"Plans for an eight-story apartment building are taking shape in the East Whisman area of Mountain View, a part of the city that is better known for office buildings and surface parking lots than high-density housing. The applicant, Jeffrey Stone of WTA Middlefield, is proposing to build a 460-unit apartment complex with nearly 9,400 square feet of ground floor retail at 490 E. Middlefield Road, replacing a two-story office building. Currently, the site is surrounded by other office buildings, but more residential growth is planned for the East Whisman area, including a massive development down the street at 675 and 685 E. Middlefield Road."
"In a 6-1 vote, the Environmental Planning Commission backed the proposal for the eight-story apartment building at 490 E. Middlefield Road. Commissioner José Gutiérrez cast the dissenting vote at the Wednesday, Jan. 21, meeting. Overall, the commissioners praised the developer's plan to build dense housing with street level retail, something that they said was lacking in East Whisman. "What's most important is that this is dense housing in an area of the city where we need dense housing," Commissioner Hank Dempsey said. "I'm absolutely going to be supporting this today, just on the strength of that alone.""
"However, a few commissioners also expressed concern about the size of the apartments, which are overwhelmingly studios and one-bedrooms that are a bit smaller in square footage than typical apartments in Mountain View. The project plan shows studios that are 409 square feet and 460 square feet, as well as one-bedrooms that are 614 square feet and 690 square feet. Andrew Jacobson, a consultant for the developer, noted that the smaller unit size was intentional and part of the project's vision to create more affordable homes. The project also is oriented around shared common spaces and amenities like courtyards, roof decks, interior workspaces, lounges and fitness studios."
Jeffrey Stone of WTA Middlefield proposes an eight-story, 460-unit apartment complex with nearly 9,400 square feet of ground-floor retail at 490 E. Middlefield Road, replacing a two-story office building. The surrounding East Whisman area is currently dominated by offices and surface parking, with additional residential growth planned nearby. The Environmental Planning Commission approved the project in a 6-1 vote. Commissioners praised the introduction of dense housing and street-level retail but raised concerns about predominantly studio and one-bedroom units that are smaller than typical Mountain View apartments. The design emphasizes shared common spaces and amenities to support affordability and community.
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