Item 1 - Staff Report with Attachments
PREPARED BY: JENNIFER ARMER, AICP
Senior Planner
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
MEETING DATE: 04/23/2019
ITEM: 1
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
REPORT
REPORT
DATE: APRIL 19, 2019
TO: GENERAL PLAN UPDATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FROM: JOEL PAULSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: REVIEW THE EXISTING GENERAL PLAN VISION AND DISCUSS POTENTIAL
MODIFICATIONS
BACKGROUND:
The Los Gatos General Plan update process has so far included the following:
• All-hands kick-off meeting (August 23, 2018)
• Launch of the General Plan update website, losgatos2040.com (early September 2018)
• EngagementHQ (Topics and surveys opened October 1, 2018)
• Newsletter #1 General Plan Overview (October 1, 2018)
• Community Workshop #1: Assets, Issues, Opportunities, and Vision (October 17, 2018)
• GPAC Meeting #1 (October 30, 2018)
• GPAC Meeting #2 (December 11, 2018)
• Background Report (March 15, 2019)
• Newsletter #2: Background Report Summary (March 20, 2019)
• Spring into Green (April 14, 2019)
The Background Report (released March 15, 2019 and available online at
losgatos2040.com/documents.html) provides a snapshot in time of current (2018) conditions
and trends in Los Gatos and provide GPAC, decision-makers, and the public with background
and context for developing the General Plan. Information at the Spring into Green booth
included posters that provided an overview of the General Plan process, key milestones, and
opportunities to become involved, as well as a series of informational boards that highlighted
the key findings from the Background Report. A summary of the Spring into Green event and
the public comments and feedback received is included as Attachment 1.
PAGE 2 OF 3
SUBJECT: REVIEW THE EXISTING GENERAL PLAN VISION AND DISCUSS POTENTIAL
MODIFICATIONS
APRIL 19, 2019
N:\DEV\GPAC\GPAC Staff Reports\2019\4-23-19\Item 1 - Staff Report - Vision FINAL.docx
DISCUSSION:
To begin the discussion of the General Plan Vision chapter, we can start with a consideration of
what a Vision chapter can be, and what it can do:
• Ideal future aspirations to work towards;
• Inspiration for decision-makers and the community;
• Unique to the community;
• Comprehensive, long-term, visionary, and positive;
• A picture of 20 years into the future;
• Community direction for the future of Los Gatos;
• Guidance for the land use alternatives process; and
• Alignment for the goals, policies, and programs in the updated General Plan reflect
community values.
The Vision chapter of the 2020 General Plan (Attachment 2) is four pages and includes three
sections:
1. What Makes Los Gatos Special;
2. Role of the General Plan in Achieving the Vision; and
3. Vision Statement.
The existing themes summarized in the Vision chapter include:
• Fostering a pedestrian-oriented community with a small-town character;
• Maintaining a balanced, well-designed mix of residential, commercial, service, and open
space uses through integrated land use planning;
• Being a full-service community that is also environmentally sensitive;
• Supporting an active business community that provides a wide variety of goods and
services and a broad range of employment opportunities, minimizing the need to travel
to other communities; and
• Providing a well-run, efficient municipal government that is fiscally healthy, with high
levels of public safety, recreational, art and cultural amenities and that is supportive of
high quality education.
The questions before the GPAC tonight are whether the existing General Plan Vision chapter,
sections, and themes are still appropriate for to Los Gatos and will continue to serve it well until
2040 and what modifications are necessary for the Town’s future .
PAGE 3 OF 3
SUBJECT: REVIEW THE EXISTING GENERAL PLAN VISION AND DISCUSS POTENTIAL
MODIFICATIONS
APRIL 19, 2019
N:\DEV\GPAC\GPAC Staff Reports\2019\4-23-19\Item 1 - Staff Report - Vision FINAL.docx
NEXT STEPS:
The next steps in the General Plan update process include:
• Completing General Plan Vision Discussions and discussing potential Guiding Principles
on April 30, 2019 for recommendation to Planning Commission and Town Council;
• Conducting Town Council and Planning Commission Study Session(s); and
• Beginning Phase 4: Land Use Alternatives.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Spring into Green Summary (seven pages)
2. Excerpt from the 2020 General Plan – Vision (four pages)
Spring into Green
April 14, 2019
Page 1 of 7
Spring into Green: Background Report and Envisioning
At Spring into Green, held on Sunday, April 14, 2019, the Town hosted a booth on the General Plan
update to inform the community about the General Plan process and solicit feedback related to the
community’s vision for Los Gatos. The Spring into Green booth included a series of stations with
informative boards and interactive activities for community members of all ages to participate. Below is
an overview of the stations and a synthesis of the public comments and feedback.
