Los Altos Hills council adopts minor housing-element revisions after HCD comments

Los Altos Hills — The Town Council on Monday approved minor revisions to the town’s housing element amendment intended to address questions raised by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), staff said, and set those changes to be transmitted to HCD after a seven-day public review period.

Mayor Bateja moved to adopt a resolution approving the wording changes to the housing element amendment and making adoption contingent on HCD certification; an unnamed council member seconded the motion. The roll call in the record shows Council member Swan voting “Yes” and Mayor Bateja voting “Yes.” The resolution authorizes staff to transmit the revised language and make nonsubstantive typographical edits if HCD requests them; any substantive change would return to council.

Why it matters: The edits are time-sensitive because state law requires towns to post final wording for seven days before HCD completes its review. Staff said the changes are modest clarifications — adding a brief feasibility analysis statement, updating letters of support, and explicitly adding a mid-cycle review in 2029 with a procedure to identify replacement sites if any listed sites prove inadequate. Staff and the town’s…