The General Plan of the Town of Los Altos Hills is it's Master Document, which defines how the Town is to be developed. It is from this document that all the zoning and building codes and sundry development policies are derived and justified. The General Plan is divided into a number of "elements" covering different major topics, the second element is titled "Land Use". Attached to this element is an Appendix written by long time Town Resident (and PLanning Commissioner) Art Lachenbruch and some of his colleagues at USGS. This paper proved seminal, not just for Los Altos Hills but more generally across both the U.S.A. and Canada, in developing policies to do with planning for Urban development on hiily or sloped terrain. The Introduction the the General Plan reads as follows: Purpose 101. Los Altos Hills is a residential community nestled in the scenic foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Once a rural agricultural area, the community has become one of the premier residential areas in Silicon Valley. Over the years, the population has grown and land use patterns have changed. The farmhouses, cattle ranches and orchards of the past have become today’s private homes, riding stables and vineyards. The community has gradually urbanized over time but still retains a semi-rural atmosphere, with large lots and expanses of open space as envisioned by the Town’s founders. 102. Like their forefathers, today’s residents value the semi-rural character of the community. Although it is nearly fully developed, the community is still evolving. The guiding principle of the Land Use Element, as with other parts of the General Plan, is to address long-term needs while preserving the semi-rural character of the community and the overall quality of life for residents of Los Altos Hills. Following are four pages of the Appendix to this element of the Genral Plan