Dear Mayor Combs and Council members,
You MUST seek alternatives to the Parking Plaza Project, Because:
You have NOT followed the HCD guidelines.
The HCD advised you in writing to prepare for the loss of the lawsuit and ballot measure by seeking alternative sites.
Please do so.
Reason:
The City MUST win BOTH the ballot measure AND the lawsuit to proceed with the Parking Plazas Project.
The mathematical probability of the city winning BOTH is 25%.
The probability of the voters winning just ONE is 75%.
Just one loss will block your parking plaza plans 100%.
Start getting bids on alternative sites!
Also, the HCD requires separate parking for the apartment residents, which will require a total of 1100 parking spaces, not 556. You are not in compliance.
Note: HCD is effectively warning you about the Current Lawsuit and the NEW Ballot Measure coming up in June 2026 (Not Measure V).
These are the HCD guidelines that you are in possession of:
HCD Comment (Appendix p. 7): Voter Initiative: HCD was made aware of a proposed ballot measure in the City seeking to put any single-family rezoning to a vote, seemingly blocking affordable housing. The City must monitor and analyze the proposed ballot measure. If it passes, the element must add a program to include outreach and mitigation measures for the impact of the ballot measure on housing development throughout the planning period. The element should analyze the measure as a constraint on development based on site suitability
City Response: Measure V was 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. Measure V did not pass at the November 8, 2022 General Election, no additional analysis is provided.
HCD Comment (Appendix p. 7): Parking: The element must analyze the parking requirements
(p. 5-16) of more than one space per studio and one-bedroom unit and more than two spaces for two or more bedroom units. In addition, the element must describe what determines the parking requirements for C-2B and R-MU zones and analyze potential constraints. Should the analysis determine the parking standards or permit procedures are a constraint on residential development, it must include a program to address or remove any identified constraints.
Page C-1.294
Thank you,
Michael DeMoss, Attorney
and Former Menlo Park Finance and Audit Commission Member
Sent from my iPhone
