Dear City Council members,
My husband and I are 30 year residents of Menlo Park as owners of a home on
Robin Way. Ever since we learned about the three tower development at the
former Sunset Magazine site we imagine our future lives and how those
towers will impact us and visualize the sight of those towers looming over
our beloved tree-lined neighborhood, blocking out the sun and casting a
massive shadow that may ultimately alter the natural environment of this
area.
As cyclists and walkers, we do our hardest to have minimal impact on our
environment. The construction of this project would only be a slap in our
faces. A pathetic reminder that our efforts have no value and are for
naught. It strikes us as undemocratic that as 30 year homeowners,
residents, and tax paying citizens, our voice and our choice of the
environment we pay to live in is not being heard or respected by our
government.
Our concerns are likely shared by all.
1) The environmental impact on San Francisquito Creek. That impact will be
felt up and down the creek including at Stanford University, in Ladera, in
Portola Valley, in Palo Alto and in East Palo Alto. The reverberations
throughout the Peninsula, the Bay Area, all of California, and beyond are
unimaginable.
2) The overall environmental and health impact on the bird population, the
subterranean populations, the plant populations, the air and water quality,
and the noise level. The short and long term impacts of this behemoth
construction project is beyond our human comprehension. It will forever
alter the environment that all residents have and continue to invest in and
the environment that all of nature has an inherent right to survive in. The
long term health impacts are certain and if the residents wanted those
impacts we’d have bought homes in San Francisco or other cities with
highrise skylines.
3) The safety of all of Menlo Park and Palo Alto residents. The
unimaginable grid lock caused by the additional transportation needs of
this development as well as the USGS, SRI, and 68 Willow projects can’t be
underestimated. It is already extremely difficult for the first responders
to get through Middlefield, Willow, and University Avenue commuter traffic
so to add all these vehicles will surely make their job more difficult and
increase response times thus worsen emergency outcomes.
4) This inappropriately sized development will not improve the housing
shortage in Menlo Park and may even worsen it because of the jobs it will
create. Our understanding is we are in this situation because Menlo Park
has disproportionately more jobs than housing so a huge new hotel and
commercial space will only exacerbate the shortage. Most residents want
affordable housing but this will not be the solution. The desire for
spectacular peninsula and bay view may even drive up the purchase or rent
cost of these units to record highs. We need affordable housing not luxury
living.
We join a large population of local Menlo Park and Palo Alto, as well as
others on the Peninsula, in opposing this development. We ask you to do
everything in your power to represent our wishes to stop this ridiculous
monstrosity from ever becoming a reality.
Sincerely,
Wendy Kuehnl Ortiz and Porfirio Ortiz
215 Robin Way
