September 2024 - Newsletter

SRI Development Ad Hoc Subcommittee Appointment

At the City Council meeting on September 10, I was appointed to replace Councilmember Jen Wolosin on the City Council’s Parkline Development Agreement Negotiation Ad Hoc Subcommittee. Councilmember Wolosin decided to step down from the subcommittee. Councilmember Maria Doerr is the other member of the two-person subcommittee.

This is a project that contains much promise, especially in terms of housing. But I also appreciate the concerns that many residents have expressed about its overall impacts and sizable office space component. In the months ahead, I look forward to taking a leading role in engaging both city staff and the developers of this project. You can learn more about the project on the city’s website and the project’s website.

80 Willow Road Development Application Resubmitted

On September 12, the developers of a proposed project at 80 Willow Road (the former Sunset Magazine campus) resubmitted plans to the city. A formal development application was initially submitted in May. The project is being submitted under the state’s Builder’s Remedy provision. In June, the city deemed that application incomplete citing in part the SB 330 Housing Project Checklist. The planning staff and city attorney are in the process of reviewing this most recent submittal. The city has until October 11 to make a determination about the application’s completeness.

It does appear that the project has changed in this most recent application, increasing by nearly 2500 square feet. Specifically, the square footage for retail and school portions decreased while the square footage for the hotel portion of the project increased. This proposal gives rise to many issues, including differing interpretations of state law. For both the City Council and the city’s staff, this project is among the most important issues currently in front of the city. An update on the current application will be provided by the city in the weeks ahead. You can learn more about the project on the city’s website.

Coleman and Ringwood Avenues Transportation Study Update

Last month, there was a meeting to discuss the Coleman and Ringwood Avenues Transportation Study that included me, Councilmember Jen Wolosin, San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller and San Mateo County Supervisor Warren Slocum. The meeting also included staff from both the city and county. Additionally, the San Mateo County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee held a public meeting last week to review the final draft report.

During the August meeting with Supervisors Slocum and Mueller, both expressed concern that there didn’t seem to be an option that was clearly favored among the public, especially in relation to the Coleman pilot alternatives. The Supervisors requested additional evidence of community backing for the project in the form of resolutions of support from the Menlo Park City Council, the Menlo Park City School District and the Sequoia Union High School District. You can learn more about the project on the city’s website.

2024 City Wide Slurry Seal Project

The city is in the middle of a project that has resulted in new asphalt covering for more than two dozen streets across the city. Included on this list are a number of street segments in District 2. Please refer to this link (scroll down to #17) for a full list of the streets that are included in this project.

Childcare Needs Survey

The city-run childcare facilities have been consistently under-enrolled in recent years. There are several likely reasons for why enrollment rates have been below capacity in the aftermath of the pandemic. In the months ahead, the City Council will have to decide what, if anything, it wants to do to address this issue. The first part of that process will be reviewing the results of a survey about childcare needs for our community. You can take the survey here. It will be live until October 12. If this is a topic that is important to you, also consider sending the City Council an email and making a public comment the next time this topic is on the City Council’s agenda.

Community Office Hours

Community office hours take place every Saturday from 9am to 10am at Cafe Zoe in the Willows. Additionally, you can also schedule a meeting by emailing [email protected] or calling 650-924-1890.