In April 2022, the Council authorized City staff to update the Historic Preservation Ordinance and the Register of Historic Resources, a list of historically significant properties in the City. The City's Historic Preservation Ordinance was originally adopted in 2004, along with the Register of Historic Resources, and includes procedures for:

• designating properties as historic resources on the local Register of Historic Resources.
• approval of modifications or improvements to historic resources; and
• incentives to encourage the preservation of historic resources.

The Update

The update is expected to be completed in 2024. The major tasks include:

• Historic Preservation Ordinance - Update the zoning ordinance to provide the legal framework for recognizing, protecting, and managing changes to the City's historic resources.
• Historic Context Statement - Identify significant themes, patterns, and property types within the City to recognize the forces that shaped the built environment in Mountain View. This provides a framework that helps in the identification, evaluation, and treatment of historic properties.
  • Please note that the inclusion of a property in the draft Historic Context Statement does not automatically indicate that the property is eligible for designation in a local, state, or national register of historic resources, or that the property meets the definition of a historic resource for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act. Further analysis is being conducted as a part of this project on existing and potential historic resources within the City and updates will be shared on the progress of those efforts in the beginning of the City presentation

   

  • The Historic Context Statement document is available, and comments will be accepted he until Monday, September 9, 2024.
    • Draft Historic Context Statement

     After reviewing the Historic Context Statement, comments on the document can be submitted to Elaheh Kerachian at Elaheh.Kerachian@mountainview.gov or via mail at 500 Castro St. Additionally, questions can be directed to Elaheh at the email listed above or via phone at (650) 903-6306.  

• Conduct a Citywide Historic Resources Survey, which will consider all properties in Mountain View built in the 1970s or earlier for potential historic significance. Primary benefits of conducting a citywide survey include recognizi
   ng and protecting historic places that contribute to the character of Mountain View comprehensively and streamlining the development review process for proposed development projects.
• Study eight commercial buildings on Castro Street for possible nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. 
• Update the City's Local Register of Historic Resources.

The City has prepared some Frequently Asked Questions regarding the update. 

Community Workshops and Outreach

• Public Meetings

• None scheduled.

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Prior Meetings

The following prior meetings and workshops on the project have occurred:

• August 13, 2024 - Community Workshop #3 for Historic Context Statement document in the Public Library. See Workshop Presentation and video.

• December 12, 2023 – City Council Study Session to discuss scope of deliverables and analysis (see Item 3.1)

• October 30, 2023 - Community Workshop #2 in the Public Library. See Workshop Flyer , Presentation and video.
• October 16, 2022 - Community information booth at Farmers Market. 
• September 6, 2022 - Community Workshop #1 introduced the project tasks, sought input on history, most significant places and topics or themes that are important and unique to the history of Mountain View. See Workshop Flyer and video.

• April 12, 2022 - City Council authorized the scope of work for the project (see Item 5.4).