Los Gatos General Plan Update - Los Gatos North 40

WHAT IS A GENERAL PLAN?

Every jurisdiction in California must have a General Plan, which is the local government’s long-term framework or “constitution” for future growth and development. The General Plan is prepared with extensive community engagement to create a plan that expresses the community’s vision for its future. California State law requires that each town, city, and county must adopt a General Plan for the physical development of the jurisdiction and any land outside its boundaries that bears relation to its planning. Typically, a General Plan is designed to address the issues facing the jurisdiction for the next 20 years.

Two-and-a-Half Years in the Making

For over two-and-a-half years and over 30 public hearings, the Town’s General Plan Update Advisory Committee (GPAC) has worked on the draft 2040 General Plan Update. The GPAC is comprised of Town Council Members, Planning Commissioners, and at-large members of the community. This draft was approved by the GPAC on May 6, 2021 and will next be reviewed by the Town of Los Gatos Planning Commission and ultimately decided upon by Town Council later in 2021. https://losgatos2040.com/

We have been listening to the GPAC deliberations over the past two-and-a-half years in addition to related workshops and Town conversations. The GPAC’s work was not easy as they, at the request of the community, have had to weave together a blueprint for the Town that addresses:

Climate change and increased risk of wildfire;
Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and
Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. [Source: Section 1.2 General Plan Update page 1-3].

All this while tasked with planning for new homes for all incomes to meet the Town’s fair share of the Bay Area’s housing need which is expected to be approximately 2,000 homes for the next Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) cycle which is from 2023 to 2031.

Download the RHNA Draft Methodology Report

The Draft Los Gatos General Plan 2040 shows a future of Los Gatos that welcomes diversity and inclusivity by embracing managed growth in key areas, reducing its carbon footprint by reducing vehicle miles traveled, and ensures the economic vitality of its iconic downtown and other important commerce districts.