Well it just goes on and on doesn't it? If I recall, office buildings pay property tax but generate almost no sales tax revenue, especially since they have regiments of tax accountants and lawyers scurrying around the world moving "profits" out of reach. I think we could all benefit from revisiting Sinclair Lewis's "Babbit" and its reincarnation in our City Council. Next they will recommend that El Camino be converted to one way in all 6 lanes leading into our city...good for business.

What ever happens with the housing remember that schools fire safety and other services must be considered.

"James Hall" in the first comment jokes that the Mountain View City Council may next seek the conversion of all six lanes of El Camino Real into incoming lanes only! But really, no member of the City Council would vote "yes" on something that crazy. Well, okay, no member other than Ken Rosenberg, Pat Showalter and Michael Kasperzak.

City Council should require those companies to bus their employees to central transit hubs instead of running private bus services. This would stimulate those services and provide greater public benefit. Perhaps even build a dedicated spur of light rail to North Bayshore to eliminate buses to downtown Mountain View transit hub. That would help address the parking problem and encourage public transit.

Google's proposed plans provide a spectacular future that can only be done in North Bayshore. Linked in's proposal is as mundane as they come. Nothing memorable, no spirit. The city should strive for more than that

Mountain View does not have the natural resources; such as water and infrastructure to support any increase in housing.

Why does everyone think that we are obligated to provide housing for these businesses? It's crazy. Let them find housing in nearby areas. Our city is overcrowded now. I can't find parking anymore downtown. We have commuters speeding through our neighborhoods. We have an increase in traffic which jeopardizes our emergency responders to get to where they need to go. There is so much more air pollution in our Jackson Park area and the fumes are terrible.

I couldn't believe it the other day when I read the VOICE column about El Camino/ bus issue. Councilman Rosenberg was quoted as saying "It's my job not just to support people living in Mountain View but also those who work here".

Are you kidding me? HIs statement resonates with the same type of thinking about Improvements to North Bayshore or Googleland.

Where is the water coming from to support new housing and businesses?

We need to say no more to increased housing and office space. We need a City Council that has some backbone to stand up for the City of Mountain View residents and put a stop to nonsense.

If Google packed up and move today, I wouldn't miss them.

I love my City, but the quality of living in our town has deteriorated in the last 10 years.

Mountain View Resident, why are you bringing up this water nonsense, is the drought localized just to Mountain View?

Density conserves resources.

Killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

OK so traffic is bad but there are lots of jobs and plenty of money in MV because of Google. Thanks to Google - a forward looking company with an exciting commitment to R&D we had a strong future here.

And yet, and yet the idiot council wants to chase them away, denying them space to grow. LinkedIn - hah - please explain what LinkedIn offers us for our future. Nothing. Are they developing cars or robots or anything for the common good. No. It is a warehouse for out of date resumes, that's all.

So in order to payoff property developers and replace one cinema with another and a more few shops we have now severely limited a great companys ability to continue in our city.

Thanks council, you may well have killed the google goose.

It's about time the City Council listened and reviewed what other business had to offer. This is fantastic news.
I hope the Council continues to reach out to other businesses in the future.

I don't know if their is one solution here that would make everyone happy, but I do believe that in light of the explosive amount of proposed business growth in the North Bayshore area combined with the incredible amount of residential and commercial growth throughout Mountain View in general (correlation anyone?) that the city should absolutely be doing it's due diligence here, and not feel like anyone/thing/business is holding any sort of proverbial gun to it's head. Clearly, the decisions that are being made with regard to area precise plans will impact the residents of Mountain View, which is why you don't simply decide to change a precise plan without a revised EIR, for starters. You just don't do it.

"Mountain View Resident" objects to Ken Rosenberg caring about those who work in MV but can't live here because of limited supply and insane prices. I guess not everyone agrees with the philosophy espoused by Jesus Christ, "love your neighbor as yourself."

@hoffman

Accepting being made miserable to benefit someone who doesn't even live in MV doesn't equate to not caring for others.

The "social justice" tangent of these discussions is maddening and beyond absurd. There is nothing just about stealing quality of life from one group to give to another.

woops, that should have read:

Not accepting being made miserable to benefit someone who doesn't even live in MV doesn't equate to not caring for others.