Dear Councilmembers,
I am writing to protest the development of the proposed building for the former Sunset Magazine site. This is an inappropriate and egregious proposal to which I am in total opposition. Not only is there no building as tall as this monstrosity between San Francisco and Los Angeles (39 stories!!) but to put it in a neighborhood where buildings are rarely more than 2 stories (and the highest recent housing developments only as high as 5 stories)- is beyond comprehension. I’m shocked this proposal has progressed as far as it has. Please stop it! The website says it “seamlessly blends into its surroundings” which is beyond laughable but more importantly it does not account for the parking needs of all the residents, hotel guests and staff (likely 3000 workers!) so they will spill over to the streets of both Menlo Park and Palo Alto where parking is already difficult, and it also doesn’t account for the enormous increase in traffic along Middlefield and Willow that is already a problem. Safety emergency vehicles already have trouble getting to emergencies, students and other pedestrians are already at risk walking across these busy streets and the traffic to and from work will dramatically worsen beyond where it is now. In addition, it is being built steps away from the San Francisquito Creek which simply can’t be taking into account environmental protections. The planning commission must certainly do the most complete environmental assessment of this project and assess the other factors that are at play in this project. Yes, we need more affordable housing, but this will worsen the housing problem by creating 3000 more jobs.
Thank you for your consideration,
Kelly Traver
Sent from my iPhone