Station #1 – Background Report Summary
Station #1 included posters that provided an overview of the General Plan process, key milestones, and
opportunities to become involved. Station #1 also had a series of informational boards that highlighted
the key findings from the Background Report. Boards included an overview of existing community
information in a graphical format organized around each Background Report chapter. Community
members were able to read the boards and ask questions of Town staff, a GPAC representative
(Planning Commissioner Janoff), and members of the consultant team in an open house style format.
This approach allowed for free-flowing dialogue with community members and spurred further
discussion about community expectations for the General Plan.
Welcome table at Spring into Green. The Welcome table was staffed by Town staff , a GPAC representative, and the
consultant team, and provided hardcopies of Newsletter #1, a hardcopy of the existing 2020 Los Gatos General Plan, and a
hardcopy of the Public Draft Background Report.
Spring into Green
April 14, 2019
Page 2 of 7
Above are photos taken of the informational boards highlighting Background Report major findings, as well as an overview of the
Spring into Green booth.
Spring into Green
April 14, 2019
Page 3 of 7
Station #2 – Envisioning
Station #2 included an interactive engagement exercise focused on soliciting feedback on a vision for the
Town. The exercise used a “Mad Lib” style approach where community members could fill in a blank
vision statement for Los Gatos using pre-selected key attributes (i.e., adjectives, assets, and values).
Participants placed these attributes on a magnetic board to create their own vision. Once participants
finished filling out their desired vision, they were photographed with their vision statement. This
exercise was highly successful and captured opinions from a wide demographic including youth, young
adults, and families. Below is the fill in the blank vision statement and attribute choices that participants
used to create their vision for Los Gatos.
Los Gatos is a/an [adjective] _______________ community that is built on [3 values]________________,
________________, ________________. We are proud to live in a town with a/an [adjective]
_______________ [3 assets]________________, ________________, ________________.
Values Assets Adjectives
Security
Sense of Community
Sense of Well-Being
Inclusiveness
Sense of Heritage and Tradition
Prosperity
Health
Fiscal Responsibility
Education
Neighborhood Focused
Small Town Feel
Sustainability
Advocacy for Small Businesses
Open Space
Natural Resources
Historic Resources
Schools
Shopping
Recreation Amenities
Trails
Downtown
Economic Diversity
Thriving Economy
Views
Arts
Unique
Attractive
Distinctive
Welcoming
Family-oriented
Active
Thriving
Convenient
Safe
Clean
Low-Key
Friendly
Strong
Integrated
Accessible
Vibrant
Quaint
Beautiful
Diverse
Quiet
Picturesque
Spring into Green
April 14, 2019
Page 4 of 7
There were a large variety of community created visions for Los Gatos. Below are example visions
created by community members:
◼ Los Gatos is a welcoming community that is built on health, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
We are proud to live in a Town with strong arts, Downtown, and schools.
◼ Los Gatos is a friendly community that is built on education, health, and fiscal responsibility. We
are proud to live in a Town with strong schools, natural resources, and Downtown.
◼ Los Gatos is clean community that is built on education, sustainability, and prosperity. We are
proud to live in a Town with safe schools, a thriving economy, and economic diversity.
◼ Los Gatos is a family-oriented community that is built on sustainability, sense of community, and
inclusiveness. We are proud to live in a Town with a beautiful Downtown, recreation amenities,
and arts.
◼ Los Gatos is a welcoming community that is built on a sense of community, security, and
education. We are proud to live in Town with beautiful views, trails, and Downtown.
Spring into Green
April 14, 2019
Page 5 of 7
The full list of community visions from participants at Spring into Green is provided in the following
table. This information will help inform the Vision Statement, future Land Use Alternatives Analysis, and
General Plan Policy Formation.
Documented Community Visions
Los Gatos is an/an RICH community that is built on HIGH CLASS, EDUCATION, and PROSPERITY. We
are proud to live in a town with (a/an) BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN, TRAILS, and NATURAL RESOURCES.
