Amendments to Multifamily Development Standards and Land Use Element
Summary
SCH Number
2026050827
Public Agency
City of Los Altos Hills
Document Title
Amendments to Multifamily Development Standards and Land Use Element
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/21/2026
Document Description
The Project consists of (1) amendments to Article 16 (Multifamily Development Standards) of Chapter 1 (Zoning) of Title 10 (Zoning And Site Development) of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code to revise certain multi-family development standards (including setbacks, floor area ratio, lot size, and other related standards) to facilitate the development of various housing types and affordable housing, and (2) conforming amendments to the Land Use Element of the Los Altos Hills General plan to incorporate the revised multi-family development standards (collectively, "Project"). The Project continues to implement Programs A-1, A-4, A-5 and B-4 of the 2023-2031 Housing Element and other goals, policies and actions to encourage housing development, further fair housing, promote housing mobility, and to achieve the Town's RHNA requirement and a 15 percent buffer as outlined in the Housing Element. The City Council adopted the Land Use Element amendments on April 29, 2026 and adopted the ordinance amending Title 10, Chapter 1, Article 16 on May 14, 2026.
Contact Information
Name
Jonathan Fox
Agency Name
Los Altos Hills
Job Title
Senior Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Los Altos Hills
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
N/A - Citywide
Zip
94022
Total Acres
34
Parcel #
Multiple, Citywide
State Highways
SR-82
Railways
N/A
Airports
N/A
Schools
Various
Waterways
Various
Township
Var.
Range
Var.
Section
Var.
Base
MDM
Other Location Info
Citywide Amendments to Multifamily Development Standards and Land Use Element. The Town of Los Altos Hills (Town) is located in the northwestern portion of Santa Clara County, within the larger San Francisco Bay region. The cities of Stanford and Palo Alto are located to the north/northwest; unincorporated Santa Clara County lands are to the south and northwest; the Cities of Los Altos and Mountain View are to the northeast/east; and the City of Sunnyvale is to the east. The Town is approximately nine square miles in size. Regional access to Los Altos Hills is provided by Interstate 280 (I-280), which runs north-south, bisecting the Town.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
PRC Section 21080.085
Reasons for Exemption
This Ordinance is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 21080.085 of the Public Resources Code as CEQA does not apply to a rezoning that implements the schedule of actions contained in an approved housing element pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 65583 of the Government Code. This Ordinance continues to implement the multi-family rezonings under Program A-1 of the Town’s adopted and state-certified 2023-2031 Housing Element pursuant to Government Code section 65583(c) by refining development standards to facilitate multi-family housing production. Additionally, this Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) because it does not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. The Ordinance amends multi-family development standards but does not approve any development or grant any entitlements. Subsequent project proposals in multi- family zoning districts will undergo separate environmental review. Thus, this Ordinance is a regulatory action by the Town and it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that it may have a significant effect on the environment. Likewise, the LUE Amendment is exempt from CEQA under Public Resources Code Section 21080.085 as the proposed amendment further supports multi-family zoning and is intended to achieve internal consistency with the accompanying Ordinance. Further, the proposed LUE Amendment is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) on the basis that it can be seen with certainty that there there is no possibility that the proposed amendment may have a significant effect on the environment. The amendment only involves revisions for conformance with the Ordinance and maintain consistency regarding multi-family development standards. The amendment does not approve any development projects, or issue any entitlements, but are regulatory actions taken by the Town for land use documents consistency. For these reasons, the Project is exempt from CEQA.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
This Ordinance is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 21080.085 of the Public Resources Code as CEQA does not apply to a rezoning that implements the schedule of actions contained in an approved housing element pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 65583 of the Government Code. This Ordinance continues to implement the multi-family rezonings under Program A-1 of the Town’s adopted and state-certified 2023-2031 Housing Element pursuant to Government Code section 65583(c) by refining development standards to facilitate multi-family housing production. Additionally, this Ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) because it does not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. The Ordinance amends multi-family development standards but does not approve any development or grant any entitlements. Subsequent project proposals in multi- family zoning districts will undergo separate environmental review. Thus, this Ordinance is a regulatory action by the Town and it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that it may have a significant effect on the environment. Likewise, the LUE Amendment is exempt from CEQA under Public Resources Code Section 21080.085 as the proposed amendment further supports multi-family zoning and is intended to achieve internal consistency with the accompanying Ordinance. Further, the proposed LUE Amendment is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) on the basis that it can be seen with certainty that there there is no possibility that the proposed amendment may have a significant effect on the environment. The amendment only involves revisions for conformance with the Ordinance and maintain consistency regarding multi-family development standards. The amendment does not approve any development projects, or issue any entitlements, but are regulatory actions taken by the Town for land use documents consistency. For these reasons, the Project is exempt from CEQA.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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