Yard signs in Mountain View highlight a state bill that could allow denser housing near train, light rail and some bus stops. Senate Bill 79, introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, sets statewide zoning standards within a half-mile of major transit stops. The bill would apply in Mountain View to Caltrain and VTA light rail stations but not to local bus routes that lack dedicated bus lanes. Under SB 79, maximum building heights would range from six to nine stories near Caltrain and five to eight near light rail, with additional density possible through state bonuses tied to affordable housing. Housing and environmental groups support the bill while critics warn it could override local zoning and threaten historic structures.
In Mountain View, the legislation would apply to Caltrain and Valley Transportation Authority light rail stations. However, it would not apply to bus lines in the city, according to a spokesperson for Wiener's office. While "bus rapid transit" is included in the legislation, the bus routes that run through Mountain View don't meet those criteria because there aren't dedicated bus lanes, the spokesperson said. The combined bus and bicycle lanes that exist along portions of El Camino Real do not count, he added.
Under SB 79, maximum building heights would range from six to nine stories within a half-mile of a Caltrain station and five to eight stories within a half-mile of a light rail station, depending on the proximity to the transit stop. Buildings also could go taller with state density bonuses that allow developers to build more housing units in exchange for providing affordable housing.
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