It's great that u are announcing tonight's FB meeting the day of the meeting. I guess it's better than no notice at all.

Almanac, Where was the announcement about the meeting to "discuss" the ne water rate hikes Proposal? The discussion where the entire council voted in favor of an increase for small residences and a decrease for large residence and commercial?

So, I missed the meeting. Did anyone adress the bizarre two-tier system prior to voting?

This is just what we need in Menlo Park --- more and more offices. Council members like Rich Cline, they don't care ... so what if traffic is Gawd awful.

Recalling Whatever Lola Wants.. from Damn Yankees, here is the new version.

------------

Whatever Facebook wants, Facebook gets
And Menlo Park, little Facebook wants you
Make up your mind to have, no regrets
Recline yourself, resign yourself you're through

Facebook always gets, what it aims for
And your heart and soul, is what Facebook came for.

What ever happened to keeping FB d evelopment reasonable? I'm going to hazard a guess that none of the people making this happen live nearby, so the traffic really isn't an issue for them. They will push it through just as they did the new two-tier water rate schedule. When no one is around to challenge.Those who most need relief will be hurt the most. We have literally no conscience as a City.

I am not sure how much homework those opposed did - but did you know that fb has only half as many parking spots as employees and provides benefits to those who do not use a vehicle to get to work Web Link . Did you know that by doubling the size of their buildings they are using less than half the energy used in the old buildings and using 100,000 native plants as insulation? The list goes on and they have it all posted on their web site, as well as all 3 major networks coverage of the buildings. I work in Bohannon and frankly the road improvements they have done for my way home have helped - and fb paid for those. No, I do not own stock, work at or with fb. I like to see smart decisions made and reasonable growth. We all have seen how well no growth on ECR has worked out - it is a place to park heavy machinery and an eyesore.

It would seem a good idea for Facebook to be asked to put up a significant amount of housing as part of this project to somewhat offset the additional demand created. Also, increased hours of jitney service to downtown Menlo would ameliorate some of the traffic impact of the housing and the office space.

@maximusgolden - they are. 394 unit apartment building for employees to walk to work - path already in place for the walk. Web Link They are also looking at additional housing and they have the transportation buses. I cannot speak to increased hours of Jitney. The overall goal is to minimize the carbon footprint - and thus far I have been a fan because when you compare to what was there to now, they have accomplished that. Sure more people, many who spend money in MP, but less carbon footprint.

How can I watch a video of tonights meeting?

Editor's note; Here is the page where you can watch public meetings: Web Link

Page down to the Planning Commission meetings and click on the video link for the July 13 meeting.

So FB is adding some apartments but who's to say they will be filled forever with FB employees? Most employees change jobs and have partners who don't work at the same company.
How does the ratio of new units and new employees compare? Menlo Park seems to be approving enormous office developments right and left with no attention to the demands that will place on roads, transit, water supply, housing. The more jobs, the more housing needed, the more space needed in schools.

Robert D., I like your style. Better than the knee-jerk reactions we usually get here when a big business wants to expand.

Menlo will continue to green light these projects without any concern on the impact on East Palo Alto. I look forward to my city doing the same to Menlo.

@Water:

you have until June 20 to write menlo park and tell them to include EPA impacts in the EIR scoping. Do it now if you're concerned.

Hope FB plans to build their own schools in their little slice of heaven. MP schools are way out of space.

Perhaps we can sell off the land and it can be renamed FB City.

Thanks for nothing MP City council and government.

@menlo resident - the area that FB is in is part of the Ravenswood school district (Belle Haven and EPA), not the Menlo Park school district. So you don't have to worry about impact on the MP schools.

On the plus side, this is likely to contribute significant revenue to the Ravenswood school district, which needs it, and any children who go there are likely to add socioeconomic diversity. (Fortunately or unfortunately, it's likely many who want apartments will be young and childless and some or many of the rest will send their kids to private schools.)

@housing advocate - I support additional housing, too, and my read is that the 4500 additional units FB is asking to add would be beyond the additional office space they are allowed to add. I think we would do well to make sure the city permits them to add the housing they want, rather than saying no and shortsightedly driving rents even higher.

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