1968
Local Agency Formation Commission assigns unincorporated lands
A new governmental instrument in California, LAFCO began to assign San Mateo County's unincorporated lands to "spheres of influence" of adjoining cities. At issue are thousands of acres of open Stanford land lying between Menlo Park, Woodside, and Portola Valley — the foothills.

In an effort to keep these lands open and rural, CGF urges LAFCO to assign lands west of Junipero Serra Boulevard to Woodside and Portola Valley. Stanford, however, asks to have the lands in the sphere of influence of Menlo Park, which they feel could provide better public services for future development. Stanford's plans include industrial development of Webb Ranch, and considerable housing and industrial development along Sand Hill Road.

After months of heated hearings, the Commission assigns the portion of Webb Ranch east of Junipero Serra to Portola Valley, and other lands to Woodside. Menlo Park was assigned the lands north of SLAC up to Guernsey Field.

In its statement at the hearing, Committee for Green Foothills points out that, like every other land owner, Stanford is subject to regulation. Even then, as today, the argument was that Stanford can not be granted the right of unrestricted use of land to the detriment of the public, merely because its business is unique. The Committee continues to use these arguments today to discontinue special treatment of the County's largest developer, Stanford University.