Thank you!
On Sat, Nov 12, 2022 at 8:35 AM TK Alusa > wrote:
Dear Menlo Park City Council and Planning Commission,
As a concerned resident of the City of Menlo Park and Belle Haven neighborhood, I am standing alongside my other fellow neighbors and echoing as one voice opposing many of the proposed Willow Village recommendations.
Our quality of life is repeatedly overlooked and compromised of the documented poor air quality due to traffic and new construction projects. Over half of our residents suffer from respiratory issues and the additional construction work slated to be done in Belle Haven will only increase more traffic adding to our bad air quality.
I stand with our neighbors that OPPOSE the :
* Removal of our only gas station/ car wash
* Increased traffic and pollution caused by the construction project of Willow Village
* Construction of additional hotels/motels
* Increased number of proposed housing units (from 1,200 to 1,900)
* Possibility of not having access to very low cost office space offered to and for small community businesses, nonprofits and meeting space
* Removal of more trees that continues to give us more oxygen, shade and are part of the city of Menlo Park natural look.
I do echo the wants of our neighbors who may be intimidated to voice their opinions due to language barrier, cultural practice or lack of feeling heard for the many years and bekng defeated by the countless projects being done in our neighborhood.
This is what I know and have heard in neighborly exchanges, group and small neighborhood meetings:
* We want an environmental study on the impact of new construction on our endangered marshland species
* We want you to prioritize reaching out to communities of color regarding landscape design, architectural and potential murals that depict our community and history.
* We want guaranteed banks, pharmacies, and grocery stores to be built/ opened in the first phase of construction.
* We want guaranteed banks, pharmacies, and grocery stores to have low or free rent for at least 5 years
* We want an environmental study on the impact of new construction on our endangered marshland species and pollution
I thank you for taking your time in reading this email and for taking into consideration my voice.
Best,
Telesia Alusa
