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Mountain View’s Stierlin Estates neighborhood is slated to gain 38 new homes as part of a rowhouse development approved by City Council this week.
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the City Council greenlit a project to build four three-story rowhouse buildings on a site spanning 922, 944 and 950 San Leandro Ave. The property sits just south of U.S. Highway 101 and west of State Route 85 and currently includes an industrial building and two single-family homes, according to a city staff report.
The City Council agreed to update its planning and zoning rules to allow for multi-family housing on the site, which was previously designated for industrial use.
City Council members lauded the developer, City Ventures, for making 25% of the homes below market rate units — a city requirement for rowhouses that often gets exempted due to extenuating circumstances.
“I think this project is an important example of how compliance with … our local regulations is achievable,” Council member Lucas Ramirez said.
Out of the 10 homes set aside for less wealthy families, three would be designated for low-income households, defined as those earning up to 80% of the area median income, another five would be for moderate-income households, up to 120% AMI, and two would be for above-moderate income households, up to 150% AMI.
The median income for a family of four in Santa Clara County is $195,200, according to state data.
All 38 units, ranging in size from 1,351 to 1,727 square feet, are expected to have three bedrooms, a private balcony, a two-car garage and a small front yard area, City Venture’s Kian Malek previously told Mountain View’s planning commission. The plan is to market the bungalow-inspired homes to first-time homebuyers, small families and families looking to downsize, Malek said on Tuesday.
Council member John McAlister noted that he’d like to see further rowhouse developments like this one because they allow more people to own property.
“Somebody who owns something, to me, is going to be more committed to the community,” McAlister said.
The 1.69-acre development is expected to be all electric, with solar panels installed on the roof of each building, the city staff report said.
The project plans call for removing 31 trees on the site, including five that are considered heritage trees — bigger, mature trees protected by a city ordinance. However, City Ventures is planning to put in 94 new trees, with five “heritage replacement trees,” according to the city staff report. When these trees are fully grown, 22.8% of the site is expected to be covered by tree canopy, up from the 7.6% current canopy coverage.
The developer is also planning to add a public walking and biking path on the south side of the property, which is intended to eventually connect to a park that the city hopes to build next door.
Per city policy, City Ventures will pay about $865,000 in what’s known as a “park land dedication in-lieu fee,” according to city staff. These funds are meant to offset the increased cost of providing parks and recreational facilities for the additional residents who are expected to move into the new homes.
Council member Pat Showalter said that she’s “very fond of rowhouses,” adding that plans for new housing and a new park make a great combination.
“There will be relatively more families there, and they can go play right into the park,” Showalter said.
