HomeMy WebLinkAbout02) Findings ReportCITY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW
FINDINGS REPORT/ZONING PERMIT
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APPLICATION NO.: PL-2020-156
DATE OF FINDINGS: October 28, 2020
EXPIRATION OF ZONING PERMIT:
THIS DOCUMENT REPRESENTS THE ZONING PERMIT RECEIVED FOR THE SUBJECT SITE. THIS DOCUMENT
DOES NOT WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR SUBSEQUENT CITY APPROVALS AS APPLICABLE, INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BUILDING PERMITS, EXCAVATION PERMITS, ETC.
☐ Owner ☐ Agent ☐ File ☐ Fire ☐ Public Works
Applicant’s Name:
Tim Steel for The Sobrato Organization
Property Address: Assessor’s Parcel No(s): Zone:
600 Ellis Street 160-54-023 and 160-54-024 P-41
Request:
Request for a Development Agreement between the City of Mountain View and SI 33, LLC., for the properties
located at 600-636 Ellis Street for an office project; and a determination that an Initial Study of Environmental
Significance has been prepared pursuant to Section 15168 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
APPROVED ☐ CONDITIONALLY ☐ DISAPPROVED ☐ OTHER ☒
APPROVED
****ZONING ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL****
FINDINGS OF APPROVAL:
1. The Development Agreement is consistent with the objectives, policies, general land uses, and programs specified
in the General Plan for the High-Intensity Office Land Use Designation and East Whisman Precise Plan, which
allows intensities up to 1.0 floor area ratio (FAR) for highly sustainable developments which provide innovative
site, architectural, and landscape designs and transportation demand management measures which support the
City’s goals for reducing trips and transit-oriented developments in the East Whisman Change Area.
2. The Project will also purchase 80,000 square feet of Transfer of Development Rights (“TDRs”) from the Los Altos
Unified School District (“LASD”) to help support the LASD and City’s development of a new school site and shares
park facilities in the San Antonio planning area. This will provide for $10,400,000 in new funds for the LASD project
(“TDR Payment”). With the TDRs, the Project will be allowed to have a FAR of 1.0 plus 80,000 square feet.
3. The Development Agreement is compatible with the uses authorized in, and the regulations prescribed for, the land
use district in which the real property is located because the proposal clearly demonstrates superior site and building
design and compatibility with surrounding uses and developments by providing appropriate building setbacks
from the public right-of-way; innovative architecture which responds to the project site and surroundings; the
implementation of bird-safe building design; providing all the project parking within parking structures; and a high-
intensity office use compatible with the surroundings.
4. The Development Agreement is in conformity with public convenience, general welfare, and good land use practice
because the design of the buildings and proposed office use are compatible with the development standards and
allowable land uses as well as the surrounding office developments. The City has determined that the Project is a
development for which a Development Agreement is appropriate, as the Development Agreement will improve the
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PL-2020-156
potential for the Project to be constructed in an orderly fashion, along with the significant Project benefits, such as
the financial contributions by the Applicant, and otherwise achieve the goals and purposes of Article XVI, Division
14 of the City Code related to Development Agreements.
5. The Development Agreement will not be detrimental to the health, safety, and general welfare of the community
because the proposed office development is consistent with the policies and development standards of the General
Plan and East Whisman Precise Plan.
6. The Development Agreement will not adversely affect the orderly development of property or the preservation of
property values because the development of the project site with office buildings is compatible with the surrounding
office developments.
7. The Development Agreement is needed by the Applicant due to the complexity, cost, or infrastructure requirements
for development to allow for flexibility in the timing and phasing of the project because construction of a project of
this size and extent would otherwise exceed the City’s standard approval and permit extension period, particularly
in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
8. The Development Agreement is advantageous to and benefits the City because the Applicant will provide a $200,000
public benefit fee for the proposed seven-year Development Agreement as well as the TDR Payment and numerous
other community benefits and fees.
9. The Development Agreement has been reviewed by the City Attorney.
10. The Development Agreement complies with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because an Initial
Study of Environmental Significance has been prepared pursuant to Section 15168, the environmental effects of the
Project were adequately covered by the East Whisman Area Precise Plan Program Environmental Impact Report
(SCH No. 20177082051), and all significant impacts of the project have been mitigated to less-than-significant with
the incorporation of mitigation measures and standard City Conditions of Approval.
STEPHANIE WILLIAMS, PLANNING MANAGER/ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
SW-MN/4/FDG
PL-2020-156