Good morning City Council Members,
In 2024 and the first few months of this year, Menlo Park has made important progress on several significant housing objectives. In order to continue the citys leadership in the coming year, HLC recommends the following council priorities:
* Full implementation of the citys housing element. This includes a range of policy opportunities, including but by no means limited to building housing on the citys downtown parking lots. Implementing the housing element’s most impactful policies may require designating a full-time staff person responsible for policy development.
* Streamline development timelines and process for the downtown parking lots and other development downtown. To minimize disruption to businesses, the city will need to minimize construction time for new housing downtown. The city should consider an expedited review process for entitlements and building permits that can move forward new development quickly, not just on the downtown parking lots but for all properties on which new development may occur. Expanded ministerial review for more projects would help.
* Initiate financial planning for replacement parking for housing on the downtown lots. Menlo Park’s RFQ for development on its downtown parking lots requires an amount of replacement parking that will require a standalone garage. Building a standalone garage will likely require a separate project from the housing itself, which the city may need to undertake in partnership with a developer. Since parking revenue alone will likely not pay for a garage, the city should begin exploring additional financing options as necessary now.
* Parking management strategy, potentially including smart meters or other congestion pricing strategies, while also providing low-cost permits for local employees and business owners. As the city moves forward with development on its downtown parking lots, it will need to ensure adequate parking is available for customers. Parking price strategies have a demonstrated track record of increasing parking availability and increasing foot traffic for local businesses. Revenue from meters can also help fund additional parking, such as a garagre. However, businesses and local employees should receive special permits exempting them.
Though Menlo Park is producing substantial housing, it is behind on meeting its lower-income Regional Housing Needs Allocation goals. Furthermore, the vast majority of units the city has counted toward its 2023-2031 RHNA come from projects that were already underway in prior years.
To continue its progress and meet its lower-income housing goals, the city will need to make new projects possible—not just on the downtown parking lots, but throughout the city. HLC looks forward to continuing to support the council and staff as it moves forward with additional plans.
Thank you for your consideration,
Jeremy
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Jeremy Levine (he • him)
Policy Manager
Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County
2905 El Camino Real
San Mateo, CA 94403
www.hlcsmc.org
650.242.1764
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