Woodside Council Rejects Neighbor's Appeal, Keeps Two Horses on Small Lot

Woodside's Town Council spent roughly two hours Oct. 27, 2026, on a dispute over two horses on a lot under one acre. It ended with a unanimous vote to deny a neighbor's appeal and a push to rewrite the town's horsekeeping rules. At its last meeting before the election, the council also approved the town's response to a grand jury report on Flock license plate cameras on a 4-1 vote, advanced a $2.5 million Woodside Road median project and approved an 8.1% increase in the Sheriff's contract.

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• Appeal denied 5-0: Two horses stay at 831 Glen Craig Way, with strict conditions attached
• Horsekeeping code review signaled: Staff estimate the rewrite would take 4 to 6 months
• Flock camera grand jury response passes 4-1, with Councilmember Jenn Wall dissenting
• Woodside Road median advances with a $350,000 construction management contract
• Sheriff's contract rises 8.1%, and the town shifts to actual-cost quarterly billing

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Horse Country, Tested at the Property Line

The basics: Woodside's municipal code requires one acre for two horses. The lot at 831 Glen Craig Way is slightly under 20,000 square feet. The town's Livestock and Equestrian Heritage Committee (LEHC) unanimously recommended a stable exception. The planning director approved it, and the Planning Commission denied a neighbor's first appeal.

Why it matters: The ruling sets a precedent for sub-acre horse properties. The hearing also exposed gaps in how the town transfers and tracks stable permits.

Where things stand: "Staff does recommend that the town council deny the appeal and uphold the stable exception," said Planning Director Sage Schaan. The conditions include a drainage permit and a new stable permit with an LEHC inspection.

Applicant Manish Manreo framed the stakes as all or nothing. "It's 0 or 2. Because I can't keep one horse by itself," he said. He disputed the appellant's allegations and asked the council to "send a clear message to all of Woodside that we are still horse country."

The other side: Appellant John Clark argued the one-acre minimum applies to all exceptions. He said a 2015 permit was an invalid transfer of a prior owner's permit, and he alleged unpermitted drainage and a fence on his land. "My one and only request of you tonight is simple: respect the law and enforce the code," Clark said. He offered a compromise: grant his appeal now and consider changing the rule townwide later.

A crowd for the horses: At least 13 public commenters spoke on the item, and the summarized comments sided with the applicant. Several equine professionals said the standard is outdated. "1 acre for 2 horses is neither accurate nor relevant in this day and age," said public commenter Rebecca Witter, a professional horse boarder. Public commenter Maggie Ma said neighbors have received exceptions and that "the town does a lousy job of keeping track of these permits." Public commenter Kim Hanson called the appeal a product of complaint-driven enforcement. Others included Jonathan Hayward, facilities manager at Webb Ranch in Portola Valley, and LEHC member Christina Chancholo, who spoke for herself.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmembers cited expert review, horse welfare, the general plan's equestrian heritage and strict conditions. Councilmember Hassan Aburish found the code ambiguous: "If it was so black and white and clear, there would be language stating absolutely in no terms." Councilmember Dick Brown pointed to the declining number of horses in town. "To me, that is a disaster for a town that calls itself the home of horses," he said. Mayor Brian Dombkowski said his vote was "really because the municipal code isn't optimized for the reality on the ground."

The vote was For: 5 (Aburish, Brown, Goeld, Wall, Dombkowski), Against: 0, Absent: 0. A yes vote denied the appeal. Owners of small equestrian lots gain a favorable precedent. Neighbors who object to such exceptions lost this round.

What's next: The motion covered only the appeal. The code review came as council guidance during deliberation, not a separate vote. Schaan said an amendment "could be anywhere from 4 to 6 months," moving through the LEHC, possibly the Planning Commission, and then the council. Mayor Pro Tem Paul Goeld asked for "grandfathering in the permits that are here." Brown asked for a report on encouraging horsekeeping. Aburish and Wall backed revising the code.

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Flock Response Passes, Vendor Debate Deferred

Why it matters: The vote meets the grand jury's response deadline. It also pushes the larger question of keeping Flock, whose contract ends in 2027, to the next council.

Where things stand: Interim Town Manager Pamela Antil said the town fared well in the civil grand jury's review of automated license plate readers (ALPRs). She noted the grand jury had not received the town's audit documents. Antil defended labeling the audit requirement as complete: "We have implemented an audit compliance that meets what they wrote." She said the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office operates the cameras.

