The City is beginning to permit 3 and 4 story apartment developments, I do not think anything over 2 and at the most 3 story apartments should be permitted. See for yourself by driving my the old Minton's lumber yard site next to the corner of Bush and Evelyn. The apartments being constructed look oppressive and should not be allowed again in Mountain View.

Mora Drive should be residences. The businesses there had plenty of notice. Out. Out. Out.

So how many non-Google jobs are being driven out of town by all of these developments?

I hope the owners of the Milk Pail and the auto shop hold out until the bitter end.

The City Council needs to be voted out of office.

I'm surprised but glad that Council member Macias could vote to study some of these high density projects. She always does her homework seriously, I'm sure her background research on the developer she voted against was, if not 100% warranted, very well informed.
Let me see, many who have posted here want to return to the scattered fields and single family farmhouses of pre 1950s. No Cuesta park, Huff, or Monta Loma subdivisions. Certainly we should have that old winery back and the greenhouses down by Baily and the train tracks (oh thats, Sterling - no - Shoreline for all you unwanted newbies).
Most of us (IMO) think this development appropriate - even the council woman who most clearly represents the interests of single family subdivision areas that want to stay that way.

A lot of silly comments on these projects. I live near the Mintons site and you cannot notice the 3-4 stories because they are set back. There is nothing oppressive about them unless you consider the 3 story row homes next to them oppressive.

As for holding out, one council member did point out the problem of waiting too long and being surrounded by larger buildings. Holding out for a higher price can backfire. Just ask the guy that owns the house on the Costco parking lot.

I agree with Political Insider's point about the height of new apartments such as at the Minton's site... From the Villa side (facing smaller single-family homes) you can barely see the taller portion of the building (the 3 to 4-story side) behind the 2-story facade. If you attended the EPC and Council hearings on the project, you saw that the design was carefully crafted - and revised a number of times - to 'step down' towards the existing neighborhood on Villa. Once the new project is landscaped and its trees grow up, this project will fit into the fabric of the neighborhood as well or better than the tall Classics row houses next door.

As for the Evelyn frontage, I think it's great to see some height facing the train station. I'd like to see more of it, both residential and office, close to the tracks downtown. Because for every unit we are able to place here, it means one more Google or Intuit or Microsoft worker who can bike or take a short shuttle/bus/train ride to work rather than drive from a long distance.

OMV, yes height in this instance is particularly good, effectively blocks train noise by acting like a sound barrier for the nearby neighborhoods (I like trains - but don't live too close to them). I also like a bit of 'urban' feel to some neighborhoods. Some of the corners of high density San Jose, near the SJS University and Martain Luther King Library are a nice, different, residential feel.[] 'Our own' condo-apartments will all be in walking distance to Castro and the restaurants, Performing Arts Center, Library, whatever. [East San Fernando Street/South 3rd Street, San Jose, CA Google Maps street view, 4 block pop. 1445: 2010 US Census]

I have lived overseas, I got to see some really good ideas for El Camino and other parts of Mtn View, wach one will kinda of work or maybe not.

Retail shops that will have space to live in, just like Live/Work units.

Mixed Use that would mean Mixed Use. Tall building with retail, residental building with offices and stores.

Use of Greeways, Passageways and Alleys.

Nothing wrong with different heights, it will create a street scene.

Use of open space between buildings.