Environmental Planning Commission
Regular MeetingMountain View, CA · January 5, 2022
Minutes
City of Mountain View
Minutes
Environmental Planning Commission
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 7:00 PM Video Conference with No Physical Meeting Location
This meeting was conducted in accordance with City of Mountain View City Council
Resolution No. 18629 in accordance with Assembly Bill 361. All members of the
Environmental Planning Commission participated in the meeting by video conference,
with no physical meeting location.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Cranston called the meeting of the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) to
order at 7:01 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Present 6- Commissioner Hank Dempsey, Commissioner Jose Gutierrez, Commissioner Preeti
Hehmeyer, Commissioner Alex Nunez, Commissioner Joyce Yin and Chair Bill
Cranston
3. MINUTES APPROVAL
Chair Cranston introduced the item for discussion.
Chair Cranston opened the floor at 7:02 p.m. to public testimony, asking if anyone from
the public wished to speak on this item. No members of the public wished to speak.
Public testimony concluded at 7:03 p.m.
MOTION: M / S - Hehmeyer / Gutierrez - That the Environmental Planning Commission
approve the minutes of December 15, 2021.
The motion passed by the following vote:
Yes: 6- Commissioner Dempsey, Commissioner Gutierrez, Commissioner Hehmeyer,
Commissioner Nunez, Commissioner Yin and Chair Cranston
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Chair Cranston opened the floor at 7:04 p.m. to public testimony, asking if anyone from
the public wished to speak on anything not on the agenda. No members of the public
wished to speak.
Public testimony concluded at 7:05 p.m.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
5.1 Mixed-Use Development Project at 601-649 Escuela Avenue and 1873 Latham
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Street
Senior Planner Ellen Yau gave an oral presentation and responded to questions raised by
the EPC.
Kurt Anderson, Principal of Anderson Architects, Inc. gave an oral presentation and
responded to questions raised by the EPC.
Micaela Hellman-Tincher, Housing and Neighborhoods Services Manager, Stephanie
Williams, Planning Manager and Zoning Administrator, and Renee Gunn, Senior Civil
Engineer responded to questions raised by the EPC.
Chair Cranston opened the floor at 7:35 p.m. for public testimony asking if anyone from
the public wished to speak on this item.
SPEAKING FROM THE FLOOR:
• Bruce England, Mountain View Coalition for Sustainable Planning and Greenspaces
Mountain View
• Daniel Hulse
Public testimony concluded at 7:41 p.m.
The EPC deliberated on this item.
MOTION - M / S - Yin / Hehmeyer - That the Environmental Planning Commission
recommend the City Council of Mountain View:
1. Adopt the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the 601-649 Escuela Avenue
and 1873 Latham Street Mixed-Use Project, pursuant to the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) (Exhibit 1 to the EPC Staff Report); and
2. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Amending the
General Plan Land Use Map from Medium-Density Residential to Mixed-Use Corridor for
the Property located at 1873 Latham Street, based on the findings in the Resolution
(Exhibit 2 to the EPC Staff Report); and
3. Adopt an Ordinance of the City of Mountain View Amending the Zoning Map from the
R3-2.5 (Multi-Family Residential) Zoning District to the P(38) (El Camino Real Precise
Plan) for the Property located at 1873 Latham Street, based on the findings in the
Resolution (Exhibit 3 to the EPC Staff Report); and
4. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Amending the El
Camino Real Precise Plan to incorporate the Property at 1873 Latham Street within the
Plan Area, based on the findings in the Resolution (Exhibit 4 to the EPC Staff Report);
and
5. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Conditionally
approving a Planned Community Permit and Development Review Permit to construct a
new three-story, mixed-use residential project consisting of 25 apartment units, 2,400
square feet of ground-floor commercial, and one level of underground parking, and a
provisional use permit for rooftop amenities above the third floor located at 601-649
Escuela Avenue and 1873 Latham Street, based on the findings in the Resolution (Exhibit
5 to the EPC Staff Report).
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The motion passed by the following vote:
Yes: 6- Commissioner Dempsey, Commissioner Gutierrez, Commissioner Hehmeyer,
Commissioner Nunez, Commissioner Yin and Chair Cranston
5.2 Residential Development Project on a 14.5-Acre Site Bounded by West
Middlefield Road, Moffett Boulevard, Cypress Point Drive, and State Route
85 (555 West Middlefield Road)
Senior Planner Diana Pancholi, and Joe Kirchofer for Avalon Bay, gave oral presentations
and answered questions raised by the EPC.
