Come to City Hall tonight, June 27th at 7pm to make comments on the General Plan at the Environmental Planning Commission meeting. This is the last time the EPC will discuss the document before sending it off to Council. The question of whether or not there will be housing allowed in North Bayshore still hangs in the balance. Use the MVCSP General Plan Action Guide found below for tonight and for the Council meetings on July 3rd and 10th.
General Plan Issues and Action Guide
North Bayshore Housing
Background:
Originally, retail, housing, and office were considered for North Bayshore sopersons could live close to where they work while supporting expanded retail services.
North Bayshore was envisioned as a mixed-use boulevard with frequent transit serviceconnecting to downtown, retail on the ground floor, and apartments and office above.
Allowing housing would give people an option to live close to their jobs, supportexpanded retail services, and justify frequent, all-day transit service between Downtownand North Bayshore. However, City Council recently removed housing from the mix dueto concerns that housing would impact wildlife and exacerbate transportation problems.
The Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) recently stated that allowing housingwould have no additional impact on wildlife compared to existing development (pg82,
B6-4), and additional policies in the General Plan call for concentrating newdevelopment along Shoreline Boulevard which would restore previously built-upon landto wildlife.
Potential Action:
1. Ask Council to restore housing to the North Bayshore area in the General Plan.
2. Consider asking that additional study on housing’s impact on wildlife beconducted in the North Bayshore Precise Plan, but we should not be eliminatinga major solution to our traffic and emissions challenges this early to the process
3. Consider asking that the impacts for a range of housing units be studied in theNorth Bayshore Precise Plan, since additional units may have a positive impacton emissions and traffic.
Flexible Mixed Use
Background:
Council recently added a draft policy that would allow greater intensities along ElCamino Real at “key locations” coupled with “significant community benefits.” Thesecriteria would be defined through the zoning, not in the General Plan, but they areexcellent mechanisms to locate growth near transit, jobs, and services. Additionally, it’s
an opportunity for the city to leverage development interest to get new civic amenities
and create great places.
Potential Action:
1. Support the proposed policy
2. Ask that it be expanded to other change areas in addition to El Camino Real
3. Remind Councilmembers that the criteria of “significant community benefits” and“key locations” will be defined during the zoning process.
Transportation
Background:
Most of the transportation policies are solidified and unlikely to change prior toadoption of the General Plan. Major studies of new transit service are likely to beundertaken in later, more focused planning efforts. However, there are opportunities toadd some language to existing policies to strengthen outcomes.
Potential Action.
1. Ask that additional language be added to Draft General Plan bicycling policies todefine the city’s ambition as a “leader in bicycling.” Language supporting this
vision could include “development of innovative infrastructure conducive to a low-
stress bicycle transportation network comfortable for all ages and abilities.
2. Support the city’s continued work on the pedestrian master plan and
interventions that make the city more walkable.
Avenues of Action
1.
Attend the Council and/or EPC public hearings on the Draft General Plan andspeak to the above issues during the public comment period.
2.
Write a letter to EPC members prior to their 6/27 meeting addressing theseissues
3.
Write a letter to City Council Members prior to their 6/3 Study Session on theDraft General Plan
Public Hearing Dates
June 27: Environmental Planning Commission meeting– 7PM @ City Hall
July 3: City Council Study Session– 5PM @ City Hall Only time for onemeeting? This is the most important one to speak at.
July 10: City Council Final Meeting– 6:30PM @ City Hall
Councilmember Contact Information
Mayor Mike Kasperzak: mkasperzak@mediates.comVice Mayor John Inks: johninks@sbcglobal.netCouncilmember Margaret Abe Koga: margaret.abekoga@mountainview.govCouncilmember Ronit Bryant: ronit.bryant@mountainview.gov
Councilmember Laura Macias: la.macias@mountainview.gov
Councilmember Jac Siegel: jacsharonsiegel@comcast.netCouncilmember Tom Means: tom.means@mountainview.gov
EPC Member Contact Information
Chair Todd Fernandez: trf@mac.comVice Chair Lisa Matichak: lisa.matichak@gmail.comCommissioner Eric Anderson: eanderson@csaengineering.comCommissioner John McAlister: jrm7357@pacbell.netCommissioner Kathy Trontell: mktrontell.mtvw.gov@gmail.comCommissioner Chris Clark: clarkcr@gmail.comCommissioner Rachel Grossman: grossmanrachel01@gmail.com
General Plan Issues and Action Guide
North Bayshore Housing
Background:
Originally, retail, housing, and office were considered for North Bayshore sopersons could live close to where they work while supporting expanded retail services.
