Applications now being accepted for the Citizens Working Group for the Stevens Creek Trail Joint Cities Feasibility Study

The cities of Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos, and Cupertino invite interested citizens to apply for a Citizens Working Group to assist agency staff, a consultant team, and policy representatives in preparing a feasibility study of trail development in the Stevens Creek Corridor with the intent of connecting completed or planned trail segments in Cupertino and Mountain View.  At this time the cities are looking to augment current membership with one additional member from each city.

The role of the Citizens Working Group is to serve as an extension of agency staff and the consultant team in preparing study work products for consideration by the public and a multi-agency Stevens Creek Trail Joint Cities Working Team.  The Citizens Working Group was formed in October, 2012 with two members from each city.  The cities are now seeking one additional member from each city. 

Click here for the application.

The City Planning Division regularly updated information on their web site, both online and downloadable in PDF format. MVCSP now has permission to duplicate this information on our own web site for your convenience, and you can check it out here:
Planning Division Update from the City Web Site

Making the Connection - Livable Downtowns & Local Jobs
Tuesday, May 7 @ 5:30pm
Council Chambers, Municipal Services Building - 33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Register at: http://www.healthycommunitiesbayarea.org/may-7-making-the-connection---livable-downtowns--local-jobs.html

As part of San Mateo County Affordable Housing Week, we are pleased to bring you a discussion of how vibrant downtowns can benefit local jobs, housing options, how we get around, and the health of the community. We with have a dynamic panel discussion moderated by ST Mayer, San Mateo County Health System. Panelists will be Egon Terplan, SPUR; Bill Nack, San Mateo County Building Trades Council Alliance; and Ariane Hogan, Genentech. Welcome provided by. Welcome provided by South San Francisco Mayor Pedro Gonzalez. Organized by Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County, San Mateo County Health System, San Mateo County Union Community Alliance, and Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter

For more information and to register, visit Healthy Communities Bay Area online at http://www.healthycommunitiesbayarea.org/forums.html.

Intro to EcoDistricts
Wednesday, April 17
7-8:30 PM
Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum
Free
 
Hosted by Sunnyvale Cool.  Made possible by a generous grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.  Co-sponsored by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Greenbelt Alliance
 
What is an eco-district? How is San Francisco applying the concept?
 
The EcoDistrict is an emerging strategy for creating a more sustainable city, neighborhood-by-neighborhood rather than building-by-building. Portland, the Portland Sustainability Institute, and an increasing number of cities across the country are looking at the district or neighborhood as the optimal scale for accelerating the adoption of resource-efficient practices, integrating buildings, infrastructure and community action.
 
Kate McGee, LEED AP and Lead Planner for the San Francisco Sustainable Development Program will share what she has learned about eco-districts and discuss San Francisco's proposed Central Corridor Eco-District, now in the early stages of the planning process. Free. Pre-registration requested: http://introtoecodistricts.eventbrite.com/#

At the BPAC meeting on April 8th (see Calendar for details), updates and revisions to the Pedestrian Master Plan will be taken up. Any CSP members with an interest in improvments to the pedestrian experience and pedestrian safety should consider attending and commenting.

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3rd. See Calendar for more details.
5. STUDY SESSION 
5.1 405 SAN ANTONIO ROAD 
Study session to discuss a mixed -use development consisting of 100,000 
square feet of commercial, retail, and restaurant; 53,000 square foot cinema; 
377,000 square feet of office; and a 165 -room hotel at 405 San Antonio Road. 
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS —None. 
7. NEW BUSINESS —None.
AGENDA 

At the April 2nd City Council Study Session, they will be discussing the Item 4.2 - 100 Moffett Boulevard Residential Development Project (Item 4.2, see http://laserfiche.mountainview.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?startid=35382&&dbid=0 and Calendar for more details. Individual CSP members (not speaking for CSP as a whole, however), might refer to our letter to the City on this project, which you can see below for details we believe Council should consider during their deliberations.

SHORELINE REGIONAL PARK COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION STUDY
MARCH 26, 2013 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
 
The Mountain View City Council will finalize the recommended transportation strategies and follow up actions identified in the Shoreline Regional Park Community Transportation Study that should be pursued through the North Bayshore Precise Plan process and Fiscal Year 2013-14 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) on:
 
Tuesday, March 26, 2013—4:30 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers—500 Castro Street, Second Floor
 
Members of the public will have an opportunity to address the City Council regarding the Shoreline Regional Park Community Transportation Study at this meeting.
 
The report will be available on Friday, March 22, 2013 after 4:30 p.m. on the <http://laserfiche.mountainview.gov/Weblink/Browse.aspx?startid=35382&dbid=0>City's website, in the Public Works Department at 500 Castro Street, and at the Mountain View Public Library at 585 Franklin Street.
 
Contact the Public Works Department at (650) 903-6311 for additional information.

The last day to submit comments on the scope and content of the environmental studies for BRT on El Camino must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2013, at the postal or email address listed below:

VTA Environmental Programs and Resources Management,
Attn: Christina Jaworski
3331 N. First Street, Building B-2
San Jose, CA 95134
E-mail: ECRBRT@vta.org

For more information go to: http://www.vta.org/brt/ecr/index.html

The City Council had a second study session, on 2/26/13, on proposed office towers (and parking structures) at 700 E. Middlefield.  There will probably be a third.  Council comments included the following:
"Are we doing piecemeal projects?" (Staff: "Until we have a Precise Plan for the area.")
"What is the implication for our RHNA numbers?"
"What about using the Light Rail, instead of shuttles, to get employees to the downtown station?"
"Shouldn't we be more proactive about improving transportation for people in the North Whisman area, rather than waiting for a crisis? There are a lot of people working there now!"
"This proposal is an old-style office park with much bigger buildings. LEED Platinum has nothing to do with neighborhood structure.  Where are there enticements to take the train, with these overwhelming views of the freeway?  There should be viewable local services, a larger trip reduction requirement tied to a greater absolute increase in trips, and reduced parking."
"These buildings are not accessible by foot; they're fronted by an onramp."
"Even people living nearby will have to drive there.  This is not transit-oriented, just tall buildings visible from a freeway."
"There should be a net benefit for the community.  Need a big trip reduction, ways not to need parking.  Community benefits need not be proportional to the size of the project: in the current environment, it's going to take a lot more from the developer.  The buildings need to be reoriented--the open space planned is visible only to people in the buildings."
"The open space should be visible and available to the public."
"Unfortunately developer financing is tied to the amount of parking."
"Why not reduce the square footage?  Do we really need to have 1.0 FAR?"
"An EIR requiring 'overriding considerations' should lead to mitigation fees due."
"There could be ZIP cars there for employees to use during the day."
"TDM should be designed to produce a 25-30% trip reduction."
"We need to discuss all this, not just have each Councilmember provide comments to Staff."