January 15, 2026
RE: Protecting the O’Keefe Open Space Preserve and other Open Spaces in Los Altos Hills
Dear Mayor Bhateja and Los Altos Hills City Councilmembers,
The Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter is concerned with the proposed ballot initiative, discussed by the City Council in October and November of 2025, to un-designate the O’Keefe Open Space Preserve and rezone it for multifamily housing development. Furthermore, we are alarmed at the City’s intent to avoid the CEQA process in its October and November discussions.
Los Altos Hills should provide affordable housing without sacrificing open spaces or avoiding CEQA. Los Altos Hills, rather than building on open space, should prioritize other parcels as it seeks to meet its housing goals.
The O’Keefe Open Space Preserve contains habitat value worth protecting, including Purisima Creek and a lush riparian corridor. In our discussions with community members and our visit to the site, we noted that the Preserve also serves the community with public trails, and is beloved to Los Altos Hills residents. Residents have frequently observed wildlife in and nearby the Preserve, which is unsurprising given the proximity of the O’Keefe Open Space Preserve to the Santa Cruz Mountains and natural areas within Los Altos Hills. Riparian corridors, which are crucial for wildlife health and mobility, are already heavily impacted in the Bay Area and should not be degraded further.
The City should continue to protect this and other Open Spaces in Los Altos Hills and find housing solutions that don’t sacrifice the cherished natural areas that were meant to be untouched in perpetuity. The City should adhere to CEQA and commit itself to a transparent public process that takes into account the input of residents and the value of local ecology.
Sincerely,
Dashiell Leeds
Conservation Coordinator
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter