Palo Alto, CA -- The Green Gables and Greenmeadow areas of the City of Palo Alto have applied for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The application was submitted by the Eichler Historic Quest Committee. Part of the procedure in such cases is that the State requests review and comment from the City by January 21, 2004.

"I'm requesting a postponement of the review by the State Historic Resources Commission," said Steve Emslie, Director of Planning and Community Environment for Palo Alto. "We received notification that this request was in the works but the short turnaround time asked for isn't possible with our current staffing and the winter furlough."

Emslie added that in any review of applications, neighborhoods need to be consulted. "The earliest we could schedule meetings for public comment would be late January," he added. He stressed that the City of Palo Alto did not initiate the request and is being asked to respond to the State.

"We will commit to doing the necessary public outreach to determine to what extent property owners in the affected neighborhoods support this nomination," said Emslie. Listing on the National Register is honorary only and there is no regulation on listed homes.

Emslie notified the State Office of Historic Preservation with a letter requesting the postponement and is waiting to hear their decision. "We're committed to public input on significant issues that affect neighborhoods, and this is one. We'll have to wait and see what the State decides."

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