Confirm upcoming hearings on the city Agenda Center. Packets change.
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Saratoga · 501(c)(3)
CRED tracks Builder’s Remedy applications, defends emergency access in our hillsides, and insists state housing laws be implemented without sacrificing public safety.
Latest updates
Masson Estates · August 19, 2026
After a long hearing, Council reversed the Planning Commission’s emergency-access denial on Pierce Road. Fehr & Peers’ May 2026 model (Table 10: 2h 45 / 5h for the defined evacuation area) did not change. CRED is reviewing the certified EIR, the adopted resolutions, and every remaining lawful option.
Read the Masson record$50,000
First-stage Public Safety & Accountability Campaign — unrestricted gifts; independent review cannot wait
Pierce
Over capacity in the city’s July 2025 evacuation route-capacity assessment (baseline modeled scenario). CRED analysis
5 hrs
Up to 5 hours in a modeled evacuation scenario. See the assessment and assumptions · Report PDF (opens in a new tab).
5–0
City Council granted the Masson Estates appeal on August 19. Meeting agenda and video are linked on the Masson record
Who we are
Citizens for Responsible & Equitable Development is a volunteer public-benefit corporation. We work for the responsible implementation of SB 330, SB 9, SB 10, and related laws in Saratoga — through research, monitoring, administrative advocacy, and litigation when other paths fail.
On August 19 the City Council granted the Masson Estates appeal. The evacuation assessments did not change. CRED is reviewing the record and lawful next steps — and still tracking every other hillside file.
Mission and board
CRED advocates for development decisions that fully account for evacuation, wildfire, flood, and emergency-access conditions in hillside neighborhoods.
Oak canopy, wildlife, and water limits are not optional extras on a 72-acre map.
We cite the city file, the EIR, and the evacuation study — and we label CRED analysis as ours.
Research, hearings, and administrative remedies first. Litigation only if those paths fail.
By neighborhood
Streets, not a map. Open a corridor, then the file. Confirm dates on the city agenda.
5 files · 5 on watch
One-way evacuation, oak woodland, Masson Estates and the county Mountain Winery file next door.
Council granted appeal 5–0 · Aug 19, 2026
County SB 330 · under CEQA review
AB 130 CEQA exemption under review
CEQA exemption request under review (PRC 21080.66)
EIR paused at applicant request
1 file · 1 on watch
Four units on Oak Place; Council appeal scheduled September 16 — confirm the agenda packet.
Neighbor appeal · Council Sept 16, 2026
2 files · 2 on watch
Quito Road Planning Commission September 9; Marshall Lane 132 townhomes in EIR.
Planning Commission · Sept 9, 2026
EIR in preparation · city estimate mid-September 2026
2 files · 2 on watch
Two hillside files still in environmental review.
EIR in process
EIR in preparation (no Draft EIR posted)
4 files · 2 on watch
Small-lot Builder’s Remedy files on the south side.
CEQA infill exemption peer review
Complete · inconsistency letter Jul 2, 2025
Complete · inconsistency letter Jan 23, 2025
Complete · inconsistency letter Jun 27, 2025
8 files · 1 on watch
Valley-floor and withdrawn files, including Vineyard One.
Builder’s Remedy withdrawn Aug 5, 2026
PC approved Aug 13, 2025 · Final map to Council
Deemed inconsistent Mar 7, 2025
Inconsistency letter Jun 28, 2025
Applicant may redesign
Inconsistency letter Jul 17, 2025
CEQA exemption peer review · inconsistency Feb 4, 2026
Inconsistency letter May 1, 2025
Urgent first-stage goal
$50,000
The Masson vote is in. Two more hillside hearings sit on this month’s calendar. Independent review of the record cannot wait for the next packet.
Your gift supports CRED’s charitable mission. The board currently expects to prioritize public records, independent expert review, mapping, translation, community outreach, and legal evaluation. Gifts are unrestricted, and the board may direct them wherever they will best advance CRED’s charitable purposes. CRED does not promise a lawsuit, a project reversal, or any other result.
Zeffy does not deduct platform or processing fees from your gift to CRED. At checkout, Zeffy will suggest a separate, optional contribution to Zeffy. You may change that amount, including to $0.
Three ways to give
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Citizens for Responsible & Equitable Development
20665 4th Street, Suite 201, Saratoga, CA 95070
Memo: CRED
Donation disclosure: Citizens for Responsible & Equitable Development, 20665 4th Street, Suite 201, Saratoga, CA 95070, is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt under IRC §501(c)(3), EIN 33-2882295. Donations support CRED’s charitable mission, including public education, public-records work, expert review, mapping, translation, community outreach, and related legal evaluation. Gifts are unrestricted and may be used wherever the board determines they will best advance CRED’s charitable purposes. No goods or services are provided in exchange; accordingly, 100% of the gift is intended to be deductible as a charitable contribution, subject to applicable law and the donor’s circumstances. Information about CRED’s revenues and expenses is available upon request at the address above or saratogacred@gmail.com. California charity information is available at oag.ca.gov/charities; registration does not imply endorsement. We use a permission-based supporter list. Email subscribers and donors are not statutory members. Do not send privileged legal material or sensitive evidence through these forms.
Notes
September 7, 2026
Quito Road is on the September 9 Planning Commission agendaCity page and Granicus still list 14076 Quito Road (69 units) for Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. Oak Place Council appeal is scheduled September 16. Confirm the live packet before you travel.
August 21, 2026
Two hearings after Masson: Quito Road Sept 9, Oak Place Sept 16CRED rebuilt the tracker from the city’s 21 Builder’s Remedy pages. The next public dates are Planning Commission and a neighbor appeal.
August 19, 2026
City Council grants Masson Estates appeal 5–0After a long hearing, Council reversed the Planning Commission’s emergency-access denial and approved the applicant’s appeal.
June 3, 2026
CRED analysis: what Saratoga’s evacuation assessments say about hillside capacityFehr & Peers’ May 2026 model estimated 2 hours 45 minutes for 90% — and 5 hours for 100% — of the population in the defined evacuation area to clear under existing-condition assumptions. That is not a citywide finding.