To Menlo Park City Council Members:
We have learned that the Housing Element is considering using Sharon Park as a site for affordable housing. As residents of Menlo Park for almost 40 years and homeowners in Sharon Heights for the last 20 years, we are extremely concerned, as are our neighbors and fellow park-users, about future plans for the lovely, tranquil park in Sharon Heights.
Sharon Park is an oasis - calm and peaceful with grassy areas, heritage trees, trails, and wildlife, including ducks and hawks. The duck pond is an especially amazing feature. We frequently walk through the park, which is enjoyed by all ages - from young families actively playing on the lawns to older adults just enjoying sitting on the benches. During the pandemic, this resource was particularly important for both mental and physical health.
Building housing here is not ideal from the standpoint of accessibility of services and public transportation. Also, Klamath Drive, which borders Sharon Park, is a narrow and very steep street. Lots of people - walkers, including dog-walkers, joggers, and children - use this street. It's dangerous as is without additional traffic.
We understand the need for additional housing, but using Menlo Park's few public parks for housing is not the best solution and would certainly have a negative environmental impact. Rather, we support Ray Mueller's Park Preservation proposals, which would limit the ability to rezone any parks without a public vote. Our community parks are precious resources that once eliminated cannot be replaced.
Additionally, we support the concept of rezoning the Sharon Heights Shopping Center to allow mixed use residential and commercial development. This would allow Menlo Park to both obtain more housing and still keep Sharon Park available for public use of the entire community, including current residents as well as those who become residents in the new housing units.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Janet Littlefield and William Coggshall
