>Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:43:36 -0700
>To: planning@menlopark.org
>From: Susan Basso <bassol@pacbell.net>
>Subject: Neighborhood Meeting for 1706 El Camino Real
>
>Dear Members of the Planning Commission, City Council, and Others Concerned:
>I would like to protest the number of meetings the average citizen
>of Menlo Park must attend to protect their interests concerning
>the proposed construction of a Medical Building at 1706 El Camino
>Real. First the Planning Commission held a meeting. Citizens
>of the neighborhood dutifully turned out with most taking the
>position that a reduction in the required number of parking places would
>negatively impact the neighborhood. The Planning Commission seemed
>sympathetic to the arguments presented opposing reduced
>parking. I thought at the time that would be fine with no parking
>forced off the site on to residential streets.
>Next I get another notice of a meeting at the Rec Center to discuss
>the same building project with the same issues. I attend that
>meeting as well. When I asked why the meeting was being held, I was
>told by Planning Commission staff it was to inform "staff"
>how citizens felt about the project. Why, I wondered, didn't "staff"
>attend the first Planning Commission meeting on this project?
>Then they would have known what was going on!
>In addition this meeting asked that everyone sit around and discuss
>the project in groups with a mediation team. If ever "busy
>work" was created at tax payer expense, this was it!!!!!
>Now I am invited to attend a THIRD meeting to be a follow up to the
>SECOND meeting about this project (more busy work) to
>take place 6/18/2008. It is as if the City thinks if they just have
>enough meetings, citizens will give up and they can push through
>the project the way they want it. In addition the data from these
>meetings must go to the full Planning Commission and the
>City Council requiring citizens to attend a total of five or six
>meetings on this one small issue. I find this expectation appalling.
>What is the matter with the Planning Commission members that they
>cannot follow the City's ordinances and make a decision!
>I would really like to know what influence the developer of this
>project has with members of the City government that he can
>attend all these meetings well knowing the position of residents of
>the surrounding neighborhood, but still expect that they can
>be influenced to allow him fewer parking spaces?
>I am forwarding this letter to the City Council and other parties
>listed on the flyer and ,if I get mad enough, the local papers!
>Susan Basso, 139 Buckthorn Way, Menlo Park, 325-7255
Received on Mon Jun 16 12:44:32 2008