At 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday night, the Mountain View City Council unanimously approved redevelopment of 1/3 of San Antonio Center by Merlone Geier Partners. It was a very long meeting mostly because Council was variously dubious about what was proposed, and wanted to resolve some of the more obtrusive issues still there after the most recent round of minor design changes agreed to by the developer.
Those Councilmembers who were concerned about less than 3% of 300+ new apartments being offered at below market rate rents were appeased by the suggestion that the BMR issue be settled at the time of the first occupancy certificate--rather than now, when the City has no enforceable BMR regulations. The developer dropped his demand for reductions in a park-in-lieu fee payment, following repeated comments on MGP's not owning the "green space" land and that it will not really be up to "park"
stancards. Following an outpouring of public input critizing the car-centricity of the project and problems that bikes and pedestrians would have getting into and around it, Council asked the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to use their expertise in working with the developer to recommend some improvements. The exact process was not defined at that point. Members of the public and some on Council also pushed for bike lanes on San Antonio Road, and ultimately were assured that the project design would be required at least to allow for these.
The many unfinished stories invite continuing interest in the project by residents who spoke to the Council about their concerns, and were happy to hear them echoed by Councilmembers. While Council ultimately voted for the project from a position of compromise, this followed several hours of vigorous discussion about the innate shortcomings of the project design and who will or won't benefit from it.
Those Councilmembers who were concerned about less than 3% of 300+ new apartments being offered at below market rate rents were appeased by the suggestion that the BMR issue be settled at the time of the first occupancy certificate--rather than now, when the City has no enforceable BMR regulations. The developer dropped his demand for reductions in a park-in-lieu fee payment, following repeated comments on MGP's not owning the "green space" land and that it will not really be up to "park"
stancards. Following an outpouring of public input critizing the car-centricity of the project and problems that bikes and pedestrians would have getting into and around it, Council asked the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to use their expertise in working with the developer to recommend some improvements. The exact process was not defined at that point. Members of the public and some on Council also pushed for bike lanes on San Antonio Road, and ultimately were assured that the project design would be required at least to allow for these.
The many unfinished stories invite continuing interest in the project by residents who spoke to the Council about their concerns, and were happy to hear them echoed by Councilmembers. While Council ultimately voted for the project from a position of compromise, this followed several hours of vigorous discussion about the innate shortcomings of the project design and who will or won't benefit from it.
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