Menlo Park Hiring Expert to Research Initiative to Revamp Downtown Plan

The Menlo Park City Council has actually authorized investing up to $150,000 on a consultant to examine the brand-new effort proposed by locals that would significantly change the city's downtown/El Camino particular strategy.  The strategy took 5 years to develop, with considerable community involvement, and cost $1.7 million.  A group of Menlo Park citizens is presently attempting to alter that strategy and require voter approval for large project.

After Menlo Park authorized the specific strategy in 2012, Stanford University suggested developing a mixed-use complex on eight acres along El Camino Real.  Although the strategy falls within the parameters of the city's particular plan, plenty of residents oppose it and have actually formed a group which call themselves "Save Menlo."

‘Save Menlo’ is now gathering signatures of registered voters to certify a ballot measure that would change the downtown plan.  ‘Save Menlo’ needs 1,780 signatures of voters to certify. If approved as Save Menlo is proposed, the effort would dramatically shrink the size of permitted projects, and require voter approval on large projects, just like the Stanford development.

The council wants their expert to examine the Save Menlo campaign and contrast it to the city’s plan. The city will use the expert's report as a basis for discussion at a public conference.