2007-2008 General Plan Update

Background

The Town of Los Altos Hills is currently in the process of updating its General Plan. The Los Altos Hills General Plan has not been comprehensively updated since 1975. While each city or county is required by law to update the Housing Element of its General Plan every five years, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) recommends the remaining elements be reviewed for their appropriateness based on current conditions every eight to ten years.

In July 2005, the City Council formed an ad hoc committee to undertake the Town’s General Plan Update project. The purpose of the update is to correct errors, inaccuracies and obsolete references and to produce a more accurate, legible, and reproducible document, including improved graphics that accurately depict existing conditions in the Town.

Update Process

The elements to be updated were divided into three groups:

Phase 1
Includes the Introduction, Open Space & Recreation Element, and Conservation Element.

Phase 2
Includes the Safety and Noise Elements.

Phase 3
Includes the Land Use and Pathways Elements.

The remaining elements—Housing, and Circulation & Scenic Roadways—are more recent sections of the General Plan and will not be updated at this time.

Phases 1 and 2 have been completed

The City Council approved Phase 1 updated documents at its public hearing on April 26, 2007, and Phase 2 documents on November 8, 2007. The approved elements of the General Plan are available below for downloading; printed copies are also available at Town Hall. Prior to the City Council approval, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposed documents at public hearings on February 1, 2007, April 5, 2007 and November 1, 2007.

Phase 3 - Public Review

The Planning Commission will review the updated Land Use Element and Pathways Element and proposed Negative Declaration at their meeting on Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 7:00 PM and make a recommendation to the City Council.

The City Council will review the Phase 3 updates and proposed Negative Declaration at their meeting on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 7:00 PM.

• Land Use Element (Draft)
• Land Use Diagram (Draft)
• Pathways Element (Draft)
• Initial Study and Negative Declaration (Draft)

Approved Updates

The following General Plan documents were approved by the City Council on April 26, 2007 and November 8, 2007.

• Introduction
• Conservation Element
• Open Space and Recreation Element
• Noise Element
• Safety Element