This summer it seems, for the first time in a few years, a lot of local families and neighbors are traveling - throughout California, the US and the world. As I look through their colorful photos on social media, I'm noticing a pattern emerge: many Menlo Park travelers are visiting and enjoying walkable and bikeable urban communities with great transit, parks, restaurants and things to do.
One of my fellow book club members and D2 resident, Winnie Teuteberg, sent me an email from her summer trip in Amsterdam with the subject line: "Bikes!," and the picture below:
Have you been or are you going anywhere fun this summer? If you see any inspiring infrastructure of cool ideas to bring back to Menlo Park, please share. And if you're staying put in Menlo Park, enjoy our wonderful weather and excellent local offerings. We are lucky that we don't have to fly around the world to be in such a beautiful place (even though it can be great to get away for a change of pace).
I hope you're enjoying your summer - wherever you are!
J1 and J2. Receive the Elections Code Section 9212 report and determine an action pursuant to Elections Code Section 9215 regarding the proposed initiative measure entitled “A Citizen-Sponsored Initiative Measure to Amend the Land Use Element of the General Plan to Prohibit the City Council of the City of Menlo Park from Re-Designating or Re-Zoning Certain Properties Designated and Zoned for Single Family Detached Homes."
Study Session on Senate Bill 9 (SB9)
at Planning Commission Meeting on Monday, July 25th at 7pm
Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) was signed by the Governor in 2021 and became effective on January 1, 2022. SB 9 overrides existing density limits in single-family zones. SB 9 is intended to support an increased supply of more modestly priced homes by encouraging building of smaller houses on smaller lots. You can read more about SB 9 here.
In December 2021, the City Council voted affirmatively to adopt a resolution directing the City Manager and City Attorney to draft interim guidelines for the implementation of SB 9. In January 2022, staff published a set of guidelines providing interim development standards while staff developed an SB 9 ordinance.
The intent of the Planning Commission study session on Monday night is to provide the Planning Commission the opportunity to receive community input, review the proposed development standards, and provide direction to staff on the standards relating to two-unit developments and urban lot splits. Following staff's incorporation of feedback from the Planning Commission study session, a draft ordinance will be written and brought back to the Planning Commission at a later date for review and recommendation to City Council.
To access the agenda and staff report for Monday night's meeting, please click here.
Affordable Housing at the Veterans Administration on Willow Road
Community Meeting via Zoom on Tuesday July 26th at 5:00pm
You are invited to attend a virtual neighborhood meeting hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and MidPen Housing regarding a proposed affordable housing development located at the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System - Menlo Park Division.
Come learn about the proposed affordable development for veterans. A preliminary design and schedule will be shared, and questions will be answered. This will be a virtual Zoom Webinar Meeting. No RSVP required. A link to the event is here (Password: 359010).
If you have questions or would like to request translation services, please contact Cynthia Luzod (cynthia.luzod@midpen-housing.org).
Traffic Signal Upgrade Work at Ravenswood and Laurel
Saturday, July 30th from 8:30am to 5pm
The City of Menlo Park will be upgrading the traffic signal at the intersection of Ravenswood Avenue and Laurel Street on Saturday, July 30. The traffic signals will not be operational from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the intersection will operate as a four-way stop, with the bike lane closed. This upcoming traffic signal upgrade could cause traffic delays. Detouring around the work is encouraged.
The project provides a separate left turn lane on Laurel Street, upgrades the signal to better separate turning and through movements, and closes a critical bicycle lane gap. The project is expected to be completed in early August 2022. For more information, click here.
New Mental Health Crisis Hotline Now Live
Dial or Text 988
In 2020, Congress designated the new 988 dialing code to be operated through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is composed of more than 200 local and state-funded Crisis Centers throughout the United States.
In San Mateo County, the StarVista Crisis Center, located in San Carlos, is a participating call center that operates the 24/7 Crisis Hotline 650-579-0350. Most calls to the Lifeline with a 650-area code are forwarded to the StarVista Crisis Center. With the addition of 988, the program expects to see an increase in calls to its center.
If you are a San Mateo County resident without a 650-area code and would like to access the StarVista Crisis Center, please call their local line at 650-579-0350.
For more information, please see StarVista's press release here.
