749 West El Camino Real Mixed-Use Project

The project at 749 West El Camino Real in Mountain View, California, entails the demolition of an existing 1,487-square-foot restaurant and an 18,302-square-foot bank building along with all associated parking and landscaping to make way for a mixed-use development. The new development includes a two-story, 8,483-square-foot bank building on the northwest corner of the site and a six-story building containing 299 residential units—31 of which are reserved for very-low-income households and two for low-income households—alongside 10,830 square feet of ground-floor commercial space adjacent to El Camino Real. The project features an at-grade podium parking level above two levels of underground parking, a public plaza between the bank and commercial uses, and the preservation and integration of existing historic artwork from the original bank building and plaza. The development adheres to the El Camino Real Precise Plan with a maximum height of 75 feet and a floor-area-ratio of approximately 3.05, exceeding the base zoning allowance of 2.3 FAR through a 46.25 percent density bonus authorized under California’s State Density Bonus Law. The project does not require a General Plan amendment or rezoning but was approved with a Planned Community Permit, Development Review Permit, Provisional Use Permit, Heritage Tree Removal Permit, and a resolution vacating certain public easements. The development includes extensive site improvements tied to transportation, environmental, and cultural resource obligations. It must comply with Valley Transportation Agency (VTA) design standards for transit accommodations, including bus stop relocations and ADA-compliant pedestrian facilities, and implement a Transportation Demand Management program to mitigate vehicle trips. Construction must avoid parking vehicles on public streets and coordinate with Caltrans for any work within state right-of-way. Environmental assessments require soil sampling and remediation for contaminants including DDT, dieldrin, arsenic, PAHs, and TPHs in accordance with DTSC, EPA, and Water Board standards. Historical preservation obligations mandate HABS-style documentation, including archival digital photography in uncompressed RAW and TIFF formats at 300 dpi and minimum 1600x1200 resolution, measured architectural drawings, and interpretive displays. Replacement trees must be planted to offset the removal of existing trees, including Heritage Trees, in full compliance with city requirements. All documentation, from environmental reports to historical records, must be submitted for agency review and approval by the City of