Architectural Board
Board Members
You can send an email to all Architectural board members at [email protected].
You can send an email to all Architectural board members at [email protected].
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Dave Burow, Chair
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David Eichler
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DEichler@woodsidehills.org
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Mary Brasher
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MBrasher@woodsidehills.org
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Construction and remodeling in Woodside Hills are regulated by the building and zoning codes of the Town of Woodside and the CC&Rs of Woodside Hills. These CC&Rs provide for an Architectural Board (AB) to enforce and interpret the regulations contained in the CC&Rs so as to maintain uniform community standards.
The AB is composed of three Woodside Hills' residents who are appointed by the Board of Directors. The members of the AB volunteer their time to review project plans and visit construction sites.
Planning
If you are planning a construction or remodeling project, the AB suggests the following steps:
In general, our Architectural Board tries to make certain that:
Please note that unlike the Town, we do require approval of external paint color when repainting if the color is a change. Generally, earth-tone colors are recommended.
Because we recognize the importance of your project, the AB tries to make its determination quickly. Most simple remodeling projects take just a few days for approval.
During Construction
Once you receive approval and permits to begin your project, it is important that you and your contractors respect your neighbors and the community during the progress of your construction. We ask you to note the following rules:
If you would like to speak with the Architectural Board, or if you have any questions about our regulations, please contact one of the board members listed on the Contact Us page.
Click below to see the Architectural Board Policies and Procedures.
The AB is composed of three Woodside Hills' residents who are appointed by the Board of Directors. The members of the AB volunteer their time to review project plans and visit construction sites.
Planning
If you are planning a construction or remodeling project, the AB suggests the following steps:
- You or your architect should make some rough sketches of the existing area of proposed construction along with the changes you would like to make.
- Make an appointment with a Planner at the Town of Woodside (2955 Woodside Rd. 650-851-6790) and go in to review these sketches. The Planner will look at your sketches and make suggestions or offer alternatives that will facilitate meeting your objectives with a minimum of requirements from the Town. They will also advise you as to what the Town needs in the form of documentation to review the final plans. Knowing this in advance can save much time and effort. Finally, they will advise you of the permit costs, which can be substantial as it must cover the costs of the services and inspections the Town will make.
- Call one of our AB members, tell them what you want to do and get their inputs on aspects they will be concerned with. If necessary, they can drop by to discuss any problems you know of (such as impacts on neighbors). You should read the AB Policy and Procedures, which can be downloaded from the link at the end of this page.
- With all these preliminary steps, prepare final detail plans that can be submitted to our AB and the Town for approval.
- Submit the plans first to our AB. If you go to the town first, they will send you back to have the plans stamped by our AB. If your plans impact your neighbors, our AB will ask you to take your plans to your neighbors and have them sign one set to record the fact that they have seen the plans. If they have objections, they are free to voice them for consideration by the AB but neighbors do not have to approve the plan.
- Take the stamped plans to the Town.
In general, our Architectural Board tries to make certain that:
- Your project conforms to the specific requirements of Woodside Hills C, C & R's. Note that in all units of Woodside Hills, the minimum side and rear set-back is 25 feet
- Your project is generally conforming to the aesthetic standards of our neighborhood (earth-tone colors and general architecture style).
- Your project does not adversely impact your neighbors.
Please note that unlike the Town, we do require approval of external paint color when repainting if the color is a change. Generally, earth-tone colors are recommended.
Because we recognize the importance of your project, the AB tries to make its determination quickly. Most simple remodeling projects take just a few days for approval.
During Construction
Once you receive approval and permits to begin your project, it is important that you and your contractors respect your neighbors and the community during the progress of your construction. We ask you to note the following rules:
- By law, construction is only allowed between 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM on weekdays and between 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturdays. Construction is not allowed during any other time periods.
- Per the CC&Rs, the only signs allowed are 'for sale' signs, so we ask homeowners to refuse requests by contractors to put their signs up.
- Please notify your neighbors in advance of any hazardous, noisy, inconvenient (such as blocking a roadway) or particularly dirty (dust-generating) parts of your project.