John Schwarz, of JH Consultants, and Darrin Trageser, of ICF, answered questions raised
by the EPC.
Chair Cranston opened the floor at 8:45 p.m. to public testimony, asking if anyone from
the public wished to speak on this item.
SPEAKING FROM THE FLOOR:
• David Watson
• Bruce England, Mountain View Coalition for Sustainable Planning and Greenspaces
Mountain View
• Humberto Nava
• Roberto Aguilera
• William Lambert
• Kelli Fallon, Bay Area Council
• Auros Harman, Urban Environmentalists
• Salim
• Daniel Shane, Cypress Point Community Preservation Group
• Terrie Rayl
• Hala Alshahwany
• Robert Cox, Livable MV
• Louise Katz, Livable MV
• Doug Chesshire, Carpenter’s Local 405
• Kelsey Banes, YIMBY Action
• William Castro, Carpenter’s Local 405
• Kevin Ma
• Steve Shargots, Carpenter’s Local 405
• James Rodriguez, Carpenter’s Local 405
• Pablo Hernandez-Sanz
• Denley Rafferty
• Diane
• Kristine Keller/Elsa
• Jose Chavez
• Sasha Zbrozek
• Corey Smith, Housing Action Coalition
• Chad Barlow, Carpenter’s Local 405
• Harold Smith
• Chris Peri
• Leona Chu
• Kayla Hardie
• Dylan O’Connell
• Raiza Singh
• Ilya Gurin
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Commission
• James Kuszmaul
• Elsa
Public testimony concluded at 9:51 p.m.
The EPC deliberated on this item.
MOTION - M / S Nunez / Hehmeyer - That the Environmental Planning Commission
recommend the City Council of the City of Mountain View:
1. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View certifying the 555
West Middlefield Road Project Final Environmental Impact Report, and adopting CEQA
findings related to Environmental Impacts, Mitigations Measures and Alternatives, and
Adopting a Statement of Overriding Considerations and a Mitigations, Monitoring and
Reporting Program based on the findings in the Resolution (Exhibit 1 to the EPC Staff
Report); and
2. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View approving a
General Plan Amendment to add a new High-Low Density Residential Land Use
Designation and make related text amendments and an amendment to the General Plan
Land Use Map for the property located at 555 West Middlefield Road from
Medium-Density Residential to High-Low Density Residential, based on the findings in
the Resolution (Exhibit 2 to the EPC Staff Report); and
3. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View approving a
Planned Community Permit and Development Review Permit to allow a 323-unit addition
to an existing 402-unit Residential Development with three new subterranean garages,
new amenity Building/Leasing Office, and new 1.34-acre Public Park; and a Heritage Tree
Removal Permit to remove 57 Heritage Trees at 555 West Middlefield Road, based on the
findings in the Resolution (Exhibit 3 to the EPC Staff Report); and
4. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View approving a
Vesting Tentative Map to create three lots with up to 111 Condominium Units at 555
West Middlefield Road, based on the findings in the Resolution (Exhibit 4 to the EPC
Staff Report).
The motion passed by the following vote:
Yes: 6- Commissioner Dempsey, Commissioner Gutierrez, Commissioner Hehmeyer,
Commissioner Nunez, Commissioner Yin and Chair Cranston
6. COMMISSION/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES, REQUESTS, AND COMMITTEE
REPORTS
The Commission welcomed Commissioner Jose Gutierrez.
Chris Clark will start at the next meeting, January 19, 2022.
The election of the Chair and Vice Chair will be held on January 19, 2022.
The agenda in February will include, SB 9 Zoning Code and the Housing Element Study
Session.
Commissioner Dempsey requested a brief of actions/recommendations the Commission
makes and how City Council voted; a study session for how permitting works; and what
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is involved in Community Outreach.
Chair Cranston requested information on new housing bills.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Cranston adjourned the meeting at 10:41 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Eric Anderson
Advanced Planning Manager
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Agenda
City of Mountain View
Agenda
Environmental Planning Commission
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 7:00 PM Video Conference with No Physical Meeting
Location
This meeting will be conducted in accordance with City of Mountain View City Council
Resolution No. 18629 in accordance with Assembly Bill 361. All members of the
Environmental Planning Commission will participate in the meeting by video
conference, with no physical meeting location.
