Dear Council Members, I am writing to urge you to reconsider the ban on construction of Station 1300’s apartments. Station 1300 includes 20 affordable units and 163 market rate units. The Governor and San Mateo County have exempted construction where more than 10% of the units are affordable. The reason for this exemption is well known to everyone. It appears that very few construction projects in Menlo Park meet this affordable threshold and therefore it should not be difficult or burdensome for the City to monitor compliance of Covid-19 regulations at these job sites. Covid-19 rules and regulations on the Station 1300 job site are comprehensive and will be enforced. I have listed below what our general contractor has done and will continue to implement if construction on the apartments is allowed to start: 1. Worker & Subcontractor Notification: All the subcontractors and workers on the site are notified that they have the choice to work or stay at home during the Covid-19 crisis. 2. Signs: There are signs in English and Spanish posted in multiple locations around the site outlining the Covid-19 work regulations including social distancing, hand sanitizing, reporting violations and each worker's decision on whether or not to work. A copy of this sign is attached. 3. Daily Safety Meetings: Every morning prior to the start of work, there is a safety meeting on site where the Covid-19 rules are reviewed with all of the on-site workers. 4. Site Supervision/Enforcement: An on-site supervisor and/or safety officer will roam the site to ensure that workers are complying with the Covid-19 rules. If workers are not following the Covid-19 safety rules, they will be warned or sent home. 5. Hand Sanitizing Stations: Stations giving workers the ability to wash their hands or use a hand sanitizing solution are located in multiple places on the site to allow workers to wash their hands. 6. Personal Protective Equipment: Workers will be equipped with the adequate PPE so they can do their job safely in this environment. There are many reasons to allow this work to continue during this crisis. I have listed those reasons below. 1. Housing Shortage: There is a severe shortage of housing, especially affordable housing, in Menlo Park. Delaying the completion of these Station 1300 apartments only exacerbates the current housing shortage. 2. Organic Growth: Leaving a wood frame building open to the weather may cause future health problems as moisture on the exposed wood may cause organic growth in the future. In addition, HVAC equipment, ducting components and gypsum based wall board components are also at risk of contamination with mold and mildew due to weather exposure. Although we take precautions to prevent organic growth during construction, additional time exposed to the weather (without daily monitoring) will cause the likelihood of organic growth to increase. We were unable to complete about 1/3 of the permanent roof on the Station 1300 apartments. Although we are using temporary plastic sheathing to protect this area, the plastic rips and tears with time allowing moisture to enter and stay on the wood. The permanent roof would take less than a week to complete and the work is done in an open-air environment. 3. Moisture Impacts: Electrical components such as transformers and switchgear can be rendered faulty as a result of water intrusion and rust contamination caused by weather exposure, increasing the risk of electrical failures and fires. In addition, exposed electrical wiring and sheathing can be at risk of short circuit caused by prolonged exposure to wet conditions, thereby increasing the risk of electrical failures and fires. There is also the risk of compromised structural integrity or damage to structural wood components due to prolonged weather exposure. 4. Neighborhood Public Safety Risks: Station 1300 has on-site security 24/7 but the guards cannot be everywhere at every moment so there remains a significant increase in fire exposure since the wood framing has been abandoned in mid-construction. An abandoned site, especially a site as large as Station 1300, attracts trespassers, vandalism, and transient occupancy. Although attempts are made to safeguard the site, any trespassers pose a significant risk of injury or death due to safety railings or shaft openings becoming loose, dislodged, ignored or disregarded. Additionally, there is the risk of rat infestation with the potential risk of the Hanta virus Thank you for consideration in this matter. Robert Burke & Steve Pierce Principals Greenheart Land Company application/pdf attachment: COVID19-JOBSITE_Updated_04.01.20__1_.pdf
