NewThu, Mar 5, 2026·Mountain View, California·City Council

Administrative Zoning Public Hearing - February 25, 2026

0:12

Okay, we'll get started.

0:14

Well, good afternoon and welcome to the administrative zoning public hearing of February 25th, 2026.

0:20

My name is George Schroeder, and I am present presiding over the hearing today as the zoning administrator.

0:26

And I'd like to call the meeting to order today at 4 o'clock p.m.

0:30

Today's hearing will operate in a hybrid format.

0:33

Staff, the applicants, and subcommunity members are in person.

0:37

However, we will ask if community members joining us virtually want to speak on an item at certain points in the meeting.

0:43

When those opportunities arise, typically during the public comment portion of each agenda item.

0:50

Members of the public wishing to comment may do so by clicking on the raise hand feature on Zoom when I announce the item that you wish to speak on.

0:58

Speakers will be notified of their turn shortly before they're called on to speak.

1:03

All speakers virtually or in person will have two to three minutes to provide comments with the timing dependent on the total number of speakers for each item.

1:13

If you are in person and wish to comment on either of the items, please also fill out a yellow speaker card for us so we're able to accurately spell your name for the meeting minutes.

1:23

The next portion of the meeting is oral communications from the public.

1:26

This is a time set aside for persons wishing to address the zoning administrator on any matter not on the agenda.

1:33

Speakers are limited to three minutes, and state law prohibits any action on any items which are not on the agenda.

1:41

Is there seeing no one in the audience?

1:44

Is there anyone online that would speak on like to speak on any of the items not on the agenda?

1:49

There's no one online.

1:50

Okay.

1:51

Thank you, Roxanne.

1:52

I will now move on to item three, which is the zoning administrator public hearing.

1:57

Item 3.1 is 747 West Dana Street with a request for a provisional use permit to allow a 263 square foot ground floor office use expansion in a previously approved three-story commercial building on a 0.07 acre site and a recommended determination that the project is categorically exempt pursuant to section 15301, which is existing facilities of the California Environmental Quality Act.

2:28

Good evening, Krisha Panolia, our senior planner, and I'm here to present the project before you.

2:34

The project is located west south of Dana Street between Castro Street and Hope Street in the P19 downtown precise plan, Area H.

2:44

The project is surrounded primarily by commercial uses and includes frontage along West Dana Street to the north and Blossom Lane to its east.

2:54

The use permit is to expand the approved ground floor office along Blossom Lane.

2:59

The existing office itself has no frontage on West Dana Street, and with the expansion, continues to not have any frontage along Dana Street.

3:09

And here's a floor plan showing the proposed expansion.

3:13

Again, the existing floor plan shows the expansion of the ground floor office lobby to create a larger office lobby and a proposed podcast reel.

3:25

The proposal continues to create a new ground floor experience through this layout and intends to create an attractive ground floor experience with transparent windows.

3:33

And as such, staff finds that the project is consistent with the general plan and precise plan and recommends approval of the project.

3:41

Thank you.

3:42

Okay, thank you, Krisha.

3:44

It's now the applicant's turn to make a presentation.

3:46

Mr.

3:46

Rodriguez, do you have a presentation or anything for us today?

3:51

I just wanted to note that uh this is for the tenant that is taking the majority of the building.

3:58

They'll be on the first, second, and third floor of the building.

4:02

There's a restaurant uh that will be located at the front part of the building on Dana Street, but their lobby entrance off of Blossom Lane.

4:09

Some call that an alley, but it's that back street.

4:13

Um, and they have requested this additional lobby expansion plus the podcast room.

4:19

So happy to answer any questions that you might have or members of the public.

4:25

Um, thank you.

4:26

Okay, thank you, Mr.

4:27

Rodriguez.

4:28

No questions from me.

4:29

So we will now open the item up for public comments.

4:33

And seeing no one from the audience, uh, let's see if there's anyone online that would like to comment.

4:39

And if you are online, please use the raise hand feature in Zoom to raise your hand.

4:45

And uh is there anyone that wishes to speak?

4:48

No one online.

4:48

Okay, thank you, Roxanne.

4:50

So seeing no one line, I will now ask the applicant if there's any additional comments that you have or any other thoughts.

4:58

None.

4:58

Okay, thank you.

5:00

So I will now go ahead and close the public hearing.

5:03

And I can make the findings.

5:05

Um I find that this is a uh appropriate use for the the site.

4:59

It's uh activates the ground floor of the building, transparent storefronts.

5:14

The use is consistent with uh the downtown precise plan.

5:17

And I will now move forward in making a motion to approve item 3.1 based on the findings and the conditions posted online.

5:25

Um we did not receive any public comment letters and the application materials reviewed by city staff.

5:32

And please note that this decision of approval is appealable to the council within 10 calendar days.

5:38

And this concludes our public hearing today at 405 p.m.

5:43

If anyone has any follow-up questions on the agenda, please contact Krisha.

5:48

Thank you, everyone.

5:51

Thank you both.

5:52

Thank you.

