Dear City Council Members,
You have a formidable challenge before you as you strive to understand and implement Menlo Park’s new Housing Element programs, the opportunities they offer and the trade-offs
You also carry a significant responsibility: As our city’s leadership, your actions will determine what values and priorities shape the future of our city and who will live here in the future.
As a long-term resident of Menlo Park who has watched the cost of houses and rentals soar, I support policies that expand and diversify the locations of housing options that are affordable for both middle income individuals and families like teachers and city staff AND lower income families.
I support continued efforts to enable affordable housing at the SRI and Flood Park sites as well as higher density projects closer to transit and services. Along with opening up housing availability and expanding income diversity, the Housing Element must also pay close attention to expanding traffic and the risks of more grid lock in many locations including Middlefield, Willow, Ravenswood and El Camino.
Finally, I encourage you to take the necessary steps to strengthen the Affordable Housing Overlay with concrete measurable objectives and milestones which can be publicly tracked.
Thank you for your service to Menlo Park and its residents.
Alison Elliott
216 Marmona Drive
Menlo Park, CA. 94025
