Critics: Too Much Growth Could Hurt Mountain View

“No more jobs.” Believe it or not, that's the battle cry of some people who live in one Silicon Valley town. 

Some in Mountain View want the tech industry boom and job growth to stop -- at least where they live.

The city has been making plans to put new buildings and create new jobs along the corridor near 101 and Shoreline Boulevard. The companies there, which include Google and LinkedIn, say they need room to grow, but some residents say that growth is hurting the city.

A plan to add more buildings to the area, approved by Mountain View City Council members, is expected to add 15,000 new jobs.

“We’ll have more retail, some spaces for startups, and to provide space for existing tenants, the larger employers out there, too,” Mountain View Mayor Chris Clark said.

"That would be an economic, environmental and social disaster,” said Lenny Siegel, executive director of the Center for Public Environmental Oversight.

Siegel said Mountain View is growing too quickly, and that while some job growth is good, too much growth could hurt the city.

"(That would make) housing more expensive and scarce, increase traffic congestion, and ultimately undoing the vitality of the companies, with no place for the workers to live,” Siegel said.

To be fair, when NBC Bay Area caught up with Mayor Clark on Friday, he was at a groundbreaking for low-income housing to help those who don’t earn tech company salaries.

But Clark also admits, with fast growth, comes fast-growing concerns.

"We recognize the level of job growth is also going to bring ramifications of traffic,” the mayor said.

It's a balancing act for many cities in good times: enjoying the party, while trying to make sure everyone has a seat at the table.

The Mountain View City Council says there is still more discussion and debate ahead about the area's growth plans.

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