Hello, Jennifer.
Thanks for your response. It is my understanding that projects such as the
expansion of Phillips Brooks typically would require a traffic study. It
is a fairly routine matter for the city. In addition, it was also my
understanding that city streets are sixty feet wide and that most lots
include a strip or portion of city owned property or right of way. The
extension of the safe sidewalks along Santa Cruz Ave was possible on this
basis and did not require any easements by private property owners.
I will forward this conversation to the city manager. He can address this
matter expeditiously.
Sincerely yours,
Shirley Chiu
On Wed, Feb 4, 2026, 7:33 AM Jennifer Bohnen
wrote:
> Shirley,
>
> Thank you for your email and suggestions. From my understanding, to widen
> the road would entail a traffic study that the city would need to trigger.
> In the past, we have made suggestions to the city but they are
> responsible for the road. Since the school district owns the land, they
> would need to agree to an easement and work with the city. Since we are the
> leasee, we dont have control over widening the road and can only share
> our observations.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jenn
>
> On Tue, Feb 3, 2026 at 7:22 PM Shirley Chiu
> wrote:
>
>> neighbors@phillipsbrooks.org
>>
>> Phillip Brooks School
>>
>> Las Lomitas Administration
>>
>> City of Menlo Park
>>
>>
>>
>> I noted that many of large eucalyptus trees along the frontage of Avy
>> Avenue have been cut down recently. I commend this improvement as it
>> brings a more open ambiance and eliminates minor nuisance non-native trees
>> that are reputed to be hazardous.
>>
>>
>>
>> As the school’s yard along Avy is re-landscaped, may I suggest that the
>> schools consider widening Avy by about five to ten feet from the school
>> driveway to the stop sign at Altschul? When Phillip Brooks has a school
>> event, there is often a contention for street parking between the school
>> and the nearby homes on Avy, Deanna, and Bellair. In addition, when cars
>> are parked along Avy on these occasions, the street is narrow and more
>> hazardous. The limited travel width of Avy is also a hazard during the
>> daily drop off and pickup by parents. The cars are stacked along the road
>> waiting for the opportunity to turn into the driveway of the school pickup
>> zone. This narrowing of Avy causes cars to back up on Avy and the
>> congestion is also a hazard for bicycles and pedestrians.
>>
>>
>>
>> The yard on along this stretch is quite deep and the contribution of land
>> to a new sidewalk and a wider street would hardly be noticed. This
>> parking would be primarily available for Phillip Brooks events. The nearby
>> homes opposite would not have any occasion to use them. As a parent, I
>> travel along Avy as my primary exit of the Sharon Heights neighborhood, so
>> I do have some interest in this improvement. I think this re-design along
>> Avy will go a long way towards gaining not just additional parking for the
>> school, improve travel and safety and gain neighborhood support for school
>> expansion.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Shirley Chiu
>>
>> Crest Lane, Sharon Heights
>>
>
>
> --
>
>
>
> *Jenn Bohnen (She/Her ℹ️ )*
> *Head of School*
>
> *Phillips Brooks School -** Strong Students, Caring Citizens*
> 2245 Avy Avenue • Menlo Park, CA 94025
>
> 650-854-4545 • jbohnen@phillipsbrooks.org
>
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