City Council grants Masson Estates appeal 5–0

On August 19, 2026, the Saratoga City Council voted 5–0 to grant the applicant’s appeal of the Planning Commission’s denial of Masson Estates (Pierce Road). The hearing was lengthy. The Council’s action includes certifying the environmental impact report and conditionally approving design review and a 25-lot tentative map on the 72.45-acre hillside site.

Seven weeks earlier, on July 8, the Planning Commission had denied the same project 5–0, finding that environmental impacts — emergency access, emergency response, and evacuation — outweighed its benefits.

CRED’s position has not changed: Fehr & 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 (Table 10, p.33). That is a modeled estimate for a defined area, not a citywide observed time. A Council vote does not alter the model. Packet: https://www.saratoga.ca.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/ArchivedAgenda/_06032026-1267 (opens in a new tab)

CRED is reviewing the adopted resolutions, the certified EIR, and every remaining option available to a public-benefit corporation. Other Builder’s Remedy files in Saratoga are still active. Residents who spoke at the hearing — and those who could not — can stay engaged through alerts, neighborhood outreach, and support for independent research and legal review.

Primary documents: City of Saratoga Masson Estates project page; August 19, 2026 Council minutes (https://www.saratoga.ca.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08192026-1465 (opens in a new tab)); meeting video (https://saratoga.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=1614 (opens in a new tab)); agenda for item APCC26-0003 (https://www.saratoga.ca.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08192026-1465 (opens in a new tab)).