It is wonderful to read about this development, which could not come at a better time.

So, do all the numerous hearings and permits that we subject developers to in Mountain View have an important purpose or do they just slow down development? If it's the former, shouldn't this development go through the same reviews? If it's the latter, shouldn't we get rid of all these hearings and permits we require inside Mountain View city limits?

Mike, this project is on Federal land, so Mtn View gets little say, and the MV process doesnt apply. If you'll re-read the article, you'll see that construction is a long way off, so clearly there are plenty of regulatory hurdles to clear on this, though the process will look a lot different than a city entitlement project.

The NASA Ames $1B, 75 acre "...green research park 'village'" that Congresswoman Anna Eshoo assures will get us "...ready for the new century," seems exciting and visionary.

However, it also seems to me that locating the project on the shores of south San Francisco Bay might not be wise. Have NASA Ames and the developers considered some predictions that shorelines will drastically recede during this century because of global warming?

A recent front page photo in the S.J. Mercury News showed how much of Moffett Field will probably be inundated by the rise of the Pacific Ocean, come global warming.

Am I up to my neck in gloomy predictions, or will NASA Ames' "defining moment" end up high and dry?

Fred and Mike and Eric and others, you are all right in stressing that this plan for a "Great New Hub" is on federal land and not subject to permits from cities. But permits a-plenty will be needed!

As a member of Moffett's RAB (Restoration Advisory Board), along with fellow board members we are trying to save Hangar One for long-term future use (while restoring other sections of the base). Since global warming will continue at a slow pace for a century or more even if every emission were to be stopped tonight, we count on the hangar and housing and all of the new Hub to be safe and dry throughout our lifetimes.

As for permits, well, both NASA and Navy have experts who protect the public interest. We work with them all the time and they are careful while being also cooperative. This new Hub may take time to develop, but will continue Moffett's tradition of service to our communities.