Los Gatos is an/an WELCOMING community that is built on HEALTH, INCLUSIVENESS and
SUSTAINABILITY. We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) STRONG ARTS, DOWNTOWN, and
SCHOOLS.
Above are photos of participants standing next to their vision for Los Gatos.
Spring into Green
April 14, 2019
Page 6 of 7
Documented Community Visions (continued)
Los Gatos is an/an FRIENDLY community that is built on EDUCATION, HEALTH and FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY. We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) STRONG SCHOOLS, NATURAL
RESOURCES and DOWNTOWN.
Los Gatos is an/an CLEAN community that is built on EDUCATION, SUSTAINABILITY, and PROSPERITY.
We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) SAFE SCHOOLS, THRIVING ECONOMY, and ECONOMIC
DIVERSITY.
Los Gatos is an/an FAMILY-ORIENTED community that is built on SUSTAINABILITY, SENSE OF
COMMUNITY, and INCLUSIVENESS. We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) BEAUTIFUL
DOWNTOWN, RECREATION AMENITIES, and ARTS.
Los Gatos is an/an WELCOMING community that is built on SENSE OF COMMUNITY, SECURITY and
EDUCATION. We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) BEAUTIFUL VIEWS, TRAILS, and
DOWNTOWN.
Los Gatos is an/an UNIQUE community that is built on FAMILY-ORIENTED, INCLUSIVENESS and
VIBRANT. We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) WELCOMING SCHOOLS, TRAILS, and
DOWNTOWN.
Los Gatos is an/an FAMILY-ORIENTED community that is built on SMALL TOWN FEEL, HEALTH and
NEIGHBORHOOD-FOCUSED. We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) CLEAN SCHOOLS, OPEN
SPACE, and DOWNTOWN.
Los Gatos is an/an WELCOMING community that is built on INCLUSIVENESS, SUSTAINABILITY, and
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) THRIVING ARTS, DOWNTOWN,
and ECONOMIC DIVERSITY.
Los Gatos is an/an THRIVING community that is built on ADVOCACY FOR SMALL BUSINESS, SENSE OF
WELL-BEING, and _____. We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) FAMILY-ORIENTED TRAILS, EDGE
OF SUBURBIA, and VIEWS.
Los Gatos is an/an PICTURESQUE community that is built on SECURITY, SENSE OE OF WELL-BEING,
and SMALL TOWN FEEL. We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) _____ _____, _____, and _____.
Los Gatos is an/an BEAUTIFUL community that is built on EDUCATION, SUSTAINABILITY, and SMALL
TOWN FEEL. We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) ACCESSIBLE SCHOOLS, TRAILS, and
DOWNTOWN.
Los Gatos is an/an BEAUTIFUL community that is built on SMALL TOWN FEEL, NEIGHBORHOOD-
FOCUSED, and SENSE OF COMMUNITY. We are proud to live in a town with (a/an) _____ OPEN
SPACE, _____, and _____.
Spring into Green
April 14, 2019
Page 7 of 7
Prize Wheel, Coloring Station, and Comment Station
Participants who completed all of the exercises could then spin the prize wheel. The prize wheel was
eye-catching and located at the front of the booth and was particularly popular with children. The
booth also offered other activities for children including a coloring station with crayons and Los Gatos
inspired coloring sheets. This table also included copies of the survey currently published on
EngagementHQ and comment cards that participants could fill out and leave in the comment box or
drop off at the Planning Front Counter at Town Hall at their convenience.
2 VISION
VIS-1
A. What Makes Los Gatos Special
What makes Los Gatos special is its small-town atmosphere, strong sense of
place, varied architecture, reminders of the past, traditions, unique physical
setting, good schools, low crime rate, and the concerned and involved people
who make up the community. The desire to protect the Town’s high quality
of life is demonstrated by extensive citizen participation in many service
groups and community issues.
While residents may disagree over specific issues, they share a common vision
of the future of Los Gatos. Residents are adamant in their desire to maintain
a high quality of life and preserve the character of the Town. The overall
community consensus is that Los Gatos should:
♦ Foster a pedestrian-oriented community with a small-town character;
♦ Maintain a balanced, well-designed mix of residential, commercial, service
and open space uses through integrated land use planning;
♦ Be a full-service community that is also environmentally sensitive;
♦ Support an active business community that provides a wide variety of
goods and services and a broad range of employment opportunities,
minimizing the need to travel to other communities;
♦ Provide a well-run, efficient municipal government that is fiscally
healthy, with high levels of public safety, recreational, art and cultural
amenities and that is supportive of high quality education.
