Mayor Combs and City Council,
I enthusiastically support the Downtown Parking Plazas Citizens’ Initiative.
As I have stated before in an earlier letter to City Council the downtown parking lots are essential to the health of our downtown. The parking lots and the surrounding retail and business buildings, in my mind, have always had an unwritten partnership with the City. The city provided these parking plazas at their cost and this allowed the surrounding businesses to flourish and in return, sales tax paid by their patrons fattened the city’s purse. Without the parking, our retail and business district would not be what it is today.
What I don’t understand is how some idiot planning group or group of politicians could propose putting housing in the heart of any business district displacing existing parking during construction for a period of 3 to 4 years. This absence of parking during construction would cause the demise of any existing and adjacent businesses.
There are other sites in the city where high density housing could be constructed. In an earlier letter to you I suggested a site between Burgess Park and the railroad track where probably 250 units could be created. It would require a rerouting of Alma for a short distance but would have minimum impact on the park. Please give this site some consideration.
Menlo Park’s downtown, quite simply, depends on the access provided by the parking plazas. A decision to repurpose those lots should be made by the residents who use them - not by outside consultants.
Whether Council adopts the ordinance outright, places it on the November ballot, or calls a special election, it will be a great day for democracy in Menlo Park.
Thank you,
Michael Lambert
San Mateo Drive, Menlo Park
