From: Judy Font <judy.font_at_(domain_name_was_removed)>
Date: Sun Nov 25 2007 - 20:01:26 PST

Dear Menlo Park City Council Members -

This letter is submitted to the Menlo Park City Council on behalf of the Felton Gables Homeowners Association Board of Directors. This Board represents one hundred and fifteen residences that comprise Felton Gables.

We strongly oppose Caltrain grade separations that raise the existing rail bed through Menlo Park. Raising the rail bed will have a permanent deleterious effect on our city and on our neighborhoods.

More specifically, we oppose this idea because of the following concerns -

  a.. A fifteen foot high "wall" topped with electric towers and wires will divide our city, figuratively, emotionally, spiritually - similar to the former Embarcadero Freeway in San Francisco.
  a.. The construction process will effectively shut down many Menlo Park businesses, some permanently.
  a.. Many years of noise, dirt, air pollution, and major disruptions in traffic flow will ensue.
  a.. Construction will remove large numbers of trees, including heritage trees, resulting in greater noise propagation and visual impact. 
  a.. The construction is likely also to lead to unjust and expensive eminent domain proceedings.
  a.. This project will discourage / delay necessary El Camino development and traffic improvements.

For these reasons alone, we question the benefit to our city and our region.

Finally, on a separate but related issue, we have grave concerns regarding the High-Speed Rail (HSR) initiative. Before the HSR becomes a bond measure, we encourage the Menlo Park City Council to formally oppose any plan that routes the HSR through our city or other residential areas on the Peninsula. It provides no benefit to Menlo Park. Vast sums of money would be saved and damage to the Peninsula would be avoided. Accordingly, we completely disagree with the Green Ribbon Citizens Committee recommendation that HSR, as it is now planned, should be supported by Menlo Park.

Sincerely,

Co-Presidents Elizabeth Blois, Judy Font

Board Members Marcy Abramowitz, Gail Blumberg, Bob Kelly, Russ Peterson, Lorie Satzger, Laurie Thomas

cc: Atherton Town Council Received on Sun Nov 25 21:41:44 2007