The hospital runs a unique Bloodless Program for individuals who are wary of transfusions during surgery. Its Center for Spinal Deformity and Injury attracts patients from around the world in search of the latest medical treatments, and the same goes for the hospital's Women's Cancer Center.

But despite its accomplishments, the hospital and its staff believe that there's room for improvement—and they're looking for the town's blessing.

The community hospital will ask the Los Gatos Planning Commission on Jan. 28 to approve its master plan, a comprehensive vision for the hospital's future. The plan calls for a renovation of existing facilities within the hospital, as well as an expansion of its buildings.

Paul Estess, an associate administrator at Community, said that the hospital's decision to expand was initially based on a critical need for more surgery rooms. Surgery rooms in the hospital are operating at 85 percent capacity, which makes it difficult for surgeons to schedule operations.

But the hospital didn't want to simply add more operating rooms without giving the town a general sense of other future growth. The master plan was created to address this concern.

"It's difficult for the town to continue to take individual projects without any context as to where we were going," Estess said. "For both parties, it makes sense to have a real forward-looking approach to see what's coming."

Specifically, the hospital is proposing to improve the hospital's aesthetics, address the current and future needs for increased hospital capacity, and specify future infrastructure requirements.

Also before the planning commission Jan. 28 is the hospital's architecture and site application for phase one of the hospital's master plan. The hospital is hoping to open four new operating rooms, a new outpatient surgery room, and new dining facilities, as well as renovate the hospital facade during this stage.

The project is slated to be accomplished in three phases, although the third phase is largely still in a conceptual stage. Phases one and two are expected to cost approximately $52 million, paid by the hospital's parent company, Tenet Healthcare.

Even if the planning commission approves both plans next week, construction will not begin for at least 18 to 24 months, estimates Estess. The hospital must also submit detailed plans to the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development before it can proceed. Estess said that since most hospitals across the state are in the process of submitting plans for earthquake retrofitting, approval from the state is expected to take longer than usual.

The community hospital has been in Los Gatos since 1962.

The next planning commission meeting will take place Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. in council chambers, 110 E. Main St.