Community Voices
We Say | Public land deserves a public vote.
Residents, not a single City Council, should have the final say about the future of Downtown Los Altos.
The Goal | Residents Vote to Adopt the Los Altos Downtown Parking Plaza Ordinance
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To ensure that irreversible decisions on irreplaceable public lands have voter approval.
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To give you a vote when major changes are proposed for downtown Los Altos!
Signature Collection for the Nov 2026 Ballot
April 5 to April 30
The Los Altos Downtown Parking Plaza Ordinance was submitted and reviewed by the City of Los Altos. To place the measure on the November 2026 ballot, registered Los Altos voter signatures are needed. Signatures must be inked and in person, not electronic or online.
Committee Formed to Advance Downtown Parking Plazas Ballot Initiative
A ballot initiative committee–"For Downtown Los Altos" has been formed to lead the campaign for the Downtown Parking Plazas Ordinance to get on the voter ballot.
The committee is registered with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and is distinct from ForLosAltos for campaign finance reporting and compliance purposes for this Measure.
Summary of Measure & Ordinance
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Requires voter approval before downtown parking plazas are sold, repurposed, or reduced
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Protects convenient public parking for shoppers and visitors
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Prioritizes the village charm and walkability of downtown
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Safeguards protected trees, the tree canopy and open space
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Prevents third-party development deals on public parking plazas
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Allows for affordable housing on two specified parking plazas per current plans
Keep in touch.
Read more about Ballot Measure and Ordinance–details on the Voter Initiative Page
Subscribe/Sign Up to stay up to date on this ballot measure!
Campaign activities paid for by For Downtown Los Altos, FPPC # [pending], a ballot measure committee supporting the Los Altos Downtown Parking Plazas Ordinance. Details are hosted by the ForLosAltos website for informational purposes only.
"Get Ordinance on the Ballot"
In-Person Signing Locations
Draeger's Market Los Altos 4pm-6pm
everyday
T H I S W E E K
Rancho Shopping Center, near Starbucks
times will be posted
Trader Joe's at Foothill Crossing
10am-noon and 4pm-6pm
Mon Apr 13, Wed Apr 15
New Le Boulanger on Main Street
11am to 1pm
Mon Apr 13, Tues Apr 14, Thur Apr 16, Fri Apr 17
Tax Day - Drop off Taxes and Sign
US Post Offices, both Main St and Miramonte
10 am - 5 pm
Tues Apr 14 & Wed Apr 15
PAUSE
THE
PARK
The City of Los Altos is now spending $2.23 million to design concepts for a 1- to 2-acre "Downtown Park with Parking" on Plaza 1 and Plaza 2, removing accessible parking and our spectacular heritage tree canopy.
The City contracted and hired a construction designer without defining the public benefit, evaluating the site, or acknowledging the existing public value of the downtown parking plazas.
The City is using restricted park funds on a plan that includes parking—stacked or underground parking—that may not be associated with park use.
The City is on track to spend tens of millions of dollars to advance the new downtown park and replacement parking, while diverting priorities away from existing parks and park facilities citywide.
Residents and local business leaders are questioning the park location, the lack of a demonstrated need, the unspecified budget, and the loss of valuable public benefits—with no clear understanding of the project’s economic, traffic, environmental or community impacts.
Construction of this park is part of a broader piecemeal effort by the City to redevelop downtown and urbanize our town.
Tree-lined parking plazas have been designated as "Surplus Land" and "opportunity sites" for high-density housing, a theater/performing arts center, and stacked underground or above-ground parking structures. Removing 1/3 of the Chinese pistache heritage trees or making canopy cut-outs will irreversibly alter the welcoming, shaded, accessible, village-style character of Los Altos and the benefits we all value.
The City currently has projects under development in four of the eight parking plazas, which guarantees reduced parking and extensive tree loss, impacting our beautiful, vibrant town.
Let's be clear: the parking plazas are public lands–and funds for design and construction are public money. The public needs a say!
