Regarding Agenda Item H-2:
H2. Consider land use strategy options to meet the City’s Housing Element Regional Housing Needs Allocation for the planning period 2023-2031, and identify a preferred land use scenario for further evaluation as part of the environmental review process (Staff Report #21-210-CC)
As a long-time resident of the Lindfield Oaks neighborhood, where we've raised two children from pre-school to college, and which is already being impacted by the high-density housing and offices in the very large Stanford/Middle Plaza and SpringLine developments which back to our neighborhood, we request that the Council "spreads the burden equally" across Menlo Park--selecting less-recently impacted area(s)-- for further high-density development.
Council's desire to pursue what may appear to be a quick and easy solution by densely building out the SRI campus, without considering the impact of that decision on the residents of Lindfield Oaks, is to ignore responsibility and would reflect poor, short-sighted planning. As you evaluate your options for meeting Regional Housing Needs, please consider the actual people living in those impacted neighborhoods. With creativity, care, and input from residents, I believe Council can land upon a solution that meets housing needs while minimizing unfair distribution of burden on any one neighborhood.
Thank you,
Tricia Teason
