Mountain View is looking to implement an “entertainment zone” in the downtown area ahead of the World Cup this summer, which would allow for the open consumption of alcohol on streets and sidewalks during city-designated events. A local ordinance creating the proposed zone — which would cover five blocks of Castro Street and portions of surrounding...
Palo Alto prepares to go big on housing around San Antonio Road
Creating what is essentially a brand new neighborhood from scratch is no easy feat — a fact the Palo Alto City Council wrestled with Monday during a discussion of the San Antonio Road Area Plan, a roadmap for building more than 1,500 homes. The plan hopes to bring thousands of new homes, as well as retail,...
Mountain View fined $1.2M for sewage pollution in creek
Mountain View is facing nearly $1.2 million in civil penalties after a judge ruled on March 31 that the city has been violating federal law by allowing raw sewage to get into Stevens Creek through its stormwater system, posing serious health risks. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila fined the city for failing to comply with the requirements of...
Mountain View’s NASA Ames plays role in upcoming moon mission
Today, astronauts plan to embark on a journey that will take them farther into space than any human has ever traveled. The upcoming NASA expedition, known widely as Artemis II, is expected to lay the groundwork for getting people back onto the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. Artemis II involves...
Mountain View plans expansion of Shoreline RV parking program
For years, Mountain View has invested in a safe parking program to support residents living in vehicles. This summer, the city is planning to increase the number of safe parking spaces near Shoreline Amphitheatre to make up for the loss of spots elsewhere in the city. The City Council unanimously approved a staff recommendation Tuesday to add 47 spots...
Google unveils historic restoration of Hangar One in Mountain View
Once reduced to a skeletal frame, a massive landmark visible from U.S. Highway 101 has been restored to its original form minus the toxic chemicals that made it too dangerous to inhabit for decades. Spearheaded by Google’s Planetary Ventures, the historic restoration of Hangar One impressed local officials who gathered at Moffett Field in Mountain View on...
Palo Alto rail crossing closure debate weighs public safety, traffic congestion
In the weeks since another death on the Caltrain tracks in Palo Alto rocked the community on Feb. 3, city leaders have scrambled to find the right policies to respond to the ongoing crisis. They have recommitted to funding mental health services for youth, hired security guards to monitor the tracks and, most controversially, revived...
Spurred by neighbors, City Council limits Palo Alto Commons expansion
Neighbors who live on Wilkie Way succeeded Monday in urging the Palo Alto City Council to limit the expansion of an assisted living facility that faces their backyards, a vote that settled a yearslong dispute between residents and the owners of Palo Alto Commons over privacy and parking. The city council signed off on seven...
Is Mountain View on track to add 11K homes by 2031?
Developers have submitted plans to build more than 10,000 homes in Mountain View, but only a small fraction of those have broken ground, as financial headwinds are making it difficult to start construction. A recent city report shows a drop in the number of building permits issued over the past two years, posing a challenge...
Palo Alto approves ‘mission critical’ objectives for coming year
Palo Alto leaders set themselves up for a busy year on Monday when they approved a list of 42 measurable goals to carry out for the next year — an agenda that includes adopting a new area plan for neighborhoods around San Antonio Road, crafting a policy for managing consultants, completing a new bike master...