Members of the public wishing to observe the meeting live may do so at
https://mountainview.legistar.com, on YouTube at www.MountainView.gov/YouTube
and on Comcast Channel 26.
Members of the public wishing to comment on an item may be so in the following ways:
1. Email comments to epc@mountainview.gov by 5:00 p.m. on the meeting date. Emails
will be forwarded to the Environmental Planning Commission. Please identify the
Agenda Item number in the subject line of your email. Emails received after 5:00 p.m. will
be entered into the record for the meeting.
2. Provide oral public comments during the meeting:
Online:
You may join the Zoom Webinar using this link: https://mountainview.gov/meeting and
entering Webinar ID: 862 2211 2921. You may be asked to enter an email address and a
name. Your email address will not be disclosed to the public.
When the Chair announces the item on which you wish to speak, click the "raise hand"
feature in Zoom. Speakers will be notified of their turn shortly before they are called on
to speak.
By phone:
Dial: (669) 900-9128 and enter Webinar ID: 862 2211 2921
When the Chair announces the item on which you wish to speak, dial *9. Phone
participants will be called on by the last two digits of their phone number.
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Commission
When called to speak, please limit your comments to the time allotted (up to 3 minutes,
at the discretion of the Chair).
For instructions on using the "raise hand" feature in Zoom, visit
https://mountainview.gov/raise_hand.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
3. MINUTES APPROVAL
3.1 Approve Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the Environmental Planning Commission meeting minutes of
December 15, 2021.
Attachments: December 15, 2021 EPC Minutes
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Commission
on any matter not on the agenda. Speakers are allowed to speak on any topic for up to
three minutes during this section. If there appears to be a large number of speakers,
speaking time may be reduced to no less than 1.5 minutes. State law prohibits the
Commission from acting on nonagenda items.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
5.1 Mixed-Use Development Project at 601-649 Escuela Avenue and 1873
Latham Street
Recommendation: That the Environmental Planning Commission:
1. Recommend the City Council adopt the Initial Study/Mitigated
Negative Declaration for the 601-649 Escuela Avenue and 1873
Latham Street Mixed-Use Project, pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Exhibit 1 to the EPC Staff Report).
2. Recommend the City Council adopt a Resolution of the City Council
of the City of Mountain View Amending the General Plan Land Use
Map from Medium-Density Residential to Mixed-Use Corridor for the
Property Located at 1873 Latham Street, based on the findings in the
Resolution (Exhibit 2 to the EPC Staff Report).
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Commission
3. Recommend the City Council adopt an Ordinance of the City of
Mountain View Amending the Zoning Map from the R3-2.5
(Multi-Family Residential) Zoning District to the P(38) (El Camino Real
Precise Plan) for the Property Located at 1873 Latham Street, based
on the findings in the Resolution (Exhibit 3 to the EPC Staff Report).
4. Recommend the City Council adopt a Resolution of the City Council
of the City of Mountain View Amending the El Camino Real Precise
Plan to Incorporate the Property at 1873 Latham Street Within the Plan
Area, based on the findings in the Resolution (Exhibit 4 to the EPC
Staff Report).
5. Recommend the City Council adopt a Resolution of the City Council
of the City of Mountain View Conditionally Approving a Planned
Community Permit and Development Review Permit to Construct a New
Three-Story, Mixed-Use Residential Project Consisting of 25 Apartment
Units, 2,400 Square Feet of Ground-Floor Commercial, and One Level
of Underground Parking, and a Provisional Use Permit for Rooftop
Amenities Above the Third Floor Located at 601-649 Escuela Avenue
and 1873 Latham Street, based on the findings in the Resolution
(Exhibit 5 to the EPC Staff Report).
Attachments: Staff Report
Exhibit 1 - Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration
Exhibit 2 - General Plan Map Amendment Resolution
Exhibit 3 - Zoning Map Amendment Ordinance
Exhibit 4 - Precise Plan Amendment Resolution
Exhibit 5 - Project Resolution
Exhibit 6 - Project Plans
5.2 Residential Development Project on a 14.5-Acre Site Bounded by West
Middlefield Road, Moffett Boulevard, Cypress Point Drive, and State Route 85
(555 West Middlefield Road)
Recommendation: That the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC):
1. Recommend the City Council adopt a Resolution of the City Council
of the City of Mountain View Certifying the 555 West Middlefield Road
Project Final Environmental Impact Report and Adopting CEQA
Findings Related to Environmental Impacts, Mitigations Measures and
Alternatives, and Adopting a Statement of Overriding Considerations
and a Mitigations, Monitoring and Reporting Program, based on the
findings in the Resolution (Exhibit 1 to the EPC Staff Report).