The Town has an eclectic mix of building styles. It boasts a unique combina-
tion of old and new buildings that are indicative of a community that has
evolved over a period of time. The Town’s architecture ranges from a few
homes built in the 1850s to a beautifully preserved mix of Victorian cottages
and Craftsman bungalows, some Victorian and Art Deco commercial build-
ings, post World War II ranch houses and postmodern homes and commercial
buildings from more recent decades. The Town demonstrates that it is possi-
ble to value innovation while appreciating and preserving the past.
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
2020 GENERAL PLAN
VISION
VIS-2
B. Role of the General Plan in Achieving the Vision
The overall role of the 2020 General Plan is to provide a framework to ensure
that the Town:
♦ Is a full-service community that is also environmentally sensitive;
♦ Maintains a balanced, well-designed mix of residential, commercial,
service, and open space uses through integrated land use planning that
fosters a pedestrian-oriented community consistent with a small-town
character;
♦ Maintains and expands existing park and open space land to maintain and
enhance quality of life and promote sustainability;
♦ Meets the changing needs of the Town’s youth and senior populations;
♦ Supports an active business community that provides a wide variety of
goods and services and a broad range of employment opportunities,
minimizing the need to travel to other communities;
♦ Provides a well-run, efficient municipal government that is fiscally
healthy with high levels of public safety, recreational, art and cultural
amenities and that is committed to a high quality of life;
♦ Promotes a sustainable and environmentally conscientious community
through conservation of resources, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
and smart-growth practices; and
♦ Provides housing that meets the needs of a diverse community.
C. Vision Statement
Los Gatos is home. It is the type of community people want to live in be-
cause they feel a sense of belonging. When residents drive south on Highway
17, cross over Highway 85, see the beautiful Town of Los Gatos nestled at the
base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, they know they are home. Los Gatos is an
oasis of calm within one of the major economic engines of the world, Silicon
Valley. People feel safe here. The Town provides excellent schools, a won-
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
2020 GENERAL PLAN
VISION
VIS-3
derful Downtown, diverse shopping experiences, and an open and responsive
government. It offers amenities, support, and a high quality of life to all resi-
dents, including youth and seniors. It incorporates a network of beautiful,
well-maintained parks and safe, accessible trails. Its citizens and its govern-
ment understand the importance of sustainability and are committed to mak-
ing choices that protect and preserve Los Gatos’s valuable natural environ-
ment and reduce global environmental impacts.
Los Gatos is a truly special place, and residents want to protect their commu-
nity from the increasing development pressures of the region. Residents ex-
pect all new development to fit into the fabric of the community and they
expect that new businesses will enhance their high quality of life. Residents
hold proposed development projects to a higher standard because what is ap-
proved in other communities may not be acceptable in Los Gatos.
New development must keep pace with the community’s needs and must
reflect the community’s values. Extreme care is used in approving all new
development applications. The impacts of new development are evaluated in
light of the development’s overall benefit to the community. In addition, the
benefit of new development is measured against the ability of the proposed
development and its architectural style to harmonize with existing develop-
ment while minimizing impacts on existing residential neighborhoods and
infrastructure. Input from surrounding residents and property owners is a
major consideration during any development review process.
Preserving the small-town character of Los Gatos requires attention to a col-
lection of related issues, including human scale of development, historic pres-
ervation, density and intensity, population growth, Downtown preservation,
development in the Highway 85/North Forty area, congestion, open space,
views of the hills, the type of businesses located in Town, protection of the
Town’s various neighborhoods, and community design.
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
2020 GENERAL PLAN
VISION
VIS-4
The Town can utilize three important means for ensuring the continuity of
values:
♦ Providing mechanisms for broad public participation in government in
general and planning in particular;
♦ Taking initiative to coordinate with other jurisdictions on regional issues
that impact the Town’s character and quality of life;
♦ Consistent and resolute enforcement of the General Plan, specific plans
and the Town code.
Residents expect strong leadership from their elected officials to guide the
community and to ensure that the high quality of life in Los Gatos is pro-
tected for future generations. The General Plan is the Town’s guide to
achieve this vision.
Many of the issues identified in the General Plan are sustainability issues, in-
cluding: open space, hillside preservation, environmental quality, natural
plant and animal life conservation, resource conservation and community
design.