To members of the Menlo Park City Council:
I live approximately one block away from the intersection of Willow Road and Middlefield Road. I cannot support the high-rise towers and land uses currently proposed by the N17 developers for the property at 80 Willow Road. It could be an ideal location for a lower height, high-density housing complex like others planned in downtown Menlo Park, if the developers are willing to come to the table and bargain with the city in good faith for a reasonable project.
Traffic through that Middlefield/Willow intersection is already at or above maximum capacity, especially at certain hours. Middlefield Road has a chokepoint there, where its two traffic lanes narrow to one going into Palo Alto.
I have followed the information available through the city website, and I do not believe this project will help us address our serious local housing needs. A smaller, better designed, housing-centric project might do so.
I do not think these towers are an appropriate use for any property directly on the banks of San Francisquito Creek.
I am concerned about the aesthetics of building these ~20-30+ story towers in a largely residential neighborhood.
For these and other reasons, I believe that allowing this project to move forward will not be in the best interests of current or future residents of Menlo Park. As currently envisioned, 80 Willow simply does not make sense.
I urge you to continue with the city’s careful review process for this project, even if it means opening ourselves to a potential lawsuit from this developer.
Thank you.
Susan Learned-Driscoll
211 Pearl Lane
Menlo Park
