Friends of Menlo Park,
The Save Downtown Menlo website has been updated in preparation for the ballot measure. Take a look, get involved, and vote YES! in November.
And here’s something else you can do to help guide our town in the right direction:
The City of Menlo Park is setting its annual priorities and TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to use their form.
The feedback results will be published, creating a public record and press coverage - making it clear what the people of Menlo Park really want from city officials.
When leaving your feedback, rather than vague terms like “Downtown vibrancy”, “Climate action”, or “Housing” - consider leaving specific recommendations. For example:
- Broaden Downtown Zoning to allow more community-serving businesses and fill vacancies.
- Support the SamTrans proposal for rapid, zero-emission bus service along the abandoned freight line connecting east Menlo Park to downtown Redwood City.
- Explore alternative sites for low-income housing that don't jeopardize downtown businesses.
The form is short:
The deadline is TODAY - Friday, March 6th.
Thanks,
Save Downtown Menlo
P.S. Here is more info …
REGARDING DOWNTOWN ZONING:
The primary reason for downtown vacancies is the overly restrictive, retail-only zoning along the ground floor of Santa Cruz Avenue. Downtown Los Altos had the same vacancy problem, but when they broadened their zoning to all personal and community services, such as fitness studios, workshops, pet services, etc, their vacancies quickly filled. Mountain View is following their lead, and we can do the same.
In fact, downtown Menlo Park property owners have submitted a proposal to do just this, but the City keeps postponing its review. It should be a priority.
REGARDING THE PROPOSED BUS LINE:
(see pic at the top of this email)
For decades, the Dumbarton freight line connecting east Menlo Park with downtown Redwood City has gone unused. SamTrans, which owns that land, is proposing to use it for a zero-emission bus line, along with a bicycle and pedestrian path. The line would go from University Ave., past Meta, through Belle Haven, along Marsh Manor and Bohannon Office Park (a potential housing site), through Fair Oaks, all the way to downtown Redwood City.
The proposal is a cost-effective way to improve transit for our community, and SamTrans will need help from Menlo Park, Atherton, and Redwood City to make it happen. So let’s make it a priority!
Learn more about the plan here.
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This is our chance to tell the City the practical solutions we want. The deadline is this Friday, so fill out the form now.
P.S. The "Next steps" below are for Change.org, not us. Instead, please visit our website.
Paid for by Save Downtown Menlo: A Coalition of Residents & Local Businesses, FPPC ID# 1481518