The last thing Menlo Park needs is more housing - and thus, more people. And there has got to be a better way than BMRs to subsidize those in true financial need.

So, the Beltramos get to build their townhouses, and begin developing their property, but they do not want others, who are trying to bring revenue to the city, to have a use permit for BevMo, and be able to use their property.

Nice job of having your cake and eating it as well. And I naively thought the job of government was to help consumers, not competitors.

I agree with Neighbor's comments above. It is amazing when property rights are involved that the Beltramo's and Draeger's desire protection from others who should have the right to serve our community. If Bev Mo wants to take a risk and spend considerable amounts to outfit a site in Menlo Park, who are the Beltramo's and Draeger's to tell all of us who should and shouldn't be a part of our community. To now know too that Beltramo's is out paying local voter's to write letters to the city council is even more disturbing. I will no longer shop at Beltramo's now that I know this approach. This is the ultimate in anti competitive. They must have learned this behavior from Microsoft!!!

Maybe we should tell them we have enough townhouses in Menlo Park and don't need more. Or, that they should be held to the same standard as everyone else in providing BMR housing for the community.

Neighbor and Perplexed--ditto from me. Well said!

The original plan Beltramo's put forward for this development over 10 years ago contained no housing but the council at that time demanded housing be part of the project. They have tried to comply. They even tried to comply with the BMR requirements but it made the whole project un-financable. Additionally, they have been through horrible expenses-- over $350,000-- to clean up a toxic spill from a neighboring dry cleaning business that is no longer there.
They have endured a lot and yet continue to try to improve the property. I'm just happy they are still planning to build it.

Don't we all want El Camino improved?

[Post removed. Please stay on topic. As a county supervisor, Rich Gordon had nothing to do with this project.]

If Gordon is not involved with this, it may be a soldidly built project which no one seems to want anyway.

If Gordon is not involved with this, it may be a soldidly built project which no one seems to want anyway.