To Mayor Combs, Vice Mayor Nash, and Council Members:
I respectfully urge you to uphold the Appeal for 320 Sheridan Road and require the Applicant to improve the project for the safety and benefit of its future residents. It is VERY IMPORTANT to note that when Ravenswood SD was operating the school, they did NOT ALLOW parents or staff to drive through Sheridan Drive because it was deemed unsafe by the City of Menlo Park. I was resident on Sheridan Dr, still am today, and will legally attest in court that Ravenswood deemed it unsafe for our neighborhood to allow parents and staff to drive through out neighborhood.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS AN ALTERNATE ENTRANCE OFF VAN BUREN. PLEASE SHOW RESPECT TO THE VOTERS AND RESIDENTS OF SUBURBAN PARK BY KEEPING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE.
THE SCHOOL BUSES FOR RAVENSWOOD WOULD DRIVE ONTO OUR LAWNS EVERY DAY BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SAFELY DRIVE DOWN SHERIDAN DRIVE. WE ASK THAT YOU DO NOT SUBJECT US TO UNSAFE STREETS BECAUSE SHERIDAN DRIVE WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO HANDLE THAT MUCH TRAFFIC NOR CAN IT ACCOMMODATE A FIRETRUCK SAFELY.
Specifically, I ask that you:
1. Review the information that was provided to the Planning Commission by the Applicant and City Staff, including misleading information on access to public transit serving the project, and conflicting information about bicycle and pedestrian routes, distances, and times required for the residents to access these routes to work and school.
2. Provide the future residents of 320 Sheridan Drive with the entrance and exit to Van Buren Road originally proposed in the developer’s own Transportation Demand Management plan and in the City’s transportation analysis. The developer has publicly stated they are willing and able to create this second entrance if requested by the City and if the right-of-way is made available.
This second entrance will not only improve safety in case of emergency, but also reduce daily commute distances and times, and greatly improve the daily quality of life for the residents of 320 Sheridan Drive as new residents of Menlo Park.
3. Review the information that was provided to the Planning Commission by the Applicant and City Staff, including misleading information on access to public transit serving the project, and conflicting information about bicycle and pedestrian routes, distances, and times required for the residents to access these routes to work and school.
4. Provide the future residents of 320 Sheridan Drive with the entrance and exit to Van Buren Road originally proposed in the developer’s own Transportation Demand Management plan and in the City’s transportation analysis. The developer has publicly stated they are willing and able to create this second entrance if requested by the City and if the right-of-way is made available.
This second entrance will not only improve safety in case of emergency, but also reduce daily commute distances and times, and greatly improve the daily quality of life for the residents of 320 Sheridan Drive as new residents of Menlo Park.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and for ensuring the project is properly planned to support safety and a connected community.
Respectfully,
Ron and May Matsui
303 Sheridan Dr in Menlo Park
