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Uploaded: Tuesday, August 28, 2012, 12:57 PM
Row homes slated for vacant lot on Ada Avenue
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by Daniel DeBolt
Mountain View Voice Staff
A 59-unit row-home project proposed for a vacant lot at Ada and Minaret avenues has been given the thumbs-up by zoning administrator Peter Gilli and is now headed for City Council approval.
If the council votes yes on Oct. 9, developer Tripointe Homes LLC could begin construction on the 4.51-acre site in April 2013 and finish the following November.
Gilli called the three-story row-home proposal "a very good project" during an Aug. 22 hearing. He cited the City Council's desire for ownership housing as more than 1,000 apartment units make their way through the city's planning pipeline.
A few neighbors raised concerns about how the project would impact the existing lack of parking in the neighborhood, to which city staff said the project includes 137 parking spaces, more than two per home, and more than the city requires.
Speed bumps on Minaret Avenue would be installed along with the project, addressing one neighbor's concern about people coming to and from Whisman Road who "speed by at 40 miles per hour."
Gilli also made it a condition of his approval to provide pedestrian and bike access on the main private street through the project, addressing another neighbor's request; he plans to present to the council the possibility of providing similar access through an alleyway on the site.
Plans show two small private parks, including one that is "a meditative kind of park," said city planner Nancy Minicucci. More than 44 percent of the lot is landscaped.
The developer is asking to remove remove 38 large trees classified as heritage trees by the city, mostly black walnut trees in poor health, remnants of an orchard on the site, Gilli said. Six heritage trees would be relocated.
Minicucci said the heights of the homes would be 34 to 36 feet, well under the city's 45-foot zoning limit for the site. The mix of attached and detached homes also meets the city's row-home guidelines.
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Posted by MAD, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Aug 29, 2012 at 8:32 pm YOU NEED SPEED BUMPS NOW ON MINERAT BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. CRAP, THERE ARE KIDS RUNNING INTO THE STREET AND THESE DAMN PEOPLE FLYING DOWN THE STREET LIKE CRAZY PEOPLE. DO IT NOW! GET COPS OVER HERE.
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Posted by Steven, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Mar 3, 2013 at 10:16 am Well, as of February, the "pit" on the property is being filled in. A simply massive job, involving at least a THOUSAND double-hopper trucks coming in from who-knows where on Hwy.237 day in and day out. Most impressive. And an excellent job of dust and dirt mitigation by the crew on site; multiple street sweepers constantly on the move on Minaret and surrounding streets. Graders equipped with GPS units. Fascinating to watch. Worth a story.
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Posted by Kim, a resident of the Whisman Station neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2013 at 7:47 pm I agree with Steve to SOME extent. Yes, there are sweepers that come by. And the construction employees I've seen have been incredibly courteous and polite. Wave to me every morning when I go to work. Having said that, my car still gets covered with the dust that emanates from that area. It's fascinating to watch in that I'm completely flummoxed about how they're going to build such a large complex and address the volume of traffic, not just speed. And the beep, beep, beep at 7 a.m. is a very difficult adjustment. As I write this, am I alone in this? Lastly, are these homes for sale or for rent? Had an email exchange with a city council member who said that the council is very pro-ownership and doesn't quite understand or support the idea of additional rental housing. Not everyone can fork out $900k+ for a home. I'm so frustrated with this project. I wish I had known about the August hearing. I would've been glad to voice my concerns.
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