From: michael demoss < lawreview@icloud.com> (mailto:lawreview@icloud.com)
Date: August 29, 2025 at 5:16:32 PM PDT
To: Drew Combs < dcombs@menlopark.gov>, Menlo Park City Council < (mailto:dcombs@menlopark.gov) city.council@menlopark.gov> (mailto:city.council@menlopark.gov)
Subject: Palo Alto, University &Bryant 5 story parking ramp 3pm to 4pm Friday 8/29/2025 usage
Palo Alto Bryant@University 5 story downtown parking ramp, photos at 3 pm to 4 pm Friday 8/29/2025
Dear Mayor Combs and Council Members,
I believe that you were NOT transparent and "open" (as required by law) about the surprise change in the need for "Required Replacement Parking" to a mere PRIORITY.
You know you would have had a Full to Overflowing Crowd of Angry Voters at your 8/262025 council meeting, if it had been properly disclosed to the voters.
This is NOT the way to treat the citizens who put their trust in you.
Please immediately begin work on other locations, because it seems obvious that you know that the parking problem will be insurmountable.
( that may be why you removed the Parking Requirement, as another benefit to the developers )
Also:
Update on Parking Ramps:
The following photos
of: Palo Alto, University & Bryants 5 story parking ramp taken at 3pm to 4pm Friday 8/29/2025.
Showing actual usage, illustrates how little usage parking ramps receive (and PROVIDE) on levels 3,4,5 AND below ground levels A & B.
Please notify the developers that Menlo Park cannot accept a parking ramp proposal that exceeds 2 levels; and underground parking is not acceptable either.
I am providing these photos so that you can, and must, realistically determine how to provide (REQUIRE) 1,100 replacement parking spaces for the 350+ apartments and the existing 550+ merchant and public spaces; using only 2 story parking ramps.
IMPORTANT:
Because you changed the "Required Parking " to "Priority Parking " in violation of the required "Community Involvement Required Provision":
I suggest that you notify the developers to provide TWO (2) proposals:
1) One with replacement parking as a "Requirement".
And
2) One with replacement parking as a "Priority".
Or: You can rescind the "Priority Parking Provision" and Reinstate the "Required Replacement Parking" Provision.
Thank you,
Michael C. DeMoss
Commercial Real Estate Attorney
Level 3 nearly empty
Level 4 nearly empty
Between level 4 and 5 empty
Level 5 empty
Top level 5 empty
Below ground level A empty
Below ground level B empty
Sub lower level B empty
Level 2 fullLevel 2 full
