By Linda Taaffe

Less traffic, more retail-residential developments and the preservation of the village atmosphere are key elements in a new 20-year blueprint for Los Altos that the city council approved this month.

California law requires each city to adopt a long-term General Plan with guidelines and policies to serve as a primary document for development decisions in the following seven areas: land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise and safety. Los Altos updated its 1987 plan this month after a year of gathering community feedback.

Community Planning Director James Walgren said the city made few changes to most elements of the plan since studies indicated that Los Altos has experienced minor changes over the past 15 years when the plan was last updated.

There have been many significant changes to the surrounding region, Walgren said, but not in Los Altos. The city’s population has increased only 2 percent over the past 13 years, from 27,189 residents to 27,893, compared to a 12 to 18 percent increase in surrounding communities. Los Altos remains a relatively built-out community with a small commercial base, he added.

Walgren said the updated plan is intended to provide policies for managing and enhancing the city’s existing character and land use patterns. Planning focuses on stimulating new economic growth and revitalizing older areas.

Circulation changes

The most significant changes occurred in the circulation element, Walgren said. The plan aims to discourage and reduce city traffic.

“A lower level of service and longer delays on the city’s major arterial routes are more preferable to widening streets and encouraging more traffic,” he said.

The element calls for implementing street improvements that would calm traffic and discourage commuters.

Housing

The city last March approved a housing element, which identifies more than 80 sites where 162 state-mandated housing units can potentially be added to the city’s inventory between now and 2006.

Land use

Land use patterns will generally remain unchanged,with exception to four targeted areas: El Camino Real, Foothill Plaza, El Retiro and the downtown core.

The council could consider amending zoning regulations that would essentially “relax development standards” to encourage more housing, Walgren said.

The zoning changes would allow developers to build three story structures with larger floor development in exchange for providing affordable housing. Buildings are currently limited to two stories in these areas.

To view the full General Plan document, logon to www.ci.los-altos.ca.us

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