Dear City Council,
I understand you will be developing new residential design standards that are intended to mitigate negative.effects of SB9 and the influx of speculative house developers in Menlo Park relating to solar access.
I have two broad suggestions from which to develop details of such an effort:
1. Reduce the height limit in R1 and R2 zones from 28' to 25'
2. Reduce the daylight plane for north-facing elevations from 45 degrees to 30 degrees.
Neither of these changes will limit the square footage of new residential construction or impose hardships on developers or homeowners. Both will protect solar access for current and future residents of these zones.
I'm happy to talk with you about questions you may have about this proposal.
Thanks,
Steve Schmidt
