Stanford University has announced that it has decided to step away from its option to purchase Notre Dame de Namur University’s (NDNU) academic campus within the City of Belmont. This decision is after careful evaluation of their broader priorities and does not reflect on the merits of the project or the collaboration between Stanford and the City. Read more here. 

Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Available for Public Review

• Stanford Belmont Draft EIR August 2024
• Notice of Availability 8-2-24
• Stanford CEQA-EIR FAQ Handout

Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Appendices

• Appendix A Notice of Preparation and Scoping Comments
• Appendix B City of Belmont Standard Development Requirements and Conditions of Approval
• Appendix C Air Quality Energy and Green House Gases
• Appendix D Biological Resources 
• Appendix E Cultural and Tribal Resources Part 1
• Appendix E Cultural and Tribal Resources Part 2
• Appendix F Geology Soils Data
• Appendix G Hazards and Hazardous Materials
• Appendix H Preliminary Engineering Report
• Appendix I Noise Vibrational Assessment
• Appendix J Transportation
• Appendix K Vegetation Management Plan

PROPOSED PROJECT

Stanford entered into an option to a purchase agreement with Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) in September 2021 to work toward Stanford’s purchase of the 46-acre campus. The agreement provides Stanford with an option to purchase the property by mid-2025. On October 5, 2022 Stanford submitted an application to the City of Belmont for a Conceptual Development Plan (CDP) and Development Agreement (DA) for the NDNU campus property.  Stanford seeks to renovate and revitalize the campus with continued use of academic and related on site housing and other academic support uses over a 30-year timeframe - this is the current, proposed “project”.

The CDP will create site specific zoning standards through establishment of a new Planned Unit Development (PD) District for the property.  If established, the zoning standards of the PD would guide any future development on the campus.  Standards would include such things as proposed land uses, maximum allowable square footage, general location of on-site improvements, maximum building heights and on-site circulation patterns. 

At this time, there are no specific development or improvement plans proposed - such details are proposed to be submitted to the City after the project has secured approvals and subsequently, once the academic program details for the first phase of the Belmont Campus are identified by Stanford.  

The proposed project is also subject to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be prepared. The City is currently in the process of selecting a 3rd party environmental consulting firm to prepare the EIR.

At this stage in the process, Stanford has broadly identified the following four, proposed community benefits which will require further detailed discussions and evaluations prior to any formal consideration by the City through the DA process:

1. Restoration of Ralston Hall for community use.
2. Formalized community access to Koret Field.
3. Ralston Ave. transportation/infrastructure improvements (financial contributions at time of future construction and bicycle infrastructure improvements).
4. Establish a Stanford/Belmont Educational Initiative.

The proposed CDP, DA and associated EIR will be processed simultaneously by the City.

STANFORD SUBMITTED DOCUMENTS:

October 5, 2022 Stanford Application Submittal Documents:

• CDP Application
• CDP Forms Signed
• 11"x17" Figures
• Project Site Photos

December 20,2022 City Comment Letter

• City Comment Letter, December 20, 2022

January 31, 2023 Stanford Resubmittal Documents:

• Stanford Response Letter, January 31, 2023
• Environmental Form
• Belmont MMRP Agreement

Additional Graphics Submitted, April 2023:

• Site Plan-Combined Graphics
• Circulation Pattern

Additional Graphics Submitted, August 2023:

• Development Areas
• Property Line with 25' Increments

Application Amendment, April 2024:

• Amendment to CDP Application, Received April 24, 2024

 Fiscal and Economic Impact Analysis, June 2024:

• Fiscal and Economic Impact Analysis, prepared by Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. for the City, Received June 7th, 2024

Technical Reports Submitted:

• Title Report, Received October 05, 2022
• Tree Inventory Report Survey, Received October 05, 2022
• Quad Maps for Tree Survey, Received October 05, 2022
• Geotechnical Report, Received October 05, 2022
• Biology Report, Received October 05, 2022
• Engineering Report, Received January 31, 2023
• Historical Evaluation Report, Received January 31, 2023
• Financial Impact Analysis Memo, Received February 7, 2023
• Revised Tree Inventory Report, Received March 6, 2023
• Phase I Report Main Campus, Received March 17, 2023
• Phase I Report Koret Field, Received March 17, 2023
• Phase II Report, Received March 17, 2023
• Vegetation Management Plan, Received March 27, 2023
• Cultural Report, Received May 23, 2023
• Updated Title Report, Received May 23, 2023
• Traffic Impact Analysis, Received August 1, 2023
• Traffic Study, Received August 1, 2023
• Conceptual Transportation Demand Management Plan, Received August 16, 2023
• Addendum to the NDNU Wildfire/Vegetation Management Plan, Received August 16, 2023
• Traffic Counts for Traffic Study, Received August 18,2023
• Standford Belmont Vissim Traffic Operation Results for Traffic Study, Received August 18, 2023
• Traffic Video Simulation, Received on August 21, 2033 (Files may be requested via email provided below)

• Current Infrastructure_08:15
• Current Infrastructure_15:25
• Current Infrastructure_17:10
• Roundabout_08:15
• Roundabout_15:25
• Roundabout_17:10
• Signal_8:15
• Signal_15:25
• Signal_17:10

• Assessment of Potential Impacts of the Stanford Belmont Campus Project on Historical Resources, Received August 23, 2023
• Air Quality, Health Risk Assessment, Greenhouse Gas and Energy Technical Report, Received August 28, 2023
• Preliminary Evaluation of Faulting- Cut Slope Logging, Received September 5, 2023
• Perkins Cole Geology and Soils Analysis Letter, Received September 5, 2023
• Biological Report, Received September 8, 2023
• Biological Report, Received November 8, 2023
• Air Quality, Health Risk Assessment, Greenhouse Gas and Energy Technical Report w/ Appendix, Received December 15, 2023
• Transportation Impact Analysis, Received December 15, 2023
• Vegetation Management Plan, Received December 15, 2023
• Addendum to the Vegetation Management Plan, Received December 25, 2023
• Revised Air Quality, Health Risk Assessment, Greenhouse Gas and Energy Technical Report w/ Appendix, Received July 5, 2024

ENVIRONMENTAL/CEQA

• Notice of Preparation 5-24-23

MEETINGS:

This project is still under review. Public hearing dates will be identified once the environmental review of the project is complete.

• 6-6-23 Planning Commision Meeting, EIR Scoping Meeting
• 7-23-2024 City Council Update, Public Meeting
• 8-20-2024 Planning Commission Meeting, Public Comment on EIR

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS:

Stanford University has its own project website including community outreach information, events, email lists and FAQS. Feel free to contact Stanford's external relations person, Lucy Wicks, lwicks@stanford.edu, or the general project email at belmontcampus@stanford.edu.

If you have questions or comments about the project, please email stanfordNDNU@belmont.gov. If you prefer to call, contact the Contract Principal Planner from Good City Company, Stephanie B. Davis, at (650) 773-7249.