North Bayshore was envisioned as a mixed-use boulevard with frequent transit serviceconnecting to downtown, retail on the ground floor, and apartments and office above.
Allowing housing would give people an option to live close to their jobs, supportexpanded retail services, and justify frequent, all-day transit service between Downtownand North Bayshore. However, City Council recently removed housing from the mix dueto concerns that housing would impact wildlife and exacerbate transportation problems.
The Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) recently stated that allowing housingwould have no additional impact on wildlife compared to existing development (pg82,
B6-4), and additional policies in the General Plan call for concentrating newdevelopment along Shoreline Boulevard which would restore previously built-upon landto wildlife.
Potential Action:
1. Ask Council to restore housing to the North Bayshore area in the General Plan.
2. Consider asking that additional study on housing’s impact on wildlife beconducted in the North Bayshore Precise Plan, but we should not be eliminatinga major solution to our traffic and emissions challenges this early to the process
3. Consider asking that the impacts for a range of housing units be studied in theNorth Bayshore Precise Plan, since additional units may have a positive impacton emissions and traffic.
Flexible Mixed Use
Background:
Council recently added a draft policy that would allow greater intensities along ElCamino Real at “key locations” coupled with “significant community benefits.” Thesecriteria would be defined through the zoning, not in the General Plan, but they areexcellent mechanisms to locate growth near transit, jobs, and services. Additionally, it’s
an opportunity for the city to leverage development interest to get new civic amenities
and create great places.
Potential Action:
1. Support the proposed policy
2. Ask that it be expanded to other change areas in addition to El Camino Real
3. Remind Councilmembers that the criteria of “significant community benefits” and“key locations” will be defined during the zoning process.
Transportation
Background:
Most of the transportation policies are solidified and unlikely to change prior toadoption of the General Plan. Major studies of new transit service are likely to beundertaken in later, more focused planning efforts. However, there are opportunities toadd some language to existing policies to strengthen outcomes.
Potential Action.
1. Ask that additional language be added to Draft General Plan bicycling policies todefine the city’s ambition as a “leader in bicycling.” Language supporting this
vision could include “development of innovative infrastructure conducive to a low-
stress bicycle transportation network comfortable for all ages and abilities.
2. Support the city’s continued work on the pedestrian master plan and
interventions that make the city more walkable.
Avenues of Action
1.
Attend the Council and/or EPC public hearings on the Draft General Plan andspeak to the above issues during the public comment period.
2.
Write a letter to EPC members prior to their 6/27 meeting addressing theseissues
3.
Write a letter to City Council Members prior to their 6/3 Study Session on theDraft General Plan
Public Hearing Dates
June 27: Environmental Planning Commission meeting– 7PM @ City Hall
July 3: City Council Study Session– 5PM @ City Hall Only time for onemeeting? This is the most important one to speak at.
July 10: City Council Final Meeting– 6:30PM @ City Hall
Councilmember Contact Information
Mayor Mike Kasperzak: mkasperzak@mediates.comVice Mayor John Inks: johninks@sbcglobal.netCouncilmember Margaret Abe Koga: margaret.abekoga@mountainview.govCouncilmember Ronit Bryant: ronit.bryant@mountainview.gov
Councilmember Laura Macias: la.macias@mountainview.gov
Councilmember Jac Siegel: jacsharonsiegel@comcast.netCouncilmember Tom Means: tom.means@mountainview.gov
EPC Member Contact Information
Chair Todd Fernandez: trf@mac.comVice Chair Lisa Matichak: lisa.matichak@gmail.comCommissioner Eric Anderson: eanderson@csaengineering.comCommissioner John McAlister: jrm7357@pacbell.netCommissioner Kathy Trontell: mktrontell.mtvw.gov@gmail.comCommissioner Chris Clark: clarkcr@gmail.comCommissioner Rachel Grossman: grossmanrachel01@gmail.com
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