This Tuesday's City Council has two huge items that could lead to a large amount of growth in our City in the years ahead: F1 - Willow Village (Continued from 11/15 and 11/30) and H1 - Housing Element. Thank you for remaining engaged on these complex projects, and for trusting in me to make the best decisions I can on behalf of our community.
This is a continuation of the Willow Village agenda item. On November 15th, the Council received staff and applicant presentations, heard public comment and then discussed the project for many hours. The meeting was continued around 1am due to the late hour and to give the Council an opportunity to digest new information presented at the meeting. Council was originally scheduled to continue the item on November 30th, but due to one voting councilmember not being able to be there, the item was further continued to this Tuesday night (December 6th). You can read The Almanac's coverage of the November 15th meeting here, and/or access the recording of the meeting here.
The staff report for Tuesday's meeting includes updates incorporated into the planning documents since the Council discussion on November 15th and further applicant project concessions that came out of that meeting. As outlined in detail in the staff report, these include:
Additional annual subsidy for grocery store through year five
Bayfront shuttle would be electric, if feasible, coordinated with other owners/users, and at 17 years City and applicant would meet and confer to discuss future operation and funding
Phasing plan modifications to frontload housing and amenities by moving up the start of residential buildings RS2 and RS6
Provide a longer term for the gap payment to offset fiscal impacts to the City if hotel is not built through a one-time payment at end of gap payment term or the end of the DA
Address on-site and off-site bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the CDP and/or map conditions
Increase funding for affordable housing with an offer of an additional $1M from the applicant and two payments instead of four payments
Include low carbon or electric alternatives to the proposed diesel generators if commercial available at time of purchase
Include a City project manager to facilitate project implementation and review
Allow for City and community use of the event space at the Meeting and Collaboration Space (MCS)
Include a financial penalty of 120 percent of the full cost of the Elevated Park segment over Willow Road if that portion is not constructed
Modify job training to include five job fairs in case of a hiring freeze
Include provisions for Elevated Park to address concerns about balloons and trash in the wetlands
Thank you to all community members who have written to City Council, made public comments and participated in this planning process. Those still wishing to weigh in on this item may email their feedback to city.council@menlopark.org.
Several years ago the Menlo Park City School District expressed concerns that the development agreement related to the soon-to-be completed Stanford project on El Camino Real would not fully address project impacts (due to its tax-exempt status). To address the district's concerns, the City Council at the time directed a budget amendment in fiscal year 2017-18 in the amount of $1.0 million which established a reserve to support the district.
The staff report and associated community funding agreement outline the terms of acceptance and performance, and confirm that the city has approved, appropriated and allocated $1.0 million in grant funding.
In a previous newsletter and video (Jen Reviews Menlo Park's HCD Housing Element Draft Response Letter and the "Builder's Remedy") I reviewed a letter received on October 21st from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) related to Menlo Park's draft Housing Element submission. Tuesday's staff report contains the City's response and related updates to the Housing Element based on the required revisions outlined in the letter.
As the staff report states, "The bulk of HCD’s comments on the draft Housing Element are related to three primary topic areas: 1) affirmatively furthering fair housing, 2) the housing opportunity sites inventory and realistic capacity methodology, and 3) the analysis of potential and actual constraints that would hinder housing development in the city." Proposed revisions to the Housing Element are focused primarily on the following chapters (and are found in red in an updated version of the Housing Element):
Chapter 5, “Actual and Potential Constraints to Housing;” and,
Chapter 7, “Site Inventory and Analysis.”
In addition to the edits to the Housing Element based on HCD feedback, the Council will also weigh in on potential Zoning Ordinance and El Camino Real/Downtown Specific Plan amendments associated with the Housing Element. These changes include increased densities and other ways to incentive development to potentially not only meet our State housing requirements, but to also aid in the revitalization of our Downtown.
This item contains an update to the Willow Oaks Park improvement project. The staff report outlines the two phases of the improvements and variations on the park design that can be considered for the second phase of development.
Other Items of Interest
Below are some additional items of interest:
Notice of Preparation for Parkline (SRI) Project
Planning Commission Public Hearing on Monday, December 12th at 7pm
Comment Period Ends Monday, January 9th, 2023
The City released the Notice of Preparation (NOP) for the Parkline (SRI) project on Friday, December 2nd. The release of the NOP begins the comment period on the scope and content of the environmental impact report (EIR) to be prepared for the proposed project. The comment period begins Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, and ends Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.
The notice of preparation identifies that in addition to the proposed project, the EIR will study two potential project variants: one that includes an approximately 2 million gallon buried concrete water reservoir and associated facilities, and one that includes an additional 50 residential units for a total of up to 600 dwelling units, inclusive of the standalone affordable housing building.
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing for the EIR scoping session and a study session on this item via Zoom and in the City Council Chambers, 751 Laurel St., on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, at 7 pm, or as near as possible thereafter, at which time and place interested persons may appear and be heard thereon. The Zoom link will be available with publication of the Planning Commission agenda on the city website not less than 72 hours in advance of the meeting.
City Council Vacancy in District 5
Appointment Application Deadline is December 20th at 5pm
Do you know anyone in District 5 who may be interested in serving as a City Councilmember? The City of Menlo Park is conducting a recruitment for the appointment of a District 5 City Councilmember to fill an unexpired term through December 2024.
All applications must be received by December 20 at 5pm
The application is available online and can be submitted directly from the web. Interested candidates can also request an application from the City Clerk’s office; jaherren@menlopark.org or 650-330-6620.
Please note: Due to the strict timing of recruitment, applications can be submitted online, via email, or dropped off at the city clerk’s office, City Hall 2nd floor, 701 Laurel St.
Interviews and appointment are scheduled for the Wednesday, December 21st City Council meeting, beginning at 6 pm.
Please share this information with anyone who may be interested from District 5. Residents can look up what district they're in at menlopark.gov/districts.
Winter/Spring Community Classes Resident Registration Opens Monday, December 5th
Registration for Menlo Park's Winter and Spring sessions (with classes starting in January 2023, including gymnastics!) will open to Menlo Park residents tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 5th, 2022. Unincorporated residents may register starting Thursday, Dec. 8th, and nonresidents Monday, Dec. 12th.
For more information and class listings, click here.
Help Support Cafe Zoe's Holiday Drive for Veterans' Mental Health
For the past few years, Cafe Zoe has been delivering bags filled with new clothing, essentials, and a personal holiday gift to veterans at the Palo Alto VA Hospital who are experiencing a mental health crisis and are in need of respite. More often than not, they are also homeless.
You can join Cafe Zoe's generosity by donating to this cause. 100% of donations go directly to this effort. To donate, click this link and you will be directed to Get Human's (Cafe Zoe's non profit partner) PayPal at the bottom of the site. You can also join Kathleen and Zoe from Cafe Zoe to sort and wrap the presents over pizza, hot chocolate and other libations. Email cafezoemenlopark@gmail.com for more information.
