Notes
Research notes and hearing briefings
Short, sourced updates — not a daily blog. We publish when the city record moves.
October 26, 2026
Thank you for the October 18 gatheringThe neighborhood gathering has been held. Neighbors’ gifts total more than $60,000.
September 18, 2026
CRED sues Saratoga over Masson EstatesThe hillside group filed a Santa Clara County lawsuit challenging the City’s August 19 approval of 25 homes on Pierce Road.
September 7, 2026
Quito Road is on the September 9 Planning Commission agendaSeptember 7, 2026 record. Those hearing dates have since changed. Use the project tracker for the October 14 agenda and the Oak Place vote.
August 21, 2026
Two hearings after Masson: Quito Road Sept 9, Oak Place Sept 16August 21, 2026 record. The September dates in this note have passed. Use the project tracker for what is scheduled now.
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.
July 8, 2026
Planning Commission denies Masson Estates 5–0Commissioners found that environmental impacts — emergency access, response, and evacuation — outweighed the project’s benefits.
2025–2026
Builder’s Remedy — why every Saratogan should be paying attentionState housing laws can force ministerial processing. They do not erase wildfire physics, tree canopy, or a two-lane hill road.