia's website at www.plarenasonpaper.com or send her an email at plarenas.onpaper@gmail.com. |
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 Patricia Larenas in action at Joshua Tree National Park |
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Election News and InformationOn March 5, 2024 there's a Presidential Primary Election. Voting is open from February 5 - March 5. We'll be featuring important news and information related to the election weekly. If there's information that you don't see here, check out the County's Elections site by clicking here. Ballot Box Location Atherton There will be a temporary indoor drop box from February 1, 2024 through March 5, 2024 at City Hall, 80 Fair Oaks. Find all vote center and ballot box locations online by clicking here.
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Did You Know?Safety is the top priority: At a railroad crossing, always wait for the gate. Even if you can't hear the train coming, make sure to wait for the gate to fully rise before crossing. Learn more about Atherton's Caltrain Quiet Zones here: https://www.ci.atherton.ca.us/456/Quiet-Zone |
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