5:53

And then, have you been working with building by chance?

5:56

I know I've been short with sweet.

5:59

So, like, he doesn't have any comments.

6:03

Oh, um, you know, it's just such a minor change.

6:06

Um, revisions need to do nothing.

6:08

And uh, and so we have been working with the field um inspector.

6:14

Oh, to catch a you and who has all the drawings.

6:17

I'm gonna circle back with you and that this is fully approved.

6:20

Yeah, yes, okay.

6:23

Thank you so much.

6:24

I just want to make sure.

6:25

No, no, no.

6:26

Yeah, I and I appreciate that, I really do.

6:28

Uh, because I think we're getting close now to requesting a CO of the uh

Discussion Breakdown

Procedural100%

Summary

Administrative Zoning Public Hearing of February 25th, 2026

The zoning administrator, George Schroeder, presided over a hybrid public hearing focused on a single agenda item: a provisional use permit for a ground floor office expansion. No members of the public provided comments, and the hearing proceeded swiftly to a decision.

Discussion Items

Item 3.1: 747 West Dana Street Provisional Use Permit: Senior planner Krisha Panolia presented the project, describing a request for a 263 square foot ground floor office expansion in a commercial building, including a lobby and podcast room. Staff found the project consistent with the general plan and downtown precise plan and recommended approval. Applicant representative Mr. Rodriguez expressed support, noting the expansion is for a tenant occupying multiple floors and aims to enhance the ground floor experience. Zoning administrator George Schroeder reviewed the item and discussed its alignment with zoning requirements.

Key Outcomes

The zoning administrator approved the provisional use permit for 747 West Dana Street based on staff recommendations, findings of consistency with plans, and no public opposition. The decision is appealable to the city council within 10 calendar days.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, we'll get started. Well, good afternoon and welcome to the administrative zoning public hearing of February 25th, 2026. My name is George Schroeder, and I am present presiding over the hearing today as the zoning administrator. And I'd like to call the meeting to order today at 4 o'clock p.m. Today's hearing will operate in a hybrid format. Staff, the applicants, and subcommunity members are in person. However, we will ask if community members joining us virtually want to speak on an item at certain points in the meeting. When those opportunities arise, typically during the public comment portion of each agenda item. Members of the public wishing to comment may do so by clicking on the raise hand feature on Zoom when I announce the item that you wish to speak on. Speakers will be notified of their turn shortly before they're called on to speak. All speakers virtually or in person will have two to three minutes to provide comments with the timing dependent on the total number of speakers for each item. If you are in person and wish to comment on either of the items, please also fill out a yellow speaker card for us so we're able to accurately spell your name for the meeting minutes. The next portion of the meeting is oral communications from the public. This is a time set aside for persons wishing to address the zoning administrator on any matter not on the agenda. Speakers are limited to three minutes, and state law prohibits any action on any items which are not on the agenda. Is there seeing no one in the audience? Is there anyone online that would speak on like to speak on any of the items not on the agenda? There's no one online. Okay. Thank you, Roxanne. I will now move on to item three, which is the zoning administrator public hearing. Item 3.1 is 747 West Dana Street with a request for a provisional use permit to allow a 263 square foot ground floor office use expansion in a previously approved three-story commercial building on a 0.07 acre site and a recommended determination that the project is categorically exempt pursuant to section 15301, which is existing facilities of the California Environmental Quality Act. Good evening, Krisha Panolia, our senior planner, and I'm here to present the project before you. The project is located west south of Dana Street between Castro Street and Hope Street in the P19 downtown precise plan, Area H. The project is surrounded primarily by commercial uses and includes frontage along West Dana Street to the north and Blossom Lane to its east. The use permit is to expand the approved ground floor office along Blossom Lane. The existing office itself has no frontage on West Dana Street, and with the expansion, continues to not have any frontage along Dana Street. And here's a floor plan showing the proposed expansion. Again, the existing floor plan shows the expansion of the ground floor office lobby to create a larger office lobby and a proposed podcast reel. The proposal continues to create a new ground floor experience through this layout and intends to create an attractive ground floor experience with transparent windows. And as such, staff finds that the project is consistent with the general plan and precise plan and recommends approval of the project. Thank you. Okay, thank you, Krisha. It's now the applicant's turn to make a presentation. Mr. Rodriguez, do you have a presentation or anything for us today? I just wanted to note that uh this is for the tenant that is taking the majority of the building. They'll be on the first, second, and third floor of the building. There's a restaurant uh that will be located at the front part of the building on Dana Street, but their lobby entrance off of Blossom Lane. Some call that an alley, but it's that back street. Um, and they have requested this additional lobby expansion plus the podcast room. So happy to answer any questions that you might have or members of the public. Um, thank you. Okay, thank you, Mr. Rodriguez. No questions from me. So we will now open the item up for public comments. And seeing no one from the audience, uh, let's see if there's anyone online that would like to comment. And if you are online, please use the raise hand feature in Zoom to raise your hand. And uh is there anyone that wishes to speak?