One councilmember said Woodside shares data with only three agencies and that "Woodside was at the very top of the list, and it was not close for our compliance with these things."

The other side: Wall pressed several points. She questioned who counts as the program operator and whether recommendation 5 should read "in progress." She also asked whether the town should seek a mid-term compliance addendum with Flock and strengthen its own policy. "A civil grand jury convened to look at Flock and look at ALPRs is an indication that there is a problem here," Wall said. She urged a pause and a discussion about continuing with Flock.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Dombkowski sided with approving the draft. "I do feel good about the report myself, so I'm with the majority of the council that it's good to go as is," he said. Aburish moved approval. The vote was For: 4 (Aburish, Brown, Goeld, Dombkowski), Against: 1 (Wall), Absent: 0. Wall paired her no vote with praise for staff: "I'm voting no. I want to acknowledge the hard work that the staff did."

What's next: The response is due Nov. 2-3. Members who favored approval said they wanted to revisit Flock later.

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Woodside Road Median Moves Toward Bidding

Why it matters: Neighbors say the project affects roughly a third of town. It pairs native, drought-tolerant landscaping and a welcome sign with Caltrans' planned cut of the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph.

Where things stand: The council approved plans, authorized construction bids and approved a $350,000 construction management agreement. Staff member Lewis said that once Caltrans signs off, "we can move forward, put this project out to bid, and perhaps start the construction early in 2027." Brown asked about sightlines at Northgate and Southgate. Lewis said the landscaping would not obstruct traffic and would be maintained annually.

Public commenters thanked Dombkowski for securing $2.5 million for the project. "It's crazy that our kids that go to Woodside High across Woodside can't walk or safely ride their bike to high school," said Dan Drucker, president of the Mill Road Homeowners Association. Public commenter Nancy Dietz Mossbacker said "it terrifies me to run on Woodside Road now" and asked for a blinking crosswalk at Moore Road. Wendy Buckley, president of the Woodside Hills Homes Association, also thanked the mayor, staff and committee.

The other side: Hanson asked about bids, grant coverage and the maintenance budget, urging fiscal responsibility. Staff said a maintenance contractor has not been selected and that a maintenance budget will return next fiscal year.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The resolution passed. Aburish, Goeld, Wall and Dombkowski voted yes, and Brown's vote was not recorded. Residents along the corridor and Woodside High families stand to gain. The town will carry ongoing maintenance costs that have not yet been budgeted.

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Sheriff's Contract: 8.1% More, Billed Differently

Why it matters: Policing is the town's largest budget line item.

Where things stand: Brown said the increase "seems like a pretty steep increase." Staff said it reflects personnel costs, compared with a 7% annual budget assumption. "But all of the contract cities received the exact same increase in their cost," Antil said. She said the council subcommittee won actual-cost billing on a quarterly schedule rather than twice a year. Staff described that arrangement as a first in the county.

The other side: Hanson said the town is down one motorcycle officer but "still being billed for 2." Antil said a patrol deputy backfills the vacancy. Public commenter Walker Wells suggested exploring "direct negotiation with CHP" for motor patrol as leverage.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Wall urged the subcommittee to keep overseeing the contract. Brown moved the pulled consent items 2 and 7, and they passed For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0.

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Minor Items

• Highway 35/84 safety letter: Approved 5-0 to support the South Coast Traffic Advisory Panel's recommendations, which include expanding the state's speed camera pilot.
• 280 East bike/pedestrian path: Approved 5-0 within pulled items; the Caltrans encroachment permit is in its fifth round of review.
• Consent items 1, 3, 5 and 6: Approved 5-0 without discussion.
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Dombkowski proclaimed October 2026 in honor of CORA's shelter, legal and mental health services.
• Fire district centennial exhibit: Valia Lubin of the History Committee announced it, open first and third Saturdays.

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Looking Ahead

Speakers described the meeting as the last for this council before the election. They thanked Brown, who is retiring, along with Dombkowski and Goeld. Public commenter Tom Johnson asked when promised council training would occur, following an outside investigator's recommendation. Wall asked staff to schedule a public discussion of that training, and Antil said staff could place it on an upcoming agenda. A councilmember's request for the town's litigation cost figures remains unanswered.