Los Gatos General Plan

Mintier Harnish is assisting  the Town of Los Gatos with the preparation of its General Plan Update. Included in the  project are the development of a robust background report, issues and opportunities summary, vision and guiding principles, alternatives analysis and report, and a policy document (which includes goals, policies, and implementation programs). Some key issues addressed in this update are creating a multi-modal community; addressing wildfire safety; accommodating 6^th cycle RHNA projections while preserving the unique, small town character and feel; and introducing nodes of mixed-use development throughout eight defined Community Place Districts. Mintier Harnish is also partnering with EnCode Plus to provide the Town with a web-based General Plan on the EnCode platform.

The graphics-rich General Plan includes nine elements: Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice; Land Use; Community Design; Mobility; Public Facilities, Services, and Infrastructure; Open Space, Parks, and Recreation; Environmental sustainability; Hazards and Safety; and Housing. A number of policies and programs address several cross-cutting topics, including sustainability, environmental justice, and healthy communities that are denoted by icons.

Community engagement is a large part of the Town of Los Gatos General Plan Update. Engagement activities include regular newsletter releases, the use of product branding creating a logo, and style, over 35 regular GPAC meetings, joint study sessions with town leadership, community workshops, and pop-up booths at community events and festivals.