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Council settles on compromise heights and FAR changes after hours of debate
Summary
Following lengthy debate, council members signaled support for a compromise height standard in R-1 (roughly 34 feet with pitched-roof exceptions) and agreed to FAR-based massing rules intended to limit visual bulk; staff will add visual examples and adjust pitched-roof exemptions in the next draft.
Mountain View councilors spent a sustained portion of the Aug. 3 workshop focused on building heights and floor-area ratio (FAR) standards that shape the visible bulk of houses.
Town attorney Austin Pierce Flanagan summarized the draft: R-1 had been proposed at reduced heights (24 feet) but the consolidated draft and public feedback prompted consideration of middle-ground numbers. "The going up to 30 allows for the pitched roof, which is 2 stories," he said when explaining story-to-height conversions. Council members debated figures ranging from 24 to 36 feet; several favored a 2.5-story compromise of about 34 feet with a pitched-roof exception to allow attic space and traditional rooflines.
On massing, Flanagan described the FAR approach and how it would translate to typical lots: a historic single lot (3,125 sq ft) at the proposed FAR yields around 1,600 sq ft of above-grade area; staff proposed a modest increase (for example to 0.65 FAR) to allow more modern home sizes on many double lots. Council asked staff to provide street-level visuals showing typical houses under the draft numbers and to clarify the pitched-roof exemption (the draft currently exempts up to 5 feet of pitched-roof height; council asked about reducing that increment if needed to balance height allowances).
No ordinance vote was taken; staff will return with revised language, examples and suggested edits to tier pitched-roof exemptions in the next packet.
