Dear Council Members,
In evaluating whether to build housing on the parking lots downtown, I urge you to consider the impact of any such project on the businesses adjacent to these parking lots. Without convenient parking, many of these businesses will not be able to survive. Even if additional parking garages are built, where will customers park during construction?
Second, I also urge you to consider the impact of high density housing on traffic in Menlo Park. It is already nearly impossible to traverse Oak Grove Avenue in the afternoon. The addition of high density housing on the surface lots between Santa Cruz and Oak Grove will make it many times worse. How will parents drop their kids off at Menlo Park Academy of Dance for after school classes? Or AJ Tutoring? Will people want to go downtown for a meal during the week if it means sitting in traffic for 40 minutes and then searching for parking?
We all want to see a vibrant, lively downtown and many support the building of more housing, including below market housing. However, in attempting to meet these laudable goals, we cant destroy the reason why many of us chose to live in Menlo Park in the first place, which is our quality of life.
Thank you for your consideration.
Regards, Amar Murugan
Menlo Park
