Woodside Council Keeps Conservation Easement, Opens Narrow ADU Path

Woodside's Town Council on Sept. 22, 2026, refused to abandon an 80-foot conservation easement at 1 Montelena Court. Councilmembers were wary of setting a precedent for dozens of similar buffers across town. Instead, a 3-1 vote gave the owners a defined route: perk-test the land, submit a conceptual accessory dwelling unit (ADU) design and return for a possible exception. The council also added a roughly $135,000 finance manager position and told staff to bring back a cost-of-living raise.

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• Easement abandonment denied 3-1 at 1 Montelena Court amid precedent fears over roughly 70-90 similar easements
• ADU exception path opened: owners may perk-test and submit planning-level plans
• Mayor Pro Tem Goeld said the land is "dirt" and paddocks, and accused colleagues of a double standard on open space
• New finance manager approved, bringing budget work in-house after consultant reliance
• Unanimous direction for staff to return with a cost-of-living adjustment

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Easement Stays, but an ADU Door Cracks Open

The basics: A conservation easement restricts building on part of a property. This 80-foot strip was offered for dedication on a 1986 land map and accepted by the town. A perk test checks whether soil can support a septic system.

Why it matters: Council members cited roughly 70-90 map-dedicated easements across Woodside. How the council handles this request tests the balance between state ADU and housing pressure and the town's open-space protections.

Where things stand: The continued hearing resumed in deliberation; public comment had closed at the prior meeting. Mayor Brian Dombkowski said he could not judge the public good without knowing whether an ADU was feasible, whether the site perks or what the building envelope looks like. "I would suggest that we actually give direction to staff to proceed with a perk test and to submit a conceptual design," he said. His motion to continue failed when Councilmember Dick Brown withdrew his second.

That created a catch-22. A town staff member explained that the applicant had been told no perk test could happen inside the easement: "In the conservation easement, you can't build anything." Planning Director Sage Schaan added that staff were "not prepared to review that application given the status of the conservation easement" without council direction.

Councilmember Jenn Wall anchored the case for keeping the easement. "We received pretty clear and unequivocal legal advice from our town attorney and our staff that this 80-foot conservation easement is indeed valid," she said. She described it as a scenic highway buffer with trail, access-control and no-development terms. She pointed to a 2019 exception granted across the street as the better model. "I think we're creating a dangerous, unguided precedent for every open space buffer in Woodside," Wall said of abandonment without criteria.

The other side: Councilmember Hassan Aburish called the owners' case sympathetic. Given the existing horse stables, he said, "it's not clear what purpose it's serving." He added: "I would be in favor of a partial abandonment subject to building of an ADU."

Mayor Pro Tem Paul Goeld was blunter: "It's dirt. I don't see conservation. I see 10 paddocks." He also took aim at colleagues: "I wish you guys had a fraction of the same concern when you so quickly rezoned open space to high rises." He said he would back abandonment only with staff conditions limiting use to an ADU and septic field.

The mayor said total abandonment "goes too far." He floated a partial abandonment capped at 50%, but staff said they did not know where an ADU would perk or be sited.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Wall moved to deny the abandonment. Her motion also lets the applicant perk-test and submit a planning-level ADU application showing the septic system and house footprint. Aburish seconded. Vote: For: 3 (Aburish, Wall, Dombkowski), Against: 1 (Brown), Not recorded: Goeld. The owners keep a path to an ADU, but the recorded easement stays intact. Owners of the other easement-burdened properties now have a signal that the council prefers case-by-case exceptions over abandonment.

What's next: Any easement exception returns to the council on an expedited basis. No date was set.

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Finance Manager Added; Staff Raise on Deck

Why it matters: Budget preparation has shifted from the town manager to the Administrative Services Department. Supporters said the town previously needed a consultant to do that work and that the hire strengthens financial controls.

Where things stand: Corey, of Administrative Services, said the five-person department oversees financial services, human resources and risk management. The finance manager would bring depth in the Springbrook enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, forecasting, year-end close and audits. The position would also free the director for long-range planning and create a career ladder. The cost: about $135,000, funded from property tax revenue, including a margin to attract a strong candidate.

The other side: Brown asked where the money would come from, citing rising legal costs. He called the hire "a little bit premature." Public commenter Ms. Hanson suggested funding the post with penalties for construction violations and valet-parking-related street damage.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Wall voiced strong support, noting the town paid a consultant after Kevin Bryant left. "This is money absolutely well spent," she said. Wall moved the salary schedule resolution and Aburish seconded. Audible votes: For: 3 (Aburish, Brown, Dombkowski); Goeld and Wall not recorded. Interim Town Manager Pamela Antil said the resolution had to pass before the town could assign the salary range for CalPERS, the state pension system.

A raise discussion follows: Corey confirmed the town gives merit increases but made no cost-of-living adjustment this year. Public commenter David urged the council to take care of staff first and adjust the whole pay table by the COLA percentage. The mayor suggested "making a change as of 1/1/27 or something that would include a cost of living increase for the area." Wall and Aburish agreed. Wall moved to give staff direction, and the mayor reported unanimous support.

What's next: Antil said a separate CalPERS salary resolution must be formally placed on a future agenda.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar: Items 1-3 and an ordinance's second reading passed with four audible yes votes (Aburish, Brown, Goeld, Dombkowski). Goeld had pulled the ordinance for public comment.
• Weekend patrols: Goeld said county funding secured by Supervisor Ray Mueller covers Saturday and Sunday sheriff patrols for a year. Brown warned that Filoli expects about 1.2 million visitors a year and asked for a traffic plan.
• Wildfire readiness: Dan Drucker, President, Moore Road Homeowners Association, asked for a tested townwide wildfire plan. He also urged staff to use the governor's El Niño emergency declaration to ease stream and drainage clearing.
• Town manager criticism: An Alta Vista resident asked the council to address the new town manager's tone toward residents and to agendize an investigation. The council did not respond.
• Fire Prevention Week: The mayor proclaimed Oct. 4-10, 2026, Fire Prevention Week, focused on safe charging of lithium-ion devices.

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Looking Ahead

Antil said proposals for code enforcement services have arrived, an RFP for town attorney services is going out and an RFP for an automated license plate reader (ALPR) audit has been issued. All three return to the council in the next couple of months. A community sandbag-filling exercise is set for Saturday, Sept. 26. The 22nd annual Day of the Horse runs Oct. 10-11, with a trail ride on Oct. 10 and a horse fair at Town Center on Oct. 11.