Planning Commissioners and Staff:
Thank you for accepting comments on this important project.
First, I want to endorse the information and analysis that former
council member Paul Collacchi sent the Council and Planning Commission
two weeks ago, asking for a big picture EIR analysis of the entire
project, including the longer-term impact on housing requirements. His
analysis points out that the overall project will increase the new
housing obligation by over 2,000 units. Long-term consequences always
need to be a consideration.
Meanwhile, tonights study session focuses on the addition of 400-600
housing units in high-rise apartment buildings with few (if any)
amenities offered to those new residents, or to current residents of the
city. Burgess Park is across the street, but as the only city park with
diverse facilities designed to meet the needs of a large segment of the
population, it is already fully utilized (until this year, I scheduled
practices and games for our local non-profit, all-volunteer youth soccer
organization, AYSO. Space all over town is severely limited, especially
at Burgess. We dont have enough room for our kids to play as is).
Next, proposals for this housing project specify that it be massively
underparked, with (paid) housing advocates suggesting even less housing,
holding up visions of a utopian community in which everyone -- no matter
their age, physical health, or work/family obligations -- can bike or
walk everywhere. In reality, the residents are going to have cars, which
will either have to be parked at Burgess or in adjacent neighborhoods.
In the past, the city Planning Commission has rejected projects that did
not meet parking requirements. I urge you to continue that tradition
with this project.
Although most people in Menlo Park seem unaware of the Parkline project,
it will impact almost all neighborhoods and have a deleterious effect on
east-west connectivity. I seconds Pauls request to expand the EIR to
encompass most of the city, with particular note to the fact that
Ravenswood and Laurel Street are heavily used by children bicycling to
school.
I ask that you consider the needs of all residents and take a long-term
approach to this proposal. Once the project has been approved, the
change will be irrevocable.
JoAnne Goldberg
