Dear Menlo Park City Council,
I sincerely hope you will seriously re-consider including the Annexation of our neighborhood in the 2018 City Work Plan.
Although this may seem like a “small” matter on scale to other concerns and staffing priorities, it is quite “large” to our
population.
We initiated the process of requesting to be annexed into the City of Menlo Park three years ago, and have put over $10,000 of
personal funds behind the effort in addition to countless hours of meetings and emails to get to this point.
In early December, we finally had a chance to be heard by the City Council. However, only three of five council members were
present to hear and consider our request, which has been under review for three years through channels at the County and City
Public Works. Of the three council members present only one was in support; one stated that ‘we may not want what we wish for’;
and, another stated that they did not fully understand the differences between City and County rules & regulations. A mediocre
showing at best.
The meeting left us feeling supported and heard by only one Council member. We fully know what it is we wish for. And, we fully
understand the differences between County and City rules and regulations. It is because we fully understand and advocate on our
behalf to become residents of the City of Menlo Park, and therefore subject to City rules and regulations, that we still stand
before you and still request to be annexed.
The process began three years ago in order to have City (not County) development regulations applied in our neighborhood. Too
often, the more lax County development provisions have decimated neighborhoods: with smaller set-backs, smaller lot sizes, easily
obtained variances and exceptions which result in undesirable density and architectural discord. In addition, the City has
different standards for tree preservation. This may seem a small item, but it is quite large when taken in context of whole
neighborhoods at risk of losing tree protection, canopy, habitat, water storage, carbon storage, heat shelter and sheer beauty at
the hands of developers.
We do know what we want: to be annexed into the City of Menlo Park. We wish to be full residents of our City, the City in which we
live, send our kids to school, shop, bank and enjoy the many social and recreational attributes of our community. We wish to be
fully recognized as contributing members of our community, to vote and to participate in decision-making that affects us equally
with our neighbors across the street.
Although, I am not physically standing in front of you tonight, my message is hopefully just as clear and strident as those who
are:
Please put our request to be annexed in the 2018 Work Plan. Please consider this request as if our neighborhood completes the map
of fully recognized residents.
Lynne McClure
6 Crocus Ct.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
PS: I have learned from Joe LoCoco at the County, that the County will fund the reconstruction of Sharon Rd and alley gutters,
IF the City will manage the contract consistent with County standards.
There are County funds available to inform a cost-benefit analysis in favor of annexation!