- In order to protect the safety of pedestrians and drivers, construction crew vehicles should not be parked on the "safety trail" (asphalt sidewalk) or the roadway.
- Portable toilets should not be visible from the roadway. and construction equipment, if kept on the property overnight, should be kept off the roadway and preferably out of sight.
- Whenever possible, debris boxes should not be visible from the roadway and should be removed from the construction site as quickly as possible.
- Construction crews should clean up all construction debris and personal waste (such as lunch wrappers and soda cans) at the close of each day.
- You must restore all damaged areas, including damage to plants, roadways, sidewalks or grass - whether on public property (such as a traffic island) or private property (including a neighbor's property) -- as soon as possible following construction. Your project's final approval may be withheld until damaged areas are restored.
- Fences that are visible from the street should be screened by the planting of shrubs and plants no later than one month following the completion of your fence work.
If you would like to speak with the Architectural Board, or if you have any questions about our regulations, please contact one of the board members listed on the Contact Us page.
Click below to see the Architectural Board Policies and Procedures.
| whha-architectural-board-policies-and-procedures-11-17-2016.pdf |
Guidelines for Hedge Fences
The Woodside Hills Homes Association CC&Rs require the Association to review and approve "Hedge Fences." The purpose of this section is to set forth guidelines for review and approval of "Hedge Fences."
Definition
A hedge fence shall be defined as a series of plants generally in a collinear array having sufficient density as to obscure visibility through the array. The array should exceed twenty feet in length (measured at the widest points) to be considered a hedge fence. The plant specie shall be such as to produce year-round screening.
General Principals
Among all the items in the CC&Rs that we are required to regulate (See Article III Section 3), hedge fences are the only ones which can grow or be pruned. For that reason special guidelines are needed. Fences are usually intended to be a delineator between the street or neighbor's property. The usual issue that arises is privacy vs. view impairment. The Association encourages neighbors to find compromises when conflicts arise.
The Association will not actively "police" these guidelines but rather will respond to requests for review received from property owners. Hedge fences in existence as of the date of adoption of this policy and exceeding the heights limits specified herein are "grandfathered" at their height on the adoption date.
Specific Principles
The Woodside Hills Homes Association CC&Rs require the Association to review and approve "Hedge Fences." The purpose of this section is to set forth guidelines for review and approval of "Hedge Fences."
Definition
A hedge fence shall be defined as a series of plants generally in a collinear array having sufficient density as to obscure visibility through the array. The array should exceed twenty feet in length (measured at the widest points) to be considered a hedge fence. The plant specie shall be such as to produce year-round screening.
General Principals
Among all the items in the CC&Rs that we are required to regulate (See Article III Section 3), hedge fences are the only ones which can grow or be pruned. For that reason special guidelines are needed. Fences are usually intended to be a delineator between the street or neighbor's property. The usual issue that arises is privacy vs. view impairment. The Association encourages neighbors to find compromises when conflicts arise.
The Association will not actively "police" these guidelines but rather will respond to requests for review received from property owners. Hedge fences in existence as of the date of adoption of this policy and exceeding the heights limits specified herein are "grandfathered" at their height on the adoption date.
Specific Principles
- The Association shall only regulate hedge fences located in the front, side or rear setbacks of the property.
- Maximum height shall not exceed the height that would be allowed by Town regulations for an open wire fence plus two feet.
- Plant specie that are unsuitable for pruning shall not be used in hedge fences. (e. g. redwood trees, Monterey pines, acacia trees, bamboo).
- Plantings used to hide or screen a wire or solid fence shall not be considered to be hedge fences providing they are not allowed to grow more than two feet above the fence.
- Any plantings which become a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic shall be cut back by the property owner (or the Association, at the owners expense, if he refuses) to insure safety of vehicles and pedestrians.
- Hedge fences in a location where they may impair a neighboring property's view shall be pruned to a height not to exceed the lesser of (a) the allowable fence height plus two feet or (b) eight feet..
- The Association may make a request of a property owner to prune a hedge fence back to meet these guidelines and if denied the Association, after appropriate review and consultation with the parties, has the right to have the work done and charged to the property owner.