Town of Atherton
Amendments to the General Plan
Community Safety Element Project
City Council Meeting
June 17, 2026
2 Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a
resolution to amend the Atherton General Plan to
implement updates to the Community Safety Element,
Open Space and Conservation Element, and Circulation
Element, and direct staff to file the Notice of Exemption.
Agenda
• Background
• What is the Community Safety Element?
• State Law Requirements
• Purpose of this Update
• Environmental Review & Agency Coordination
• Project Description
• Summary of changes to the Community Safety Element
Background
Natural Hazards
Climate
Change
Emergency
Management
5 • Required part of a community’s General
Plan.
• Identifies hazards of concern and
related issues, and establishes policies
to protect people and property.
• Updated to meet new state
requirements and address climate
resilience.
• Incorporates current Hazard Mitigation
Plan.
What is a Safety Element?
SB 379 (2017): Requires climate vulnerability assessments and resilience/adaptation policies. Vulnerability Assessment is included as Appendix B.
SB 1035 (2018): Requires Safety Element updates with each Housing Element update or LHMP update, or at least every 8 years. Housing Element was certified May 2025.
SB 99 (2019): Requires identification of residential areas that may lack two or more emergency evacuation routes.
AB 747 / AB 1409 (2019/2021): Requires identification of evacuation routes, capacity, safety, and evacuation locations. Addressed through the county-wide All-Hazards Evacuation Plan.
AB 2684 (2024): Requires identification of extreme heat vulnerability areas and risks. Takes effect January 1, 2028.
Atherton Planning Commission | May 27, 2026 5
State Law Requirements
Atherton Planning Commission | May 27, 2026 5
Purpose of Update & Community Outreach
Purpose
• Comply with state law
requirements.
• Incorporate climate vulnerability
assessment results.
• Reflect updated hazard information
and community priorities.
▪ Update revised and new goals,
policies, and implementation
actions.
Community Outreach
• Introduced to Planning Commission
(Jan 2024) and City Council (Feb
2024).
• Public workshops: May 2024 and
November 2025.
• Coordination with Get Ready
Atherton.
▪ Input from Public Works, Building,
Police Departments, and Menlo Fire
• 30-day public comment period
Environmental Review and
Agency Coordination
9 Environmental & State Agency Review
CEQA Determination:
• Common Sense Exemption
• Program-level policy document – no specific
development action committed.
• Future implementation actions subject to separate
CEQA review as applicable.
State Agency Review:
• California Geological Survey (CGS) – Reviews adequacy of seismic, geologic, and related hazard coverage.
• Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) –
Reviews consistency with the LHMP; ensures eligibility
for California Disaster Assistance Act funding.
Project Description
Summary of Changes
Climate Vulnerability Coverage
Prepared and incorporated vulnerability assessment, analyzing risks to people, assets, and services from climate change.
Updated Wildfire Policies
Updated wildfire policies, including new Fire Hazard Severity Zones mapping.
Emergency Evacuation
Mapped residential areas potentially lacking two or more emergency evacuation routes (SB 99 compliance).
New Hazard Topics and Updated Hazard Maps
New policies addressing extreme heat, severe weather, and drought. Updated maps for all major hazard categories throughout the element.
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Summary of Changes: Other GP Elements
Open Space & Conservation
• Discussion of the recently
constructed Town Center Park.
• Discussion of the
implementation of the Town's
flood control project.
• New Goal OSC-6 and Policy OSC6.1 to promote climate resilience and co-benefits of open space.
▪ Addresses SB 1425
requirements.
Circulation Element
• Discussion of the recent closure
of Atherton Train Station.
• Discussion of the recent
improvements to the Watkins
Avenue rail crossing
• Amended to conform to changes
made to the Community Safety
Element.
13 Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a
resolution to amend the Atherton General Plan to
implement updates to the Community Safety Element,
Open Space and Conservation Element, and Circulation
Element, and direct staff to file the Notice of Exemption.
Thank you