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Los Altos planning commission hears kickoff of comprehensive general plan update; staff outlines two-year schedule
Summary
Senior planner Britney Whiteill told the Planning Commission on Jan. 15 that a comprehensive general plan update will be led by a consultant team, run about two years, include an environmental review, and target adoption by the end of 2027; the commission will serve as the recommending body.
The Los Altos Planning Commission on Jan. 15 heard a staff presentation launching a comprehensive update of the city’s general plan, a two-year process staff said will involve consultants, technical advisors and broad community outreach.
Britney Whiteill, senior planner, told commissioners the city’s current general plan was adopted in 2002 and that recent changes in state law and local priorities make an update necessary. “The general plan update will be an all hands-on deck effort from city staff,” Whiteill said, adding the project will be managed by the planning division and supported by a team of consultants.
Whiteill described a four-phase schedule: phase one will document existing conditions and form a community vision; phase two will develop alternative land-use and circulation scenarios and select a preferred plan; phase three will prepare the draft general plan and the environmental impact report (EIR); and phase four will bring planning commission and city council hearings for recommendation and adoption. She said the city has targeted adoption for the end of 2027.
Whiteill said the city has hired a lead consultant (identified in the presentation as Dietbatia) supported by five subconsultants and that a technical advisory committee of city staff and partner agencies — including Santa Clara County Fire, Cal Water and Valley Water — will provide subject-matter expertise. “Community engagement will be central to this process,” she said, describing outreach through stakeholder interviews, neighborhood pop-ups, community workshops, interactive online maps, surveys and social-media tools.
Commissioners asked several procedural questions about who would prepare the EIR and how the commission and council would conduct study sessions. Whiteill confirmed the consultant team will prepare the EIR and said a joint commission study session focused on community visioning is planned early in the project; an EIR scoping meeting will be scheduled later to gather public input on environmental issues to be studied.
Why this matters: Los Altos’ last comprehensive plan was adopted with a 2020 horizon; commissioners said the update will align the city with recent state mandates (including updated housing and safety elements) and address new growth, sustainability and community priorities.
Votes at a glance: The commission took two procedural votes during the meeting. It unanimously approved (roll call) a motion to permit Commissioner Steinley to attend remotely pursuant to AB2449; it also unanimously approved the consent calendar, including Nov. 6, 2025 meeting minutes and the 2026 meeting dates. Staff said the draft work plan, updated to reflect the commission’s direction, will be forwarded to council for consideration in February.
Next steps: Staff will circulate an updated work plan and confirm the commission’s presentation date to city council; the general plan team will begin phase-one outreach and schedule the EIR scoping meeting in a later phase.
