Honorable City Council Members,
At this evenings study session, I hope the following questions will be answered so residents gain a better understanding of the projects and their impact.
FUNDING
• Given the statewide shortage of affordable housing funding, how can these projects reliably secure funding?
• What happens if a project begins and then funding stalls?
TRAFFIC & PARKING
• How will these developments affect downtown traffic and circulation?
• Who pays for replacement public parking, and what happens if costs exceed estimates?
• Where will residents without a parking space park?
HOUSING ELEMENT GOALS
• Why is the City considering a proposal that provides no low-income housing?
• How many units in each proposal would be affordable to extremely low-income residents?
BUSINESS VIABILITY DURING CONSTRUCTION
• What evidence suggests downtown businesses can survive a construction period that could last many years? Will financial assistance be available?
PUBLIC SAFETY
• Will independent experts evaluate fire safety, emergency access, evacuation, and pedestrian safety impacts?
Thank you,
Alex Beltramo, resident and Save Downtown Menlo proponent
