Dear Council,

After reading the Study Session Backgrounder provided by the Community Development Department, I would like to register my concern over the height proposal of this project.
While the commercial enterprises along the El Camino Corridor are not held to the same height restrictions of single family residences, proposing that this 4-story condominium complex be allowed to be built immediately adjacent to an historic single-family home neighborhood is ludicrous. Like most Menlo Park neighborhoods, the values of the homes in the "Allied Arts"/ University Terrace extended neighborhood have continually increased. Over the past 15 years, many smaller homes have been extensively remodeled. All of these homes were subject to scrutinized architectural reviews by the MP planning commission to ensure that nothing *too big* would compromise the existing zoning nor the charm of the neighborhood. I am not a citizen against growth. On the contrary, I am a realtor in Menlo Park. However, I have lived in this town since I was ten years old (1960), and have witnessed mistake after mistake made by the City Council in the planning decisions that were thought to be progressive. Don't make this 4-story mistake at 389 El Camino Real. Unlike Redwood City or Sunnyvale, excellent neighborhoods border both sides of El Camino — it's part of the charm of MP.
Please let's get this one right. Condos and mixed use should be built on the east side between the train tracks and El Camino, not on the west side.

A previous scheduled meeting prevents me from attending tonight's meeting.

Sincerely,
Jay Gertridge
1080 College Ave. Received on Tue May 13 15:33:01 2008