To: Menlo Park City Council
Sent via e-mail 5/09/2008

             A study session has been placed on the agenda for Tuesday May 12th, to hear the presentation of a proposed project at 389 El Camino. I understood Council had defined benchmarks for new projects in this time period and am confused and wondering why such a study session has been scheduled.

             My understanding is new developments along the El Camino corridor would not be entertained, unless they conformed to our existing general plan and zoning codes, at least until the visioning process has been completed. The introduction in the staff report would seem to confirm my understanding as being correct.

             The proposed project would require both a General Plan amendment and zoning change in order to be approved. The project is almost 60 feet in height, where 30 feet is the maximum allowed. The project has a density of 40 residential units per acre where the zoning permits 18.5 units per acre. The project appears to have a FAR of 1.69 where the maximum on a mixed use project would allow 0.75. It is totally non-conforming under the existing general plan and zoning codes.

             So why is this developer being given preferential treatment for a study session when the City council is on record saying non-conforming projects will not be considered while the visioning process is underway?

             You have asked the community to participate in the formulation of a new vision for the El Camino and Downtown areas. Now you are essentially doing an "end run" by studying a project that would certainly affect the south end of that corridor. Why should the community have any faith at all in the visioning process if Council is just going to go its own way and study and perhaps approve projects regardless of the outcome of this process?

Sincerely,

Morris Brown
Stone Pine Lane
Menlo Park