Save Open Space Preserves

Stop Sham Citizen Initiatives

Protect O’Keefe Preserve

Open Space rezoning should not be decided behind closed doors

We are the SHIELD Coalition (Sustainable Housing Initiative for Environmental & Land Defense), a group of passionate Los Altos Hills residents and environmentalists dedicated to saving our sacred natural spaces from illegal rezoning and "backroom politics."

The Threat to O’Keefe Preserve

The 8-acre O’Keefe Open Space Preserve is not just another vacant lot to be usurped for housing. It is a serene habitat protected by the 2002 Open Space Initiative. It features a magnificent heritage oak, Purisima Creek, a stream and a vital wildlife corridor, and proximity to Ohlone archaeological sites.

Our City Council is attempting to undo voter-protected safeguards by unlawfully rezoning a portion of this preserve for housing.

Worse, they are masquerading a city-led plan as a "Citizen Initiative" specifically to bypass legally mandated environmental reviews (CEQA).

By calling it a "citizen" effort, they aim to avoid studying the project's impact on our water, wildlife, and traffic safety until after a vote has already occurred.

Why This Matters to You

This is not a debate about whether housing should be built; it is about whether our laws and our environment still matter.If the Town succeeds in using this loophole to gut protections for O’Keefe, it sets a dangerous precedent for all our preserves, including Byrne Preserve and Juan Prado Mesa Preserve.

If we don't stop this now, any land you thought was permanently protected could be next.

Our Legal Fight

The SHIELD Coalition has issued a formal legal demand to the Town, alleging:

How You Can Help

We are raising capital for the Save Open Space Fund.These resources will ensure we can sustain a long legal process to force the City Council to pivot to a lawful, responsible course of action.

Donate: Your contribution directly funds the experts and activities needed to protect our land.

Transparency: GoFundMe allows for anonymous donations, and SHIELD commits that any unused funds will be returned to donors.

Join the Fight: Help us demand an immediate halt to all unlawful City activity and a full, honest state mandated CEQA review before any measure reaches the ballot.

(NOTE: The GoFundMe tip is optional. To change it, use the slider or "Enter custom tip.")

Protect Open Spaces

Protect O’Keefe

Protect the vote

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SHIELD Coalition — Los Altos Hills Sustainable Housing Initiative for Environmental & Land Defense