Very well said.
Jeff
On Tue, Jan 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM Theresa Baumert > wrote:
January 14th 2025
Dear Honorable Members of the Menlo Park City Council,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposal to use public parking lots in Menlo Park for the development of affordable housing. As the owner of Playsteps for Developing Kids, a pediatric occupational therapy clinic that serves the families of our community, I am deeply concerned about the impact this development could have on my ability to continue operating in this area.
As a small business owner, I rely on the availability of nearby parking for my clients to access my services. Many of the children and families I work with face unique challenges, and it is essential for them to have safe and easy access to my clinic. In particular, I occasionally serve families with mobility needs who are not able to walk long distances. For them, proximity to parking is not just a convenience, but a necessity. Additionally, my staff also rely on available parking to carry out their work, and as it is most days, finding parking is already difficult.
The proposed removal of public parking lots would significantly disrupt access to my business and create undue hardship for the families who rely on my services. If this project moves forward, I may face the difficult decision of relocating, which could create a gap in the services available to the community—especially in an area where access to pediatric occupational therapy is already limited. As the only clinic of its kind in this region, my services play an important role in supporting local families, and any disruption to our ability to continue operating could impact the well-being of children who rely on this care.
I strongly urge the City Council to reconsider this plan and explore alternative solutions that would allow for affordable housing development without sacrificing critical public amenities, such as parking, that support local businesses and the families who depend on them.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my concerns.
Sincerely,
Theresa Baumert
Owner, Playsteps for Developing Kids
825 Oak Grove ave, Suite A102,
Menlo Park.
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