Portola Valley Ranch

Standing on Alpine Road looking toward the Portola Valley Ranch neighborhood, it's hard to imagine there's a subdivision with 205 homes tucked away here. One can see a few houses filtered by trees, then rolling hills, oaks, and open space.

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But a community is thriving in Portola Valley Ranch, where there's something for everyone: an active community center, miles of trails, and acres of open space.

This is how developer Joe Whelan and the town's officials wanted it when the old Bovet Ranch was turned into this award-winning community in the late 1970's.

Honored with the Sunset Magazine/American Institute of Architects Home Award in 1977-1978, the ranch uses clustered housing on cul-de-sacs separated by green-belt land to minimize the impact the development has on the environment. There are no manicured lawns, private pools or fenced-in gardens -- they aren't allowed.

Instead there's lots of private open space with only about one-fourth of the 453-acre development used for homes. In keeping with the natural vegetation patterns of the surrounding hillsides, only plantings of native plants and trees are allowed.

The planners paid special attention to the beauty of the area when they developed the ranch. Regulations limit the color houses are painted to earth tones so they don't stand out against the natural backdrop, and water is conserved by using only native plants for landscaping. The primarily wood-constructed homes blend into the background. And with house sizes ranging from two to five bedrooms, a good mix of generations makes this neighborhood home.

"It was planned with the idea of empty-nesters, singles, and families all being able to find a home here, and there were 14 different home models to meet that need," says Marilyn Walter, the original Realtor for the ranch.

After raising her family in a large house on the other side of town, Walter was keen to move to a smaller home in the ranch where she would have lower maintenance -- and no lawn. She was the very first resident when she moved here in December 1976. After 30 years she's still enjoying an active lifestyle, hiking most days.

"It's a wonderful community with a good mix of generations," she says.

Neighbors gather at the community ranch house for monthly socials; they harvest, crush grapes and bottle their own wine at the ranch vineyard. There are two pools, tennis courts and miles of hiking trails and open space to enjoy. Group activities include hiking groups, book clubs, a community garden, and even a Family Fun Committee.

Tine Badger moved to the Ranch four years ago. With two young children of her own she is busy chairing the Family Fun Committee. They hold get-togethers at the community ranch house for a Halloween party, holiday party, food drive, movie night, pizza party, and Easter egg hunt. And there is lots of wonderful outdoor space for the children to play.

"We love it here -- the natural landscaping, the easy access to trails, the pools and tennis courts, she says. "We feel part of a community, are surrounded by nature, and yet only minutes to 280."

-- Sharon Driscoll