Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Mountain View Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) met on October 7, 2026, to consider two major land use items. The Commission unanimously recommended approval of a new ordinance creating zoning incentives for voluntary all-electric construction in single-family and duplex zones. Following a lengthy public hearing and deliberation, the Commission voted 6-1 to recommend the comprehensive R3 Zoning District Update to the City Council, capping a seven-year process covering updates to zoning maps, precise plans, development standards, and a certified Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
Item 5.1 – All-Electric Zoning Program:
Item 5.2 – R3 Zoning District Update:
Item 5.1 – All Electric Construction Zoning Program Amendments Staff presented a voluntary zoning incentive program allowing exceptions to development standards (e.g., 5% FAR bonus, rear/front yard encroachments) for single-family and duplex properties that voluntarily pursue all-electric construction. The program is modeled on a successful Sunnyvale initiative and is designed to comply with state constraints (AB 130) by operating as a zoning incentive rather than a building code mandate. Commissioners praised the “carrot over stick” approach, discussed gas meter removal requirements, and supported tracking the program for future expansion.
Item 5.2 – R3 Zoning District Update Staff presented the final recommendations for the multi-year R3 update. Key components included updated development standards for small lots and transition areas, compliance with new state laws (SB 9, Starter Home Revitalization Act), rezoning 14 “change areas” to R4, and amending or repealing several precise plans. The Final EIR identified significant unavoidable cumulative impacts to air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and transportation, necessitating a Statement of Overriding Considerations. Commissioners engaged in detailed technical discussion on massing transitions, parking minimums, the definition of bay boundaries, and the need for project drop-off zones. Commissioner Subramanian proposed several technical amendments, including reducing parking minimums on small lots, removing green wall requirements in transition zones, and allowing delivery drop-off areas. A straw poll indicated support for the parking and drop-off concepts. Commissioner Cranston voiced general support but raised specific questions about zoning orphans on individual parcels. Commissioner Dempsey requested a transparent rubric for merit-based zoning decisions in the staff report to Council.
Environmental Planning Commission meeting of October 7th, 2026. I will call the meeting to order at 7 p.m. For those joining us in person, please note that due to our hybrid environment, audio and video presentations can no longer be shared from the lectern. Requests to show an audio or video presentation during a meeting should be directed to EPCF Mountainview.gov by 4 30 p.m. on the meeting date. Additionally, due to our hybrid environment, we will no longer have speakers line up on an item. Anyone wishing to address the EPC in person must complete a yellow speaker card. Please indicate the name you would like to be called by when it is your turn to speak, and the item number on which you wish to speak. Please complete one yellow speaker card for each item on which you wish to speak and turn them in to the EPC clerk as soon as possible, but no later than the call for public comment on the item you are wishing to speak on. Instructions for addressing the commission virtually may be found on the posted agenda. Now I will ask the EPC clerk to proceed with our roll call. Mr. Clerk. Thanks. Commissioner Supermanion. Here. Commissioner Pham. Here. Commissioner Gutierrez. Here. Commissioner Dempsey. Here. Commissioner Cranston. Here. Vice Chair Donahue. Here. Chair Nunes. Here. All Commissioners are present. Thank you, Ms. Clerk. All right. Having completed our roll call, we'll proceed to item number 3.1. Uh the environmental planning commission meeting minutes of June 17, 2026, and August 19th, 2026. I'll open it up for any uh APC discussion. Well, uh just before we get into that, staff would like to just note uh two small corrections. This is for the June 17th meeting. Under section one roll call, we just corrected the time to say 7 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. Um and then under section 3.1 minutes of approval, we also added the vote. Uh and a updated copy of the minutes have been placed on your uh desk as well. Thank you. Thank you very much, Ms. Pentrolli.