Developer Forrest Linebarger bought two adjoining parcels at 10728 and 10758 Mora Drive in 2006 for $2.87 million and first pursued single-family homes; the town of Los Altos Hills annexed the property over his objection in 2012. In early 2023, before HCD certified the town's housing element on May 30, 2023, he proposed builder's remedy projects of a five-story, 44-unit condominium building on each 0.4-acre lot. The project later became Silver Oaks Senior Housing, revised in May 2025: 62 senior units (30 and 32 per site), six of them for extremely low-income households. Staff described five stories over a two-level podium, more than 80 feet tall; the General Plan allows one unit per acre on these sites. On June 18, 2025 the council voted 5-0 to deny both projects, adopting findings under the Housing Accountability Act (Gov. Code 65589.5(d)) that cited density and fire and evacuation dangers: the area was designated a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone in May 2025, and Mora Drive is the only access and evacuation route. The California Housing Defense Fund and Linebarger sued in Santa Clara County Superior Court on September 15, 2025, alleging the town misused CEQA to delay the project and unlawfully denied it. No hearing or ruling has been reported. Whether the 2025 version kept builder's remedy status is unclear; the minutes say the applicant dropped its state density bonus claims. Tenure (rental or for-sale) is not stated in 2025 sources, so the project type is left blank. The lawsuit date comes from an undated Town Crier story whose context places it in 2025.
City Council · Court · Santa Clara County Superior Court
| Date | Event | What the record shows |
|---|---|---|
| February 17, 2023 | Builder's Remedy Plans Reported for Mora Drive Lots | The Los Altos Town Crier reports plans for a five-story, 44-unit condominium building on each 0.4-acre lot under the builder's remedy. Los Altos Town Crier: https://www.losaltosonline.com/news/two-los-altos-hills-property-owners-testing-state-s-builder-s-remedy/article_cf87064e-aee8-11ed-ac4d-2b380900f5ef.html |
| May 30, 2023 | State Certifies Town Housing Element | HCD finds the Los Altos Hills housing element in substantial compliance. Town of Los Altos Hills: https://engage.zencity.io/los-altos-hills-ca/en/projects/housing-element-update-2023-2031-f817 |
| February 24, 2025 | Applicant Serves AB 1633 Notice | The notice cites a memo arguing the project qualifies for a Class 32 CEQA exemption. Town of Los Altos Hills: https://losaltoshills.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7276/Cover-Page-10728-Mora |
| May 1, 2025 | Revised 62-Unit Senior Plan Submitted | The revision proposes 30 and 32 senior units on the two lots, six for extremely low-income households (month only). Los Altos Town Crier: https://www.losaltosonline.com/news/housing-lawsuit-filed-against-los-altos-hills/article_b874b0d4-a2a1-4c6d-9a32-3c2c58d98c3c.html |
| June 18, 2025 | Council Denies Both Senior Projects 5-0 | Findings under Gov. Code 65589.5(d) cite density and fire and evacuation dangers: the area was designated a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone in May 2025, and Mora Drive is the only access route. Town minutes: https://www.losaltoshills.ca.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06182025-2883 |
| September 15, 2025 | Housing Group and Developer Sue Town | CalHDF and Linebarger allege the town misused CEQA to delay the project and unlawfully denied it. Los Altos Town Crier: https://www.losaltosonline.com/news/housing-lawsuit-filed-against-los-altos-hills/article_b874b0d4-a2a1-4c6d-9a32-3c2c58d98c3c.html |
| April 9, 2026 | CalHDF Sues Over Town's Housing Plan | A separate suit challenges Ordinance 621, adopted Dec. 9, 2025, and a housing element amendment adopted Feb. 2, 2026. CalHDF: https://calhdf.org/calhdf-challenges-los-altos-hills-housing-plan/ |
| Date | Body | Action | Vote | Staff rec. | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 18, 2025 | City Council | denied | 5–0 | Deny | Town minutes: https://www.losaltoshills.ca.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06182025-2883 |
| September 15, 2025 | Court | lawsuit filed | — | Unknown | Los Altos Town Crier: https://www.losaltosonline.com/news/housing-lawsuit-filed-against-los-altos-hills/article_b874b0d4-a2a1-4c6d-9a32-3c2c58d98c3c.html |
Rating 3 of 5. Multiple sources, including at least one primary record. Corrections: https://whokilledthebuilding.com/corrections.