Staff ReportPREPARED BY: LAUREL PREVETTI
Town Manager
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Finance
N:\SHARE\COUNCIL REPORTS\2016\10-04-16\10 AGAB-MTC Preferred Growth\10 Staff Report FINAL.docxN:\\MGR\AdminWorkFiles\2016 Council
Reports\10-04-16\MTC-ABAG Report
MEETING DATE: 10/04/16
ITEM NO: 10
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO SEND A LETTER TO THE
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND THE ASSOCIATION
OF BAY AREA GOVERNMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE PREFERRED SCENARIO
FOR PLAN BAY AREA 2040.
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Town Manager to send a letter to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the
Association of Bay Area Governments in support of the preferred scenario for Plan Bay Area 2040.
BACKGROUND:
Under Senate Bill 375, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay
Area Governments (ABAG) are required to prepare a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) for the
nine Counties of the Bay Area Region. The region’s first SCS, Plan Bay Area, was adopted in 2013 and
provided a long term plan (2040) to focus future housing and job growth in areas with existing and
planned transit infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By State law, Plan Bay Area served
as the regional transportation plan and the foundation for the last Regional Housing Needs Allocation
(RHNA).
Pursuant to State law, the regional agencies are now updating the Plan Bay Area. This update does not
include a RHNA requirement because we are on an eight year cycle; however, the next SCS must
include RHNA. For this reason, it is important for the Town to be engaged in the regional planning
process.
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: PREFERRED SCENARIO FOR PLAN BAY AREA 2040
SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
DISCUSSION:
Town staff has been following the preparation of the Plan Bay Area update. In September 2015, MTC
and ABAG projected very high employment (up to 4,000 new jobs) and very high housing numbers (up
to 2,000 new homes) for the Town. Planning staff informed the agencies that these numbers exceeded
the capacity of the Town’s adopted General Plan 2020 (2,660 jobs and 1,600 housing units).
Subsequently, MTC and ABAG have incorporated the comments of local jurisdictions into a Preferred
Scenario. This scenario projects a total of 2,250 new jobs and 500 new housing units for Los Gatos by
the year 2040. These numbers are consistent with the Town’s adopted General Plan.
MTC and ABAG have asked for comments on the Preferred Scenario by October 14, 2016, preferably
with the support of the elected body of the local jurisdiction. For this reason, staff has prepared a draft
letter (Attachment 1) for Council consideration.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council authorize the Town Manager to send a letter to the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments in support of
the preferred scenario for Plan Bay Area 2040.
ALTERNATIVES:
Alternatives to the recommendation provided above include:
1. Direct staff to revise the letter, incorporating the comments of the Council.
2. Not send a letter.
COORDINATION:
This staff report was prepared in collaboration with the Community Development Department.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Draft Letter
TowN or Los Garos
Crvrc CrurER
110 E. Merru Srnsrr
Los Geros, CA 95030
DRAFT LETTER
September 28,}OLG
Mr. Steve Heminger, Executive Director
Metropolitan Transportation Commission and
Mr. Ezra Rapport
Association of Bay Area Governments
Bay Area Metro Center
375 Beale Street, Suite 800
San Francisco, CA 94105
Dear Mr. Heminger and Mr. Rapport,
The Town of Los Gatos appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on the Preferred
Scenario for Plan Bay Area 2040. The comments contained in this letter were considered by our
Town Council on October 4,2016.
Town staff has been following the preparation of the Plan Bay Area update and recognize that it
is based on the adopted 2013 Plan Bay Area. ln 2015, the Town expressed concern to MTC and
ABAG when we learned of the projected forecast for the Town. At that time, the forecast
showed up to 4,000 new jobs and up to 2,000 new housing units. Our Planning staff informed
you that these numbers exceeded the capacity with the Town's adopted General Plan 2020
(2,661jobs and 1,600 housing units). These numbers were particularly unrealistic given the lack
of transit investment in our community to support such growth.
Subsequently, we appreciate that MTC and ABAG have incorporated the comments of local
jurisdictions into a Preferred Scenario. This scenario projects a total of 2,250 new jobs and 500
new housing units for Los Gatos by the year 2040. These numbers are consistent with the
Town's adopted General Plan. We strongly recommend that these numbers remain in the Plan
as it continues through to adoption.
We look forward to continuing to work with you on this process. Please let me know if you
have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
Laurel Prevetti
Town Manager
a)L'IivconpoRarro Aucusr 10, 1887
ATTACHMENT 1