Traffic/Development

Town Crier File Photo
Google Inc. is set to extend funding for the Mountain View Community Shuttle for another five years.

Google Inc. officials revealed plans June 26 to extend funding for the Mountain View Community Shuttle for five years, enabling Phase 2 of the program to begin.

During Phase 1, Google totally funded the free shuttle service, operated by the company as part of an initiative to provide daytime transit options for Mountain View residents. Phase 2 will transition the operations from Google over the next year and allow the city to study the next steps for the program while providing stable and certain funding for the shuttle to continue at its current service levels.

Megan V. Winslow/Town Crier
Many of those living in their vehicles lining Mountain View roads, estimated at 290 vehicles by city officials, would be driven out of the area if the city council finalizes an ordinance opposing extended RV parking, civil rights groups argue. Dwellers rely on prolonged stays currently available through open spots on streets like Shoreline Boulevard.

Mountain View leaders are encountering some friction as they proceed to draft an ordinance that would essentially ban people from living in RVs parked on city streets.

The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley and the ACLU of Northern California issued a letter earlier this month demanding that the Mountain View City Council oppose and reverse two “unconstitutional proposals” that target residents living in vehicles.

Residents worried about high-density development being forced on Los Altos can breathe easier – for now.

The State Senate’s Appropriations Committee May 16 suspended State Sen. Scott Wiener’s controversial Senate Bill 50 for the year, legislation that would have encouraged construction of high-rise housing along major transit corridors, including El Camino Real and San Antonio Road. The bill would have overridden local regulations.

The Los Altos Planning Commission is scheduled Thursday to conduct a design review for a three-story building downtown that includes 20 condominium units and two levels of underground parking.

City staff is recommending approval of developer Jeff Warmoth’s project applications at 425 First St. Up for consideration at Thursday’s public hearing is the tentative design and subdivision map for the project.

Megan V. Winslow/Town Crier
A city notice posted at 4898 El Camino Real – current home of seven businesses, including The Futon Shop – notifies residents that multifamily housing may occupy the lot in the future. A preliminary application filed by developer Mircea Voskerician outlines plans for a five-story, 23-unit building.

Looking to avoid a replay of last year’s drawn-out planning process for the mixed-use Altos One project along the El Camino Real corridor, developer Mircea Voskerician offered assurances to nearby residents who aired concerns about another proposed complex at the Los Altos Planning Commission meeting Feb. 21.

Voskerician’s new Altos Two project – the only item on the commission’s agenda – drew complaints from neighbors, who contended that residential buildings along El Camino are decreasing the commercial aspect of the area’s thoroughfare zoning.

Megan V. Winslow/Town Crier

Funds allocated through Measure B will be used to improve congested stretches of Foothill Expressway, affecting traffic flow in intersections like the one with San Antonio Road, above.

The recent release of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority funding from Measure B’s half-cent sales tax could mean more than $1.5 million over two years headed to Los Altos for city road repairs and maintenance. Additional funds will go toward improvements along Interstate 280 and Foothill Expressway in Los Altos.