Text Box:

Town of Los Altos Hills Community Preferences Survey

The Town of Los Altos Hills is in the process of updating the Land Use Element of our General Plan. As a part of this process all Town households are invited to respond to this brief community preferences survey. The cover letter and General Plan Primer that were mailed along with this survey explain the role of the Land Use Element and why it is being updated.

Town Character

1. What is it about the physical character and appearance of the Town that you value? The following are some of the current features of Los Altos Hills. Please circle the number that best represents how you feel about each of the following:

Criteria	Not Valuable	Somewhat Valuable	Valuable	Very Valuable	No Opinion
a) Agricultural uses such as orchards and vineyards.	1	2	3	4	5
b) The presence of farm animals.	1	2	3	4	5 \
c) Spacious lots with large yards.	1	2	3	4	5
d) Narrow, winding roads not improved to typical city standards.	1	2	3	4	5
e) Roadside pathways instead of sidewalks.	1	2	3	4	5
f) Public off-road pathways that extend along side and rear property lines.	1	2	3	4	5
g) Abundant trees and other vegetation.	1	2	3	4	5
h) Naturally occurring vegetation (e.g. oak trees).	1	2	3	4	5
i) Views of and from the hills.	1	2	3	4	5
j) A residential community with no commercial areas.	1	2	3	4	5
k) Absence of streetlights.	1	2	3	4	5
l) Absence of traffic signals.	1	2	3	4	5
m) A minimum of 1-acre for new lots	1	2	3	4	5

Other (please describe)

2. Would you prefer the Land Use Element of the General Plan to characterize the Town as (please check one):

____ Rural ____ Semi Rural ____ Suburban ____ No Opinion ____________________Other

Development Standards and Review Process

3. As the size of homes increase should they be set back farther from the roads and neighboring homes?

____ Yes ____ No ____ No Opinion __________________________________Other

4. The owner of a one-acre, flat lot is currently allowed to build 6,000 square feet of “floor area” (i.e. building square footage), and approximately 15,000 sq.ft. of “development area,” which includes all building floor area and other paved surfaces (driveways, pools, etc.). Allowable development is then more restricted as the slope of the land increases. Required front yards are 40 feet, and side and rear yards are 30 feet. The height of homes is restricted to 27 feet. Do you feel that each of these regulations are:

5. Should the allowed size of a house be reduced as lots become more steep?

____ Yes ____ Neutral ____ No ____ No Opinion

6. Do you consider the existing storm water drainage system to be adequate?

____ Yes ____ Neutral ____ No ____ No Opinion

7. Currently, the Town’s Site Development Review process is used to determine whether proposed development conforms to Town policies. This process generally includes public hearings where neighbors are allowed to comment on proposed projects. Please check the statement that best represents your view on this issue:

____ a) The Planning Commission and/or Town staff should continue to conduct site development review to determine compliance with Town development policies and standards, and provide for public input. (This would continue the current procedure.)

____ b) The Town should establish an Architectural Review Board, made up of design professionals, to conduct home design review, including provisions for public input.

____ c) The current system of discretionary review should be replaced by a process that simply requires compliance with quantified development standards. Projects that do not meet the standards would continue to be referred to the Planning Commission for review.

____ d) Other __________________________________________________________________________________________

8. The Town sometimes requires the dedication of conservation easements on private property with slopes of 30% or more at the time of new development. This is intended to protect areas of steep slopes, creeks, or significant stands of oak trees from disturbance. Please check the statement that best represents your view of this issue:

____ a) Conservation easements should be required on private property to preserve natural features.

____ b) Conservation easements should not be required on private property.

____ c) Conservation easements should be expanded to provide for protection of wildlife corridors.

9. Regarding views:

a) Should new homes be restricted in height in order to preserve the views of neighbors?

____ Yes ____ Neutral ____ No ____ No Opinion

b) Should new landscaping be restricted in height in order to preserve the views of neighbors?

____ Yes ____ Neutral ____ No ____ No Opinion

10. Regarding outdoor lighting:

a) Outdoor lighting on private property should be regulated to control outdoor light impacts to surrounding properties and to control the potential for “skyglow”.

____ Strongly Disagree ____ Disagree ____ Neutral ____ Agree ____ Strongly Agree

b) Outdoor lighting should be allowed to accent buildings and landscaping, provided that glare on neighbors is minimized.

____ Strongly Disagree ____ Disagree ____ Neutral ____ Agree ____ Strongly Agree

c) Outdoor lighting should not be regulated

____ Yes ____ Neutral ____ No

11. Should the town regulate the design, materials, or colors used for fences and walls?

____ Yes ____ Neutral ____ No ____ No Opinion

Pathways

12. At the time of new development the Town sometimes requires the dedication and construction of pathways along interior property boundaries when needed to link existing unconnected pathway segments. Please check the statement that best represents your view of this issue:

____ a) Off-road pathway easement dedication and construction should be required when needed to link neighborhoods or other pathways.

____ b) Off-road pathway easement dedication and construction should not be required.

____ c) Off-road pathway easement dedication and construction should only occur on a voluntary basis.

Facilities and Programs

13. Facilities: Within the resources available to the Town, how important is it for the Town to provide the following new or additional facilities?	Not Important	Somewhat Important	Important	Very Important	No Opinion
a) Day care center or facility for children.	1	2	3	4	5
b) Day care center or facility for seniors.	1	2	3	4	5
c) Multi-purpose center for recreational programs and meetings.	1	2	3	4	5
d) Additional open space preserves.	1	2	3	4	5
e) Additional public parks.	1	2	3	4	5
f) New picnic areas in public parks.	1	2	3	4	5
g) New playfields in public parks.	1	2	3	4	5
h) Street lighting.	1	2	3	4	5

Other (please describe):

14. Programs: Within the financial resources available to the Town, how important is it for the Town to sponsor the following new or additional programs?	Not Important	Somewhat Important	Important	Very Important	No Opinion
a) Develop a program to encourage native or water-conserving landscaping.	1	2	3	4	5
b) Develop a program to improve pathway maintenance.	1	2	3	4	5
c) Develop a program to identify and protect wildlife habitat.	1	2	3	4	5
d) Sponsor community events for all residents.	1	2	3	4	5
e) Sponsor recreational programs for children.	1	2	3	4	5
f) Sponsor recreational programs for teenagers.	1	2	3	4	5
g) Sponsor recreational programs for seniors.	1	2	3	4	5
h) Sponsor televised City Council hearings	1	2	3	4	5
i) Sponsor video coverage of Council hearings on the internet.	1	2	3	4	5
j) Underground public utility service lines	1	2	3	4	5
k) Sponsor a Town-wide stormwater drainage master plan	1	2	3	4	5

Other (please describe):

We understand that the following questions are personal. However, these will help determine if the people who respond to the survey represent a cross section of the Town’s population. Because the survey is anonymous, this information will only be presented in an aggregate form. Please return your survey, even if you choose not to answer some of these questions.

Development Regulation

Too Restrictive

About Right

Too Permissive

Don’t Know

No Opinion

a) Floor Area

b) Development Area

c) Yard Setbacks