Dear Mayor Combs and Members of the City Council,
Please find the attached letter urging Council to adopt outright the *Downtown
Parking Plazas Ordinance*.
We recognize that at the November 4 meeting, you may reasonably choose to
request a staff report before making your decision. Nonetheless, we hope
you will consider the points raised in this letter, as we believe that
adopting the ordinance outright would benefit everyone:
If one’s priority is *downtown vitality*, the sooner we resolve this, the
better.
If one’s priority is *affordable* *housing*, the sooner we resolve this,
the better.
If one’s priority is *rebuilding* *trust* with the people of Menlo Park,
the sooner we resolve this, the better.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Save Downtown Menlo - www.savedowntownmenlo.org
Text of attached letter:
October 30, 2025
Mayor Combs, Vice Mayor Nash, and Councilmembers Taylor, Schmidt, and Wise,
We urge you to adopt the *Downtown Parking Plazas Ordinance* without delay.
Menlo Park needs more affordable housing, and we need to move faster to
identify the best sites. Adopting this ordinance now will:
1. *Respect the voters’ mandate.* Our petition was certified by the
County after receiving 150% of the required signatures, showing broad
resident support for a public vote before repurposing the downtown parking
plazas.
2. *Save public resources.* An extra election would be costly,
distracting, and unnecessary.
3. *Keep housing on schedule.* Adoption provides immediate clarity, so
staff and developers can focus work on the most suitable housing sites now,
rather than waiting 6–12 months for an election cycle.
This ordinance is narrow in scope and simple in effect: if the City wants
to accept a proposal to repurpose the downtown parking plazas, residents
get a vote. It does not prevent the Council from advocating for projects
you believe serve the public interest - you can make that case directly to
voters.
Meanwhile, Menlo Park can advance housing where it makes the most sense.
By adopting the ordinance now, you can accelerate the site selection
process for the housing we need, while demonstrating your trust in the
people of Menlo Park.
Sincerely,
Save Downtown Menlo - savedowntownmenlo.org
**Note: This correspondence is also being shared publicly as an open
letter.**
