Mayor Combs and City Council Members,
I support more affordable housing in Menlo Park. In the right locations, it will strengthen our community.
But locating the housing on the existing parking lots will prove to be inefficient for the builders and provide ZERO replacement public parking. In fact, parking needs generated by the housing will inundate the downtown and surrounding residential area. I have considerable experience developing affordable housing in another community and the Council should have been made aware that funds and tax credits can only be used for qualified affordable units... not public facilities. Every Council member promised replacement parking.. where will the money come from to do that? Much more information on this reality needs to be obtained and evaluated. In the end you will agree that to maximize the benefits of affordable housing other sites that do not have negative impacts or constraints should be considered.
On this decision, I trust the people of Menlo Park to do whats best for the town in which they live.
I therefore urge you to adopt the Downtown Parking Plazas Ordinance, giving residents the right to vote on the future of their downtown.
Thank you for your service in representing the people of Menlo Park.
Respectfully,
John Filice, Downtown property owner
