Save Our Open Spaces
Stop the Los Altos Hills City Council from bulldozing O’Keefe Open Space Preserve
Build in the Right Places. Not Our Open Spaces.
California needs more housing — and Los Altos Hills must do its part
But the City Council’s ballot measure to bulldoze the protected O’Keefe Open Space Preserve isn’t housing policy – it’s a disaster
O’Keefe was protected by voters to be shared for generations. Now, it’s up to us to protect it against the City’s deceptive, destructive plan
The Problem
Los Altos Hills City Council is advancing a ballot measure to rezone and develop O’Keefe Open Space Preserve — an end-run around voter-approved open space protections
It’s a bad plan that would destroy our open space and is unlikely to lead to any actual housing our community needs
What’s worse, the City Council is pushing to pave over this nature preserve with a backdoor ‘citizens initiative’ that bypasses environmental and open meeting laws
We support real housing solutions – thoughtful infill, community land trusts. What we reject is sidestepping the law to bulldoze open space
It’s time for City Council to withdraw this unlawful ballot initiative, protect our open space and focus on housing solutions that actually work
This is Serious and affects Everyone
Los Altos Hills exists because residents chose to protect places like O’Keefe, Byrne Preserve, Juan Prado Mesa Preserve, amongst others
These lands form a connected system of trails, wildlife habitat, and natural refuge that defines our community
Environmental advocates warn that this conduct represents more than a procedural dispute — it reflects a site selection failure with lasting environmental consequences
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exists to protect communities before irreversible decisions are made — not after
If the City succeeds here, it sets a dangerous precedent
Decisions are made first
The process is hidden
The public is asked to approve it later
Residents are calling for
An immediate halt to all unlawful initiative activity
A full and honest CEQA review — before any ballot measure
No back-room deals. No sham “Citizens Initiatives”
Today it’s O’Keefe. Tomorrow it could be any land residents believed was permanently protected.
Voter-protected open space should not be sacrificed through unlawful City shortcuts.
Protect open spaces.
Protect O’Keefe.
Protect the vote.
