Dear Council Members and Planning Commissioners:

Our City has a building ordinance which protects neighbors from new structures blocking their sunlight, and a heritage tree law that protects trees without any consideration of their solar blocking affect. The two seem to be somewhat in conflict.

I have lived on San Mateo Drive for 16 years and over the years I have witnessed my once sunny property become totally shaded.

16 years ago I grew enough vegetables to share with our neighbors and now I can't grow a tomato anywhere in my yard, front or back. Once an avid gardener, I have given up planting bulbs, roses or other sun loving plants.

My neighbor to the east has (she claims) 50 redwood trees on her property, some over 300 feet tall. The property to the West is similar.

My heating bill was over $900 this winter and when we had our house evaluated for solar we were told no way - not enough sun.

I hear complaints on a regular basis from other Menlo Park residents who have similar concerns about loosing their sun.

I am an advocate of protecting our heritage trees - those that are truly heritage, but it must be balanced with the need for sunlight as well.

As the City of Menlo Park searches out ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and strives to become "green" I would urge you to consider how too much of a good thing can be bad.

I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the subject.

Yours Truly,

Kimberly LeMieux
Laurel Homes, Inc. Received on Tue Mar 11 14:49:28 2008