Dear City Council:
On Monday, June 21, 2021, the Planning Commission took the following actions on the Menlo Uptown project (https://www.menlopark.org/1576/Menlo-Uptown), comprised of 483 residential units consisting of 441 rental units, 42 for-sale townhome units, and 2,940 square feet of commercial space to be used as part of the applicant's community amenity, located at 141 Jefferson Drive and 180-186 Constitution Drive:
* Adopted a resolution certifying a Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), adopting findings required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and a Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Program (MMRP) for the project; and
* Adopted a resolution approving a use permit, architectural control, Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Agreement, and Community Amenities Operating Covenant; and
* Adopted a resolution recommending that the City Council approve a vesting tentative map for a major subdivision to create 42 for-sale condominium townhome units and adjust the lot lines for the project.
The BMR Housing Agreement approved by the Commission includes seven (7) rental units affordable to very low income households, 23 rental units affordable to low income households, and 43 rental units affordable to moderate income households (for a total of 67 BMR rental units), and six (6) BMR ownership townhome units affordable to moderate income households.
The Commission selected a 2,940-square-foot urgent care center to be located on the project site and operated by Ravenswood Family Health Network ("Operator") as the project's community amenity. The costs of the community amenity to be funded by the applicant are $4,455,124 in construction value to provide the space rent-free to Operator; $1,837,500 in tenant improvements to outfit the interior of the space for Operator; $882,000 in specialty medical equipment (such as x-ray and imaging machines, etc.); and a $1,725,376 direct contribution to Operator. The total value of the community amenity is $8.9 million, which is the required community amenity value identified through the City's bonus level development appraisal process.
Unless appealed to the City Council, the Planning Commission's decision will be final. However, action on a major subdivision to adjust the existing parcels and create 42 for-sale condominium townhomes is still required to go before the City Council. Unless the Planning Commission's decision is appealed to the City Council, the City Council will only have the purview to review the major subdivision and not the project as a whole. We expect to bring the major subdivision to the City Council on July 20, 2021. Any member of the public, the applicant, and any Councilmember may appeal the Planning Commission's decision by filing a written appeal with the City Clerk by July 6, 2021.
Thank you,
Tom Smith
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Tom A. Smith
Senior Planner
City Hall - 1st Floor
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-330-6730
menlopark.org
