League of Women Voters of California
Santa Clara County, CA November 7, 2000 Election
	Emily Cheng Answers Questions Candidate for Member, City Council; Town of Los Altos Hills

The questions were prepared by the Los Altos - Mountain View League of Women Voters and asked of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. What is your vision for Los Altos Hills and how would you implement it?

Los Altos Hills is a residential community amid rolling hills and open space. Its one acre minimum zoning, and reasonably rural environment, yet closeness to town, makes it one of the most desirable places to live. I would love to preserve this uniqueness. I want to keep all the existing building codes, but have stricter landscape mitigation control. I would like to make sure the residents receive the latest technological advancements in communications. I want better maintenance programs for roadside paths, while making off-road pathways voluntary. I will listen to residents' input and represent the majority of them. I will make Los Altos Hills even more desirable in years to come.

2. How should Los Altos Hills accommodate individual building design to lessen the impact of development on the land, such as drainage erosion or visual impact?

Landscape mitigation is very important. I support having stricter landscape control by increasing landscape deposits and ensuring that adequate landscaping is installed. On lots greater than one acre, I support conducting a study to increase the setbacks to reduce the visual impact of larger homes from neighboring homes. I support underground utilities, which will give a more open feeling, while improving the visual impact. I recognize drainage is a major unsolved problem in our town. I will create comprehensive neighborhood plans, rather than band-aid solutions of ineffective piecemeal approaches, to resolve the drainage erosion.

3. What are the short term issues facing Los Altos Hills, and how would you address them?

There is an influx of new residents in our town, mostly families with young children who desire greater recreational activities. I initiated the creation of the Parks and Recreation Committee, dedicated to developing recreational programs and activities for families with children. These programs will continue year round. Also, we are in the process of rewriting the land use elements of the General Plan. I support a Town-wide survey, that will be sent out to all residents before the end of the year, to provide input for rewriting the General Plan.