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HCD leaves Los Altos Hills housing element certified, council weighs resident committee to guide implementation
Summary
State reviewers certified Los Altos Hills' housing element with three minor technical concerns about multifamily site size, unit-size incentives and setbacks; council directed staff to refine zoning with the Planning Commission and asked staff to return with options for a citizen housing committee charter after researching neighboring cities.
Los Altos Hills received word from the state that its housing element amendment and related multifamily zoning remain certified, but Housing and Community Development flagged three technical issues that staff will refine before final adoption. Community Development Director Bradford said HCD viewed the town's 3.5-acre minimum and 10-acre cap for multifamily sites as potentially restrictive and proposed a 1-acre minimum and no cap. Bradford said HCD also questioned the town's unit-size range (350–2,000 sq ft, average ~750) and suggested using incentives or alternative methodologies rather than rigid size limits. Finally, HCD recommended smaller multifamily setbacks than the 60-foot standard the town proposed, noting multifamily typically uses smaller front setbacks.
"They thought those limitations were restrictions," Bradford said, describing HCD's feedback and adding that staff will work with the Planning Commission before returning to council. Mayor said the news was welcome but urged speed: "Our certification is intact. We have a few minor things to correct or change, and that should get us to approval," the mayor said.
During public comment residents urged the council to avoid a repeat of a previous certification delay. One resident who identified himself as John recalled that after the 2023 certification “everything ground to a halt,” and urged the town to look at regional incentive programs such as those used in San Jose. Dave Kellett, a Los Altos Hills resident, congratulated the town and warned that builder's remedy remains an ongoing risk.
Council members discussed next steps for implementation and public engagement. Staff recommended taking HCD's comments into Planning Commission review and returning with refined objective standards and zoning language. Separately, the council held an extended discussion about whether to form a standing citizen housing committee or use an ad hoc, resident-led charter process. Multiple residents and council members urged a transparent, representative committee; the city attorney recommended council set basic principles (scope, representation, conflict-of-interest rules) that a committee would follow.
Council direction: staff was asked to report back with a proposal that includes examples from nearby cities (Carmel, Portola Valley) and suggested principles for representation and guardrails, to be considered at a future meeting. The council emphasized that any citizen group would be advisory and that final decisions remain with the elected body.
