Entrance Markers for Emerald Hills Based on community interest and an affirmative vote at the annual Emerald Hills Homeowners Assoc. meeting, we are moving forward with installing two entrance markers in the Emerald Hills area. The San Mateo County Public Works Dept. has approved the two proposed locations (see photos, inside). For these sites, we will have a large (4'x4') boulder with “Emerald Hills” engraved on the front. Based on the individual rock, it may, or may not have an oak tree as well. The markers are designed to be simple and blend in with the natural beauty of the area. Addition of future markers will be discussed at next year’s annual meeting. If you would like to donate money specifically for future markers, please mark ‘ENTRANCE MARKERS’ on your check. Please feel free to contact Sallie Martin with any input at 369-7494 or sallie.martin(at)emeraldhill.org.

(entrance marker mock-up; see below for location sites photos)

Old Brewster Reservoir Site Development?
This is a large parcel (~4 acres) of city land that is surrounded by Emerald Hills, between Hillcrest Dr and Upland Rd near Brewster St. It has come to our attention that Redwood City is preparing to make it available for sale, probably to private developers for the purpose of home-building. EHHA has gotten involved to help concerned residents organize and communicate with city and county officials in seeking land-use alternatives. For details, contact Carolyn Chaney or Lee Lukehart, or read the discussion online at www.emeraldhills.org/forums/.

Fire Safety
This is the fire season and everyone needs to be reminded of the importance of protecting his or her property against the possibility of a major neighborhood fire. As most homeowners know, Emerald Hills is one of the peninsula's high fire risk communities, but following a few simple fire safety practices can help prevent an Oakland Hills disaster.
Some of these practices are to:

1. Maintain a "defensible" space around your home by clearing all flammable vegetation, where possible, to within 30 feet of your home. Letting dry grass and brush accumulate near your house is dangerous for yourself and for your neighbors.
   
2. Clean all needles and leaves from your roof, eaves, and rain gutters.
   
3. Be sure to maintain the smoke detectors in your house.
   
4. Keep fire extinguishers both in the kitchen and in the garage.
   
5. Keep roads clear in the event of a fire, so fire personnel and equipment can quickly reach fires. Use the streets only to leave the area.
   
6. Pre-plan several escape routes from your home and neighborhood. Familiarize yourself with the roads up here. In the event of a major fire, your usual route out of the area might be blocked by other traffic, fire fighting equipment, or fire itself.
   
7. Always call 911 in emergencies and be prepared to give them your nearest cross street.
   
8. Do not try and fight a major fire yourself. As the tragedies in the Oakland Hills and Southern California made all too clear, you don't fight a residential firestorm, you get out fast! Let the professionals deal with this and stay out of their way.
   
9. Be especially aware that poison oak is widespread throughout the area and smoke from burning poison oak can be extremely dangerous, not only to your skin, but also to eyes, throats and lungs.
   
10. Part of community fire safety includes being aware of your neighbors. In the event of an evacuation, children or adults stranded at home cannot depend on family or friends to drive up into the hills to get them out. Teamwork becomes vital. It is important for you to know that there currently is NO notification system in place to alert firefighters of neighborhood elderly and/or disabled people who may also be in need of assistance in the event of such an evacuation.
    
11. If you feel that a nearby property is not being adequately cleaned up, call the Woodside Fire Station on California Way (368-2155) or the Calif. Dept of Forestry (CDF) at (366-7416).
    

Feel free to contact the local Woodside Fire Station for more information and expert advice on fire safety.

Is PG&E Looking Out for Us?
As you may know, Emerald Hills is an old community. Most of our gas lines have grown up with many of the houses. Around the community, these pipes are starting to fail. In fact, Sylvan Lane just had the entire street replaced due to gas leaks. Many leaks are evident in front of a single residence, and therefore it is hard to understand if there truly is an issue in this area. The Board of Directors invite you to give us feedback so that we get can approach PG&E about creating an upgrade plan for the area if one is needed. To do so, please visit www.emeraldhills.org/forums/, or write an email to sallie.martin(at)emeraldhill.org.

Community Market Corner Growing
If you’ve stopped by the old Community Market area, you’ve surely noted that the new Emerald Hills shops are coming along. Curves is open, and if you are a woman who wants to tone up and lose weight in 30 minutes a day, this is the community place to do it. Say 'hi' to Carolyn, our EHHA president, if you see her there. In June/July we’ll also have Scoops ice cream, a Mexican take-out shop, and a beauty salon. Next, the parking lot and shop facades will be spruced up. Look for an announcement of an open house later this summer

EHHA Pres. Carolyn Chaney, at newly-opened Curves

Recycling Assistance Available
RecycleWorks, the recycling program of San Mateo County, offers information and assistance on recycling, reuse, waste reduction, green building and composting to the residents, businesses and schools in San Mateo County. RecycleWorks is best known for its comprehensive website (www.RecycleWorks.org) and friendly and informative hotline (1-888-442-2666). RecycleWorks supports local efforts to reduce waste by offering presentations and workshops, coordinating countywide events and campaigns, and distributing publications and guides. RecycleWorks also helps implement business recycling programs that can save significant money in avoided disposal fees. Please contact RecycleWorks today.

Neighborhood Meetings
15 Years of Revised Zoning Regulations... Are They Working?
In 1989 zoning regulations for Emerald Hills were enacted in response to the residents cries for responsible building and developing. The residents appealed to San Mateo County's Supervisors, Planning Commissioners and Planning staff about rampant destruction of the land, including native trees and wildlife habitat, and about newly built houses that were out of character with the community.

The Board of Supervisors approved regulations specifying:

• Design Review Ordinance for site planning, architectural styles, building materials and colors, compatibility with the neighborhood, tree preservation and replacement, and limiting grading.
  
• The Design Review Committee to review all new construction plans with the goal of making new homes compatible with their neighborhood.
  
• A Floor Area Ratio of 30% to relate the size of homes to the lot size. No cap was requested on house size.
  
• Minimum lot size of 12,000 square feet for new subdivisions.
  
• A strong Tree Preservation Ordinance.

Fifteen years have come and gone. Do the Regulations successfully meet the expectations and needs of today's residents? Are you concerned that the cottage next door can be bulldozed and the new house will dwarf your home—and not fit into your neighborhood? Do you think that the native trees and streams are being destroyed? We want to know what you think, and we want to hear your ideas about revising the current zoning regulations.

We invite you to come to a community meeting where you can tell us if these regulations have been successful in preserving our special community, its resources and its character.

Locations of First Emerald Hills Entrance Markers
(continued from above)

South border, Lakeview & Jefferson

North border, Cordilleras & Lakeview