Business & Tech

Downtown Redevelopment Plan Moves Forward

Barring major obstacles, changes in Menlo Park's downtown could begin as early as next spring.

A Central Plaza and market place on Santa Cruz Avenue, linked by a pedestrian paseo on Chestnut Street, smaller-scale buildings, and a continued emphasis on the existing "small-town" character.  That's the dream of town planners for Menlo Park's future, a dream that's been formulating since 2007.

This week, the so-called El Camino Real/Downtown Specific Plan continues to move forward as the Environmental Impact Report is opened for public comment.  The EIR, first published about a week ago, is required by the State of California, and gives proponents and skeptics a chance to analyze the impact of the plan.

A link to the complete EIR can be found here.  The report is "thick", admits Menlo Park Associate Planner Thomas Rogers.  It is only a preliminary report;  changes can be made.  "The EIR is very rigid, very formal, by state guidelines," says Rogers. "It's not necessarily the primary driver for an ultimate decision."

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Primary to the EIR's discussion of the downtown redevelopment plan are topics called-out as "significant and unavoidable."  They include:

  • Increased greenhouse gas emissions, directly and indirectly, that would have a significant impact on the environment and air quality
  • An increase in area noise, primarily due to an anticipated increase in traffic volume
  • An adverse impact on local intersections in the area due to traffic
  • An adverse impact on local streets in the area due to traffic

The challenge for Menlo Park planners will be to mitigate these negative effects. They hope to promote infill development of empty lots along the El Camino; to retain a "village" character by keeping buildings low and pedestrian-friendly; to increase public spaces for parks and plazas; to widen sidewalks; to improve walkability and bikeability; and to integrate the Farmers' Market. Taller buildings would be required to be "stepped back" on upper levels.

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In addition, specific changes to intersections will be required. Additional stop lights and stop signs are envisioned for the El Camino, Middlefield Road and Santa Cruz Avenue, among others.

"Using traffic modeling software, we were able to estimate intersections where delays would increase, and those would be considered impacts," says Rogers.  "In the short term, intersections called out are University Drive and Santa Cruz Avenue where the Peet's Coffee sits. The stop sign currently there would degrade service, so the mitigation would be to add a traffic signal.  However, because of funding, that's not something that could be guaranteed, so that's considered a significant and unavoidable impact.  Near Middlefield and Willow lane, near Sunset Magazine, we'd like to add another lane, but because of the uncertainty, that's also considered significant and unavoidable.  El Camino and Glenwood, El Camino and Middle Avenue, where the Safeway is, just to give you a flavor of some of the intersections we're looking at."

The draft plan suggests temporary changes may be the best way to proceed at first.  "San Francisco, other cities have done this, where they simply extend sidewalks out, or put out barriers that look nice, put out tables and chairs, and find out if people use these changes, and what impact there is on traffic," says Rogers.

Officials have held seven workshops to date.  "We were very pleased with the number of people we got; according to planners and others helping us it's been the highest (turnout) they've seen anywhere," says Rogers.

The city also sent out two community-wide surveys responded to by over 2,000 residents, conducted two walking tours, and conducted one-on-one interviews with downtown business owners.  The Chamber of Commerce has been involved.

With the EIR comment period now open until June 20, more feedback is expected.

In addition, release of the fiscal impact analysis of the project is expected shortly.  Unless there are major challenges to the plan, Rogers believes the city council could approve it by late fall or winter.  If approval were to happen on that timeline, initial construction of downtown redesign could begin by spring.

Says Rogers "We've been at it for awhile, involving the community.  I'm hoping the structure, the bones of the plan, are good, but I do think we have room for improvement, and that's what we're looking for at the planning commission and the city council."

People are encouraged to come to the public hearing for the draft EIR to be held on Monday, June 6 at 7p.m. in the City Council chambers, 701 Laurel Street, Menlo Park.

Comments may be emailed to throgers@menlopark.org or sent to the Community Development Department at the same Laurel Street address.


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