381 Santa Margarita Ave.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
September 11, 2026
Dear Councilmembers,
I am writing to you to record my opposition to N17s proposal for a
multi-tower mini-city planned for 80 Willow Road. I live in close
proximity to this project and object to it for numerous reasons
including:
* The immensity of the project with three gigantic towers measuring 39,
33, and 18 stories that is TOTALLY out of line in a residential
neighborhood.
* In addition to 80 Willow with 1,082 residential units plus extensive
commercial space three more projects planned for our neighborhood
include: the SRI/Parkline development with 1,082 residential units along
with extensive commercial space (just 0.5 miles from 80 Willow), the
USGS development with 670 residential units plus extensive commercial
space, and 90 units at 68 Willow Road. This is a disproportionate
amount of NEW housing for one small area of our city when the Citys OWN
housing plan specifies that new housing be spread across all areas of
the city.
* The project will have adverse effects on surrounding neighborhoods
including Atherton and Palo Alto due to increased rush hour(s) traffic
congestion at the corner of Middle field and Willow as well as up and
down Middlefield road. This corner is ALREADY a traffic bottleneck,
since Willow Road is the main route to 101 and adding EVEN more traffic
will create complete gridlock.
* The project also poses a safety hazard for Fire House #1, located a
few blocks up Middlefield from 80 Willow. It is already an issue when
firetrucks cannot go down Willow toward 101 during rush hour and have to
cut through our residential streets slowing down response time. The
addition of an estimated 7,000 new car trips each day will delay and
strain ambulance and rescue efforts even more. The entire area -- from
Marsh Road to Embarcadero Road, from El Camino Real to the Bay -- will
be adversely impacted.
As a senior citizen living in close proximity to Willow and Middlefield,
I am very concerned for my future well being and safety. If all of
these projects move forward creating tremendous traffic gridlock on
Willow and Middlefield during rush hours, I fear that an ambulance may
not be able to get to me in a timely manner on Santa Margarita, if I
were in an emergency situation. Or it may not be able to take me to
Stanford Hospital quickly because of gridlock at the corner.
It is for the reasons that I have stated in this email that I urge the
Council to INSIST that a Comprehensive Environmental Impact Review be
conducted to evaluate the adverse impacts of the project proposed at 80
Willow on public health and safety as well as environmental risks to the
San Francisquito Creek and surrounding communities. This study must be
conducted by Independent technical experts chosen by the Council.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Margaret Spak
