Saratoga set for community meetings on city’s land use planning

Residents in Saratoga have the opportunity to weigh in on the city’s land use decisions, including housing and open space.

The city is hosting two further community meetings on its General Plan in coming weeks. Those build on one held July 29.

General Plans guide where growth and development can happen in a city, including for housing, open space, and commercial areas.

“[The General Plan] strives to encourage healthy, active living, reduce traffic congestion and fossil fuel use, and improve the safety and quality of life of residents by providing safe, convenient, and comfortable routes for walking, bicycling, and public transportation,” the city’s website says.

This outreach is part of the city’s update of the general plan for the next 20 years, running through 2040. Officials are combining general plan updates with development of a Climate Action Plan. That plan aims to address greenhouse gas emissions in the city.

General plan updates have been fraught across the region in recent years, as battles over the housing crisis have led to battles over density and affordable units.

Saratoga’s two community meetings are running over Zoom, given the ongoing spread of COVID-19. If you are unable to attend, you can also provide written comments on the city’s website.

The next community meeting is Monday, August 10 beginning at 6 p.m. For details, click here.

The third meeting is Tuesday, August 25 at 7 p.m. For details click here.

To see more information, including working drafts of the plans, click here.