To consider a development project with a legislative update (a Zoning, Precise Plan, and/or General Plan map or text amendment), a public hearing is required by the City Council to authorize submission of an application based on current staff resources. This authorization process is referred to as a "gatekeeper project" or the "gatekeeper process."  

No formal development application with these type of legislative amendments can be submitted for City staff review until City Council has approved authorization at a public hearing, unless the project qualifies as a Streamlined Gatekeeper.

On October 14, 2025, the City Council adopted Council Policy G-9: Gatekeeper Application Policy and Procedures to balance thoughtful urban planning with efficiency and clarity for developers and stakeholders.

Streamlined Gatekeeper 

The following development projects with legislative updates are exempt from an initial Council authorization public hearing and can proceed to submitting a formal planning permit to begin development review - referred to as a "Streamlined Gatekeeper":

1. Any 100% affordable housing project; or

2. Projects that (1) do not exceed 3 acres in total site area, (2) are a residential-only development with a minimum density of 30 dwelling units per acre and border (share a property line with) at least one other property that permits a residential density exceeding 12 dwelling units per acre and meet all mandatory performance criteria and at least one performance criteria, listed in the Council Policy G-9.

All other development projects with legislative amendments must go through a Gatekeeper Request application and Council Authorization public hearing.

Gatekeeper Request Application

To submit a Gatekeeper Request application, all interested parties must provide the following materials to the Planning Division online:

• Signed Planning Permit Acknowledgement Form, which is listed on the Planning Form's webpage
• A Gatekeeper Request Fee, which is listed on the Planning Fee's webpage
• Special application materials as listed in the City's Zoning Code, depending on the legislative request:
  • Precise Plan Amendments: Section 36.50.80
  • General Plan Amendments: Section 36.52.15
  • Zoning Amendments: Section 36.52.55.g
• Not required, but suggested additional application materials and information as outlined in Council Policy G-9.

A Gatekeeper Request application can be submitted at any time, but must be received no later than 90 days prior to a Council public hearing to review Gatekeeper applications.

Process for Council Authorization

The Community Development Director schedules a Gatekeeper Request public hearing for Council consideration a minimum of one time per calendar year. There is no set date for the scheduled hearing.

City staff will prepare a Council report and include the necessary materials of a Gatekeeper Request application, which is posted a minimum of 72 hours prior to the hearing date at mountainview.legistar.com. All applicants may attend the meeting and speak on their proposal. The City Council will then deliberate and decide on each application to:

• Authorize the Gatekeeper Request to immediately submit a formal planning application to begin the development review process;
• Authorize and Defer the Gatekeeper Request to submit a formal planning application by a specified future date; or
• Decline the Gatekeeper Request, requiring the applicant to wait a minimum of two years from the date of submission to resubmit a substantially similar application unless the Council, by majority vote, authorizes resubmission at an earlier time.

2024 Council Authorization Hearing

At the September 10, 2024 hearing, Council authorized two projects to proceed, including:

• 2400-2470 East Charleston Road requesting amendments to the General Plan and Zoning designations to allow a mixed-use development consisting of residential, office, open space, and commercial uses at Charleston Plaza shopping center. 
• 62 West El Camino Real is requesting amendments to the El Camino Real Precise Plan to redevelop a site with an existing commercial building (U-Haul) to allow a 5-story personal storage facility. 

Email Notification 

To receive email notification of when Gatekeeper applications are being accepted and when the Council Authorization hearing is to occur, subscribe to our email notification list.

Once a Gatekeeper project is authorized by Council, the applicant can submit a formal application to the Planning Division to begin the development review process (or submit by the date authorized by City Council). The project is only required to return to the City Council for reauthorization if any of the following occur:

• Change in ownership of project parcel(s). If a parcel included within the project site changes ownership prior to submittal of a formal application.
• Expiration. A formal application for the project has not been submitted to the Planning Division within one (1) year of City Council authorization. This year shall not begin until after any submittal deferral date, if required by Council.
• Change in Project. Substantial changes to the project as determined by the Community Development Director to be a deviation of 10 percent or more from the project authorized, including, but not limited to, the number of units, land use type, square footage, or community benefits.