Item 4 - Staff Report.VMT Update
PREPARED BY: Ying Smith
Transportation and Mobility Manager
Reviewed by: Parks and Public Works Director, Planning Manager, and Community Development
Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6872
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING COMMISSION
REPORT
MEETING DATE: 06/10/2020
ITEM NO: 4
DATE: May 28, 2020
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Receive an Update on the Town of Los Gatos Vehicle Miles Traveled Transition
for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Analysis.
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive an update on the Town of Los Gatos Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) transition for
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Analysis.
BACKGROUND:
On September 27, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 743 into law and started a
process to change transportation impact analysis for purposes of CEQA compliance. The new
law directed the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to update the CEQA
Guidelines to include new criteria and metrics for determining the significance of transportation
impacts. OPR selected VMT as the new transportation impact metric, recommended its
application Statewide, and submitted updates to the CEQA Guidelines that were certified by the
Natural Resources Agency in December 2018.
The Town of Los Gatos is the lead agency for environmental clearance under CEQA for projects
within the Town’s jurisdiction. As such, the Town is required to implement the new CEQ A
Guidelines immediately, but no later than July 1, 2020. Fehr & Peers has been hired to assist
the Town in preparing its Transportation Analysis Policy and Guidelines using VMT and any
other updates to the Town’s local transportation policies, as the Council deems appropriate.
On October 8, 2019, the Town Council and Planning Commission held a joint Study Session on
the topic as an introduction to the new requirements, concepts, and other provisions.
On January 21, 2020, the Town Council discussed how the VMT and Level of Service (LOS)
analyses would work together in evaluating future development projects.
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SUBJECT: Update on Town of Los Gatos Vehicle Miles Traveled Transition in California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Analysis
DATE: May 28, 2020
BACKGROUND (continued):
On February 18, 2020, the Town Council approved the option to set thresholds consistent with
the General Plan future year VMT projections.
DISCUSSION:
At the March 25, 2020, Planning Commission meeting, staff will provide an update on the
progress on the Town’s work in the VMT transition. Materials from the previous Town Council
meetings, including staff reports and a presentation, are included as Exhibits 1, 2, and 3.
CEQA:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
EXHIBITS:
1. January 21, 2020 Town Council meeting staff report with attachments
2. February 18, 2020 Town Council meeting staff report with attachments
3. February 18, 2020 Town Council meeting presentation