Dear City Council Members,
I participated in the City Council meeting via Zoom last evening.
The proposed affordable housing development on downtown parking lots is
controversial. As a local Realtor acutely aware of the cost of residential
real estate, I favor the development of affordable housing, but not at the
risk of obliterating our downtown area which is one of the distinctive
characteristics of Menlo Park. From reading the City Council
communications log, it is evident that those opposed to the proposal are
similarly in favor of affordable housing, but not on the downtown parking
lots.
I had anticipated that given the groundswell of community opposition for
the proposed development, that the Council would at least pause the process
until the outcome of the likely ballot measure requiring voter approval for
such development.
Instead I got an interesting civics lesson. I was under the impression
that our City government was a democracy and a representative form of
government. After all, we have five City Council Districts purportedly to
represent the constituent interests of the residents in each of these. For
instance, many of those in favor of the downtown development proposal
protest against further housing being built in the Belle Haven area because
the residents there have endured too much development.
Toward the end of the meeting, as I recall, Councilman Schmidt said that
the State has values and the region has values. Notably missing was
consideration of resident values! When an elected representative places
the interests of the State and the region above those of the voters, it is
no longer a democracy, rather an oligarchy. Who knew?
I recognize that our City Council is cowering under the very real threat of
Builder’s Remedy penalties. For this reason, I urge you to direct the City
Staff to consider the very reasonable alternative sites that have been
proposed and seek an amendment to the Housing Element. City Planner Smith
gave a brief overview of these at the meeting, but the objections to these
sites such as one being in the Redwood City School District enrollment area
pale in comparison to the loss of our treasured downtown.
I applaud Mayor Combs for listening to the concerns of a significant number
of Menlo Park residents and voters. I am concerned the decision to proceed
made by the other City Council members will further polarize the residents
of Menlo Park and potentially cause irreversible damage done to our
downtown and the businesses who are part of the fabric of the community.
Carol Carnevale