Voice your support for our downtown parking plazas, accessible parking, and tree canopies, as well as our desirable small-town village vibrancy.
Ask City Council to PAUSE THE PARK and reprioritize funds and projects for citywide parks. Urge them to rethink development on our downtown public parking plazas.
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
TAKE A STAND
ON PUBLIC LAND
KEEP OUR TOWN
OPEN, BEAUTIFUL
AND THRIVING
Your voice today.
Your vote tomorrow.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY
THERE'S MUCH TO LOSE
1-2 acres
5 acres
Loss of 4 out of 8 public parking plazas, providing easy parking, beauty and flex use for events
263
parking
spots
576
parking spots
Convenient, accessible
shaded, safe
parking spaces
benefit downtown businesses and visitors
120+
trees &
canopy
up to60
trees &
canopy
Loss of 1/3 of our irreplaceable heritage tree canopy that provides economic, energy-saving, ecological and well-being benefit.
$$ + parking?
underground
$$$$
Loss of shoppers, visitors and vitality is unknown
Millions spent in restricted Park Impact Fees and General Fund dollars
4 out of 8
Parking Plazas replaced:
- Downtown Park with Parking, Plazas 1 & 2
-Underground or
stacked parking garages.
TBD
-High-Density Housing, Plazas 7 & 8
- Theater/Performing Arts Center, Plaza 2
Proposed
'Downtown
Park with Parking'
Plaza 1 & 2
Sign our Support Petition
Dear City and City Council,
TAKE A STAND
FOR PUBLIC LAND
Add Your Name to the Pause the Park City Letter
Why Act Now?
Residents and local businesses still have time to act.
Let's tell City Council to "Pause the Park" and reset priorities for citywide parks, and to stop the project from advancing designs for construction with irreversible decisions until there is proper review and community buy-in.
Read the FORLosAltos article:
UPDATE | On February 21, the City presented conceptual "designs"–features and drawings for the 'Downtown Park and Parking' project, requesting direction from City Council.
COMMUNITY RESPONDED | An overwhelming community response to Pause the (Downtown)Park and Parking project was recorded as petition signers, letter writers, public commenters, in-person and Zoom participants, neighborhood volunteers, and article writers in local media. Wow!
OUR TAKE | The City failed to "pause and/or redirect the project" or to provide clear direction on next steps for consideration.
>>A FORLosAltos team debrief for Pause the Park supporters, was sent via email to petition signers, volunteers, and subscribers (via subscribe and contact forms).
KEEP SIGNING| We invite you to read our general blog post titled "Why Preserve Downtown Parking Plazas" by clicking on the link text. And share information and encourage your neighbors to SIGN THE 'PAUSE THE PARK' ACTION LETTER TO THE CITY
Get More
Downtown Park Info
Featured FORLosAltos Article: Why Preserve Downtown Parking Plazas?
YOUR VOICE,
YOUR VOTE
a citizen movement
People are speaking up and asking "Why?"—and many want a vote before the City takes irreversible actions on public land. Local businesses are raising concerns. The City is not prioritizing public lands or public voices, and its planning processes and decision-making seem out of step.
Across the Bay Area, residents and local businesses are organizing to demand voter approval for major public land decisions. Cities like Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Mountain View and San Mateo are acting to ensure the public has a meaningful say in public land decisions.
In Los Altos, public lands include parking plazas, parks, tree-scapes, heritage spaces, and other community-owned assets.
Stay tuned as we advance advocacy, community education and initiatives for Los Altos public lands.
Who is
FORLOSALTOS?
ForLosAltos is a grassroots group to drive positive change in our community through better community priorities, fiscal transparency and real public input related to government decision-making on public lands.
Our first effort is to promote a community voice for the need for better City priorities and planning processes for downtown parking plazas and citywide parks.
Next, are taking steps to explore a broader voter initiative to let residents vote on any irreversible replacement or repurposing of public lands.
We are your friends, neighbors and local businesses who love Los Altos. Join us!
