Dear City Council members:
I am writing to you in my capacity as the property co-owner located at 626 Cambridge Avenue, the adjacent property to 612 Cambridge Ave. whose 2-yr permit extension petition is in front of you on Tuesday for approval.
As the next-door neighbor of the 612 Cambridge and 201 ECR properties, I’m writing today to voice my simmering frustration due to the utter neglect and lack of upkeep of both properties which have resulted in direct safety compromises, fire hazards, and public health issues. I’m writing to make our City Council aware of the neglect that the owners (old and new) have propagated for the past 1.5 yrs and their total lack of responsiveness to the multiple calls, emails, and text messages that I have initiated, as well as the emails and calls that Officer Deborah Calvillo of MP Code Enforcement has initiated on my behalf in 2022 to reach a peaceful resolution to the perpetual neglect of the trees in the backyard of 612 Cambridge Ave. The encroachment of these trees is a clear and present danger to the physical structures on my property and to my family that inhabits 626 Cambridge ave. property dwelling. The current county records show that the current 612 Cambridge Ave property owners have the deed transferred to their names in August 2022. I can testify that the property condition has gone downhill since then: Trash accumulation in the parking lot, the rodent-infested backyard of 612, the lights in the vacated 612 residence units are left on 24/7 (fire hazard and environmental neglect), lights of the recently boarded-up commercial space of 201 ECR are left on after the main entrance was boarded up on March 9th, 2023, squatting issue in 201 ECR since Dec. 2022 that led the squatter (Mr. Leon) to wander to our property (626 & 628) twice and attempt to unlock to backyard gates in order to gain access to the property (an MP Police report was issued - Police report #22-2995) and a recommendation to apply for a restraining order against the intruder was verbally given to me by the MPPD officer onsite). All the above is only a fraction of the distress that the neglect of the 612 Cambridge and 201 ECR owners have caused me and my family.
To add insult to injury, the owners of the 612 Cambridge CUT TWO HERITAGE REDWOOD TREES back in Dec. 2021, although permitted, it was done recklessly and irresponsibly. The permit stipulates that this action should be taken right before the development work starts and not 1.5 yrs with another looming 2 yr extension (see photos attached).
Today, I am writing to you all as elected officials to ask the following in regard to this project:
1- Please do not extend our misery by approving the 2-yr extension request.
2- Should you feel compelled to approve the vesting tentative map two-year extension in spite of the above-documented violations and against the grains of any logic and responsibility:
* First, ask the applicant to correct all the ills and neglect documented by the applicants to help us keep our families and our neighborhood safe before the approval is issued; i.e. reschedule/adjourn the approval until the conditions are met in a short time order.
* Second, ensure that there is a responsive contact person responsible for this property with published contact info to liaise with the neighbors.
* Third, ensure that reasonable progress will take place on this development project with a firm timetable commitment.
It really strikes me that the new owners of 612 Cambridge Ave and 201 El Camino Real property have not conducted any due diligence or inspected the property through a thorough walk-through. Here’s just a short list of how the property has been neglected since sound businesses like Koma Sushi and Charisma Salon moved out in 2021: * Building has been broken into and locks have been removed, resulting in squatters * The parking lot has been regularly filled with trash, debris, and squatters * There have been neglected overgrown trees which could pose a safety hazard to adjacent neighbors * Leaf litter and debris from the property has been clogging storm sewers resulting in significant flooding on Cambridge and El Camino during a heavy rainfall earlier this year. This neglect has a huge impact on the well-being of the surrounding community. During the last big rainstorm in January, the burden of removing leaves, debris, and trash from 612 Cambridge and 201 El Camino Real fell on me personally and my 628 Cambridge neighbors because we did not want to see our own properties flooded and impacted by the neglect.
Menlo Park City Council - I ask you to consider the ways we move forward with two goals in mind. * First, keep our neighborhood safe from negligent property owners that are squarely interested in the financial gain of their commercial development with utter disregard for the neighbors and the neighborhoods well-being.
* Keep the neighborhood safe from squatters.
* Keep the property locked and secure - while we noticed that last Wednesday the squatter was vacated from the building, and the broken doorway was finally covered with plywood while the lights inside the vacated commercial space were kept on, it is clear that this is too-little-too-late action taken to conveniently deflect any criticism in advance of this week’s meeting to renew the permit. * Keep storm drains maintained so they do not back up and flood the neighborhood. I am the self-appointed storm drain cleaner with help from my 628 neighbor and were both totally fed up.
* Keep the parking lot clear of trash * Keep all the trees on the property in good health for the safety of my family and my property
* Second, make reasonable progress on the project development * Provide clear milestones for the project and how it is advancing in a timely and ongoing manner * Provide a liaison for neighbors to communicate with the developer to promptly address any concerns or issues I understand that construction has not broken ground yet, but a Mitigation Measure in Resolution No. 6594, (p31) states: * When construction occurs near residents, affected parties within 400 feet of the construction area shall be notified of the construction schedule prior to demolition, grading or building permit issuance. Notices sent to residents shall include a project hotline where residents would be able to call and issue complaints. A Project Construction Complaint and Enforcement Manager shall be designated to receive complaints and notify the appropriate City staff of such complaints. Signs shall be posted at the construction site that includes permitted construction days and hours, a day and evening contact number for the job site, and day and evening contact numbers, both for the construction contractor and City representative(s), in the event of problems. Having said manager instituted as soon as possible will help to create a better communication pathway for residents and the developer.
As longtime MP residents, we are looking for sensible, respectful, and responsive partners to help us to continue to build our community. I am pro-development and I’m eager to see something viable being built at the 201 El Camino property. Please take meaningful steps to show that you all as elected officials do care about the well-being of the MP residents. Sincerely,
Nabil Saad
626 Cambridge Ave.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
[https://ssl.gstatic.com/docs/doclist/images/icon_10_generic_list.png] 201 ECR baorded-up with lights on .jpg[X]
[https://ssl.gstatic.com/docs/doclist/images/icon_10_generic_list.png] 612 Cambridge Parking lot trash.jpg[X]
[https://ssl.gstatic.com/docs/doclist/images/icon_10_generic_list.png] 612 cambridge parking lot.jpg[X]
[https://ssl.gstatic.com/docs/doclist/images/icon_10_generic_list.png] 612 Cambridge Squatter belongings.jpg[X]
[https://ssl.gstatic.com/docs/doclist/images/icon_10_generic_list.png] 612 Cambridge vacated Unit4 light on.jpg[X]
[https://ssl.gstatic.com/docs/doclist/images/icon_10_generic_list.png] 612 Parking lot unknown barrels and trash.jpg[X]
