Dear Council:
I encourage you to discuss the big picture tonight rather than on the architectural details and plan layout. Some topics to
consider are consistency with the ConnectMenlo General Plan update, impacts on housing shortage, jobs:housing ratio, school
impacts.
First, however are a couple procedural questions:a. Shouldn't this topic be discussed when all council members who are eligible to
weigh in can do so? With Councilmember Kirsten Keith absent, 1/4 of the eligible voices is missing.
b. Why aren't the public comments referenced as Attachment E available in the staff report? Kyle has provided them to me this
morning but, the public may not have had the chance to read them.
CONSISTENCY WITH GENERAL PLAN - The ConnectMenlo General Plan update freshly approved less than 18 months ago. How does this
project compare, and what does that mean to the future of the plan that is supposed to guide our town through 2040. For reference
is this portion regarding the the Maximum 2040 Buildout in Belle Haven:
Examples to consider:
1. The General Plan maximum buildout for the Office District is 1,285,000 net new SF. This project contains 2,046,500 gross SF, or
1,046,500 net SF. That leaves 238,500 net SF for all other parcels zoned as Office District through 2040.
2. The General Plan assumes 8,900 net new employees for the entire Bayfront area by 2040. What is the approximate net new employee
count for this project? Current uses (as of the time of the ConnectMenlo EIR) were low worker-density warehouse, R&D, light
manufacturing.
3. The current housing shortage is causing displacement, particularly in the Belle Haven area, and more traffic congestion from
commuters who must live elsewhere. This project site is zoned to allow 1,777 units. The project proposes 1,500 units, 277 fewer
units than it could provide. This is one of the largest R-MU sites, and its total means that other sites would be expected to
provide the remaining projected 3,150 units (of total 4,650 units). If the largest employer won't supply what the zoning allows,
who would?
4. What is the projected jobs:housing ratio for this project? A rough estimate should be sufficient for the study session. The
General Plan assumed that the ratio for net new development in all of Belle Haven would be 1.91 (8,900 new employees and 4,650 new
housing units). With 1,500 housing units proposed, that would mean 2,871 net employees just to equal that ratio on this site. How
does that compare with the answer to question #2?It would be reasonable to think that the ratio of housing would be higher in
R-MU-zoned areas, meaning that the jobs:housing ratio would be less than 1.91 to make up for other zoning districts that do not
allow housing.If there is a disparity between homes provided and new demand, the Office space should be phased so that it is
approved incrementally commensurate with availability of local housing to support the increments, and in ratios that support the
spirit and intent of the General Plan.
SCHOOL IMPACTS Residents throughout Menlo Park are concerned about school impacts. If Menlo Park's housing shortage and
jobs:housing ratio continue to worsen, and if state law proposals are enacted, the city might not have the power to determine how
much and where housing could be built. How does this project, increasing demand for housing, fit within that potential future?
TRAFFIC Traffic congestion is another major concern throughout Menlo Park. This project proposescontains 5,319 parking spaces, a
net increase of 3,019 new spaces. Why so many? What is the rough estimate number of new daily trips and how much of that was
anticipated in the General Plan update?
What is the potential VMT for this project area? If the majority of new employees need to commute, then VMT would head the wrong
direction. An overall trip cap over all Facebook sites might help the city manage traffic impacts andensure that there is the best
possible adherence to trip reduction.
Thanks for your consideration during the study session.
Patti
