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1.4 PURPOSE OF THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE The purpose of the General Plan Update is to revise the 1992 General Plan to reflect the community’s vision and aspirations through the year 2030. It will describe the types and locations of future land uses, as well as the character and quality of development that should take place in the City. It will also provide direction to City staff, the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) and City Council as they administer City codes, regulate land uses, consider planning policy decisions, and manage natural resources. Further, the General Plan Update will lay the foundation upon which more detailed plans and programs will be based, including community needs assessments, zoning ordinance updates, and capital improvement plans. The General Plan Update will involve extensive community outreach to generate broad input and participation over a two-year period. Community members will have opportunities to participate in neighborhood-specific meetings and community-wide workshops to learn about planning issues, explore options for consideration in the General Plan Update and offer feedback about the document’s policy direction. The consultant team, City staff, the EPC, and the General Plan Project Advisory Committee (PAC),will build off of community input and the current conditions analysis to develop land use alternatives and a policy framework. They will then assess potential impacts of the land use alternatives and present them to the community and stakeholders to select a preferred alternative. Based on community input and analysis findings, the consultant team will work in coordination with City staff, the EPC and the PAC to draft updates to existing General Plan elements such as transportation, urban design, sustainability and other planning components, such as noise and safety, and open space and conservation. The General Plan Update will also include strategies to focus on actions needed to carry out key policies and implement the community’s vision.
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1.5 VISIONING PHASE Overview of Visioning Phase In the spring and summer of 2008, the City of Mountain View conducted a citywide process to actively engage community members and key stakeholders in crafting a vision for the City’s future for the next 20 years. Through workshops, surveys, and other tools the visioning process provided residents with opportunities to share their opinions and contribute insights into the assets, challenges and community values that should be reflected in the City’s vision. The visioning process set the starting point for the General Plan Update, providing important guidance for future policy decisions related to land use, housing, economic development, sustainability, community services and facilities, as well as other planning efforts. More detailed information on the visioning process is available in the Mountain View 2008 General Plan Visioning Process Report. 2 Imagery from the community outreach and workshops conducted during the Visioning Phase can be found on Figure 1-6. Vision Statement Mountain View’s vision statement represents the community’s ideal future based on shared community values and priorities. “In 2030, the City of Mountain View embraces sustainable living and provides for the needs of all residents. It is a place that values its diversity, balances preservation with innovation, and provides quality education. The community supports a lively downtown, vibrant neighborhoods, and a healthy economy.” 3 In support of this vision, community members described the future of Mountain View as a city of healthy, connected villages where businesses and residents embrace environmentally sustainable principles and practices. In this vision, Mountain View continues to be a center for innovation, with a strong focus on attracting clean and green industries. The community preserves and takes pride in its open space and natural resources, and works to minimize its impact on climate change and air quality. Mountain View also continues to be an inclusive community that provides for the needs of all of its residents. Neighborhoods are safe, and high-quality and affordable housing options are available to residents. The City’s schools foster well-educated students and residents have access to life-long learning opportunities. Mountain View is a model community that balances preservation with creative planning and innovation. It remains committed to its strong sense of community, its existing character and small-town feel. The Downtown is active and walkable, neighborhoods are vibrant, and the economy is healthy and dynamic.
2 The full Mountain View 2008 General Plan Visioning Process Report is available online at www.mountainview2030.com. 3 City of Mountain View. 2008. Mountain View 2008 General Plan Visioning Report.
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Planning Principles In order to realize the vision, the City must base its decision-making on planning principles that reflect the community’s values. During the visioning process, a series of planning principles were developed, based on community input, to provide direction for the General Plan Update, and guidance for policy-makers and planners in the future. The following is a summary of the planning principles developed during the visioning phase. Accessibility and Connectivity. To ensure that residents, workers and visitors can move freely through the City. Affordability. To maintain economic diversity and meet the needs of residents. Collaboration and Transparent Decision-Making. To ensure meaningful and collaborative participation of community members and leaders in policymaking. Community Engagement. To create opportunities for community members to comfortably share concerns, opinions and proposed solutions. Community Health and Well-Being. To ensure the collective security and the physical, social, emotional and intellectual health of all community members. Diversity and Inclusivity. To value residents of all ages, mobilities, cultures, ethnicities and social classes. Economic Strength. To continue the vitality of the Downtown and retail centers, the vibrancy of neighborhoods and the quality of services and job opportunities. Education and Innovation. To ensure that youth and adults have the tools to participate positively, innovatively and creatively in community life. Neighborhood Cohesiveness. To cultivate shared values and goals between community members, and to ensure that these values are evident in the character of the built environment. Preservation of Character. To maintain and enhance the City’s character, including the scale, type and variety of development. Safety and Security. To provide a safe and secure environment for all community members. Sustainability and Stewardship. To position Mountain View as a leader in conserving natural resources and reducing consumption.
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Focus Areas During the visioning process, community members helped articulate and delineate areas of the City that should be preserved and enhanced, including those that are appropriate to be considered for potential land use change during the General Plan Update. They identified nine focus areas where additional planning and investment should be targeted. The focus areas include: Downtown; El Camino Real; Moffett Boulevard; the North Bayshore Area; the North Whisman Area – East; the North Whisman Area – West; the Old Middlefield Way Area; the Rengstorff Area; and the San Antonio Area. These focus areas straddle many of the neighborhood boundaries, and Figure 1-6 illustrates how they overlap with the neighborhoods. Through the visioning phase and over the course of several community workshops and General Plan Project Advisory Committee meetings, the focus area boundaries were refined and potential land uses and development characteristics were identified. Ongoing review and refinement of the focus areas will continue during the General Plan Update.
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San Francisco Bay
CITY OF PALO ALTO
Crittenden Marsh
101
North Bayshore Area
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Federal Airfield
Old Middlefield Way Area
San Antonio Area Rengstorff Area Moffett Boulevard
North Whisman Area - West North Whisman Area - East
85 237
101
Downtown
El Camino Real
CITY OF LOS ALTOS
CITY OF SUNNYVALE
280
N
0 LEGEND Mountain View City Limits Water Bodies S.O.I. / Planning Area Railroad/Light Rail Focus Area
North Bayshore Area Monta Loma/Farley/Rock Street Area Moffett/Whisman Road Area San Antonio/Rengstorff Area Central Neighborhoods Area Miramonte/Springer Road Area Grant Road/Sylvan Park Area
.25
.5 Creeks
1 mile
Figure 1-5 Focus Areas and Neighborhoods
Mountain View General Plan Update Draft Current Conditions Report
Source: City of Mountain View; MIG, 2009
Land use exercise
Workshops at the Performing Arts Center and City Hall
Information session
Community member registration
Small group discussion
Large group community input
Figure 1-6 Visioning Phase
Mountain View General Plan Update Draft Current Conditions Report