From: Hala Alshahwany
To: , City Manager; City Council; , Planning Division
Subject: Strongly Opposed to MTC Grant
Date: Sunday, April 9, 2023 9:57:36 PM
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Greetings City Council Members, Manager & Planning Staff, I am hugely concerned and opposed to item 4.3 under Consent Calendar in the agenda of upcoming city council meeting this Tuesday April 11th. I think it’s highly undemocratic to place a matter that would affect residential and office space densities in our downtown as stated in the so called MTC grant, without the due process of discussing the details, hearing public input, and explaining the grant’s ramifications to council members prior to seeking their approval.
The impacts of the MTC grant could mean increasing current 30-50 dwellings units/acre to 75, and increasing FAR from 1.85-2.75 to as high as 4.0 nearly doubling the office buildings in downtown. All with minimal parking spaces required. The mix of office to residential ratio is not defined in this proposal which could mean predominantly office spaces taking over first 5 blocks of downtown area. How is that going to help the city’s quest in providing affordable and equitable housing to the current, let alone the future working population in our city? This is NOT what the community has repeatedly requested at city council meetings for the last few years. Our voices were loud and clear that we wanted to preserve the historic characteristics of our unique downtown. Pushing the MTC grant and asking for council’s approval with no presentation, no discussion and no transparency, is plain wrong. Please reject the MTC grant proposal and the manner in which its being sought.
Sincerely,
Hala Alshahwany
MV Resident
From: Maureen B
To: City Council
Subject: MTC Grant
Date: Monday, April 10, 2023 9:20:45 AM
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Dear City Council,
I am completely baffled by the consent vote tomorrow night regarding the $1.2M MTC grant. As I understand it, there will be no discussion.
Further, my understanding is that accepting the grant will bind the city to much higher densities throughout Mountain View. I am particularly concerned about this along Castro Street where we should preserve the historical and pleasant character of Mountain View. I am very concerned about Castro Street becoming a canyon of tall, mainly office buildings. It’s a small street which will not hold up well to to buildings.
This action seems to quickly brush past all the work which has been done to plan downtown Mountain View.
I would ask that you slow down and hold public meetings on this subject.
Thank you for your consideration.
Maureen Blando