MOUNTAIN Perspective — Right after 5 years on the drawing board, the prepared overhaul and expansion of a group of hire-controlled apartments north of downtown could go via nonetheless additional alterations as the town council Tuesday took yet another look at the strategies and still experienced issues.
The undertaking by AvalonBay Communities, which was initial proposed in 2015, aims to completely change the 1960s-era apartment complex at 555 West Middlefield Road into a contemporary local community of above 700 houses total with a public park at its heart.
The proposal would provide the present 402 flats up to modern-day benchmarks though the developer constructs two new, 4 tale residences structures within the 14.5-acre job place by eliminating surface parking getting up about 50 % the web page.
When the proposal is in line with other developments prepared for the location — which includes a person caddy corner to a task that aims to deliver 716 flats to the area –the Mountain Watch Metropolis Council on Tuesday was apprehensive to move forward as they see a “patchwork” of unrelated projects popping up across the region devoid of any form of central scheduling.
“We’re developing alongside Moffett in a way which is extremely piecemeal,” mentioned Councilwoman Alison Hicks, referring to the 15 individual proposed developments in the space. “I believe this should be regarded a next 50 percent of our downtown. My massive reservation about the task is that it’s not provided in a specific prepare.”
Like in East Whisman community and the North Bayshore enhancement space, Hicks wishes the city to devise a in depth local community system for the spot all-around the intersection of Moffett Boulevard and Middlefield Highway.
The project’s near proximity to the Mountain Watch Caltrain station — which is just 15 moment walk — needs that the enhancement be regarded transit oriented and included into the city’s walkable downtown region, Hicks mentioned.
She said the individuals who have created letters to the council concerned about their fast changing neighborhood — mainly planned out by competing advancement pursuits — “are wholly right.”
“I never want to be producing something else along Moffett until we do a specific prepare,” Hicks claimed. “I think we’re actually at the issue in which we have to do that.”
Nevertheless some citizens detest the project’s density, Hicks claimed that the type of “second downtown” she’s envisioning essentially will provide the walkability that individuals drive. Council members agreed the developers program to retain an present 6-foot-extensive sidewalk alongside Moffett Boulevard ought to be widened to accommodate additional foot site visitors.
But some council users are however cautious of parking as a central difficulty. Inhabitants say Cypress Issue Drive, a tree-lined avenue that will provide as the major entrance for the proposed advanced, will not be ready to handle the influx of new vehicles. Residents say parking is already terrible in the place, and if the trend of enhancement carries on it will only get even worse.
The developer does have a parking strategy, which contains 3 ranges of underground parking to exchange the space of the existing leasing office environment and amenity making, pool and spa.
Council member Sally Lieber desires to make sure the town and the developer do much more, primarily for the men and women who will be attending the Mountain Look at Los Altos Grownup School nearby and may perhaps struggle with parking at evening.
“When the adult college has lessons or are doing testing, the parking large amount is not more than enough to hold people,” Lieber reported. “Folks are coming from get the job done and attempting to get to their assessments. It’s heading to be crucial to have some parking manage on that.”
Lieber was generally supportive of the challenge but felt the developer could do extra to beef up the project’s benefits to the community. She also identified as for a lease rebate application to be started out for the citizens of the 402 apartments that will offer with ongoing building over many years.
Currently the developer is preparing to pay about $2 million to the town in community impact expenses, but council associates want them to do a lot more.
Councilwoman Lisa Matichak, who has been vocally opposed to the venture, proposed that the developer foot the invoice for a relationship to the Stevens Creek Path running together with Highway 85 on best of group gains presently outlined in the program.
“It would tackle connectivity concerns and it would be a pleasant challenge to include to this one,” she said.
No matter what else the city negotiates with the developer to develop on the internet site, Councilman Lucas Ramirez stated he’d like to make sure the neighborhood effect rate money stays in the neighborhood.
“I assist the community advantage proposal, but the only detail I want to emphasize is that it’s really importune that the community gain funding be reinvested in this neighborhood,” he stated. “this is the space that’s heading to be impacted by this growth, they should really get the reward.”