To: Menlo Park City Council [
From: Amy Gerstein, Menlo Park Resident
Date: September 25, 2026
Dear Honorable Mayor and Council-members,
I am writing to formally voice my deep concerns and strong opposition regarding the N17 "Willow Park" mega-project proposed for 80 Willow Road.
While I support expanding housing opportunities in our city, the sheer size of this development is unacceptable. Inserting skyscrapers reaching up to 30 and nearly 40 stories high into a suburban area changes the entire character of Menlo Park. This project represents a massive overdevelopment that our local infrastructure cannot sustain.
I ask that the City Council aggressively oppose this plan based on these critical impacts:
• Gridlock and Traffic Hazards: The intersection of Willow Road and Middlefield Road, as well as the commute corridors to Highway 101, are already overwhelmed. Introducing thousands of new residents and vehicles will paralyze local roads and increase response times for emergency vehicles.
• Radical Visual Disruption: Structures soaring over 400 feet tall will dwarf the adjacent Linfield Oaks and Willows communities. This extreme height completely ignores our citys established zoning guidelines and suburban aesthetic.
• Loss of Historic Architecture: The iconic Sunset Magazine site is a recognized California historical resource. Tearing it down removes a vital piece of mid-century architectural history that belongs to our community.
• Exploitation of Planning Loopholes: The developer’s aggressive reliance on builder’s remedy tactics and extreme density bonuses bypasses necessary local review. This forces a heavy infrastructure burden onto Menlo Park residents for the benefit of outside development interests.
We need sensible, scaled growth—not massive mega-towers. Please exhaust all legal avenues to reject this current proposal and protect the safety and integrity of our neighborhoods.
Thank you for your ongoing efforts to look out for the future of Menlo Park.
Best regards,
Amy Gerstein
323 Oak Court
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Willows Neighborhood
