One Santa Clara County Planning Commission member was so angered that he suggested that the county hire a consultant to take over writing the plan from Stanford. Horton has responded to these critics by emphasizing that this is just a first draft that will continue to be refined. Stanford's may be more intense, however, because the University owns so much land in an area where so little remains undeveloped. One significant piece of the plan is the promise that more than 99 percent of the area in the Foothills south of Junipero Serra Boulevard would remain undeveloped for the next decade. Community activists have pushed to have this greenbelt preserved forever.
Administrators favor long-term protection of the land, but have balked at a permanent commitment.
With the draft application now public, the next step is for the University, the community and county officials to get to work ironing out their differences. A final version of the plan is to be given to the county on November 15.