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Commission
2. Recommend the City Council adopt a Resolution of the City Council
of the City of Mountain View Approving a General Plan Amendment to
Add a New High-Low Density Residential Land Use Designation and
Make Related Text Amendments and an Amendment to the General
Plan Land Use Map for the Property Located at 555 West Middlefield
Road from Medium-Density Residential to High-Low Density
Residential, based on the findings in the Resolution (Exhibit 2 to the
EPC Staff Report).
3. Recommend the City Council adopt a Resolution of the City Council
of the City of Mountain View Approving a Planned Community Permit
and Development Review Permit to Allow a 323-Unit Addition to an
Existing 402-Unit Residential Development with Three New
Subterranean Garages, New Amenity Building/Leasing Office, and
New 1.34-Acre Public Park; and a Heritage Tree Removal Permit to
Remove 57 Heritage Trees at 555 West Middlefield Road, based on the
findings in the Resolution (Exhibit 3 to the EPC Staff Report).
4. Recommend the City Council Adopt a Resolution of the City
Council of the City of Mountain View Approving a Vesting Tentative
Map to Create Three Lots with up to 111 Condominium Units at 555
West Middlefield Road, based on the findings in the Resolution (Exhibit
4 to the EPC Staff Report).
Attachments: Staff Report
Exhibit 1 - Final EIR and EIR Documents Resolution
Exhibit 2 - General Plan Land Use Map and General Plan Text Amendments Resolution
Exhibit 3 - Project Resolution
Exhibit 4 - Vesting Tentative Map Resolution
Exhibit 5 - Project Plans
Exhibit 6 - Gatekeeper Application Staff Report, July 2, 2015
Exhibit 7 - EPC Study Session Staff Report, March 15, 2017
Exhibit 8 - City Council Study Session Report, April 18, 2017
Exhibit 9 - EPC Study Session Staff Report, February 3, 2021
Exhibit 10 - City Council Study Session Report, February 23, 2021
Exhibit 11 - Project Transportation Demand Management Program
Exhibit 12 - Community Benefits Proposal
Exhibit 13 - Comment Letter on Final Environmental Impact Report
Exhibit 14 - H. T. Harvey Ecological Analysis (Technical) Memo
6. COMMISSION/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES, REQUESTS, AND COMMITTEE
REPORTS
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No action will be taken on any questions raised by the Commission at this time.
7. ADJOURNMENT
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC:
Please contact Planning staff with any questions regarding this agenda at (650) 903-6306 or
community.development@mountainview.gov.
The agenda and staff reports may be viewed online at mountainview.legistar.com.
The Environmental Planning Commission may consider and act on items listed on the agenda in any order and thus
those interested in an item listed on the agenda are advised to be present throughout the meeting.
It is the policy of the Environmental Planning Commission that all evening meetings of the Commission, including Study
Sessions, be adjourned no later than 10:00 p.m., which time is referred to as the normal time of adjournment. No new
item of business shall be taken up by the Commission after 10:00 p.m. unless the Commission has determined by
majority vote to set aside this policy. In the event it appears that the entire agenda cannot be completed by the normal time
of adjournment, the Commission may take up and act upon the more pressing agenda items. All agenda items not
considered at the meeting shall be on the agenda of the next regular, special, or adjourned regular meeting unless the
Commission directs otherwise.
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you need special assistance in this meeting, please contact the
Planning Secretary at (650) 903-6306. Notification of 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable
arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. (28 CFR 35.160 (b) (1))
ADDRESSING THE COMMISSION:
Interested persons are entitled to speak on any item on the agenda and should make their interest known to the Chair.
Anyone wishing to address the Commission on a nonagenda item may do so during the Oral Communications portion of
the agenda. Speakers are allowed to speak one time on any number of topics for up to three minutes.
An individual speaker shall have up to 3 minutes to address the Commission. For any agenda item or for Oral
Communications on nonagenda items, if there appears to be a large number of speakers, the Chair may reduce speaking
time to no less than 1.5 minutes per speaker unless there is an objection from Commission by majority vote.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.3(b)(1), at least twice the allotted speaking time will be provided to a
member of the public who utilizes a translator.
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