A moratorium that affects large non-residential projects such as Willow Park would not have run afoul of the looming state laws which purport to attack the jobs-housing imbalance created and aggravated by cities such as Menlo Park. Just the opposite. At the June 11 meeting, the mayor maintained that a moratorium was not needed to stop Willow Park because the project still must be approved or not by the city council. But then, the mayor offered to appoint the two moratorium advocates on the city council to a committee to work out the details of the "development agreement" for Willow Park. The mayor explained that service on such a committee could operate to the benefit of the particular council districts represented by these councilmembers. Put differently, the mayor seemed to disclose that Willow Park is a DONE DEAL except for the details. And with that further imbalance approved in Menlo Park, the city will indeed become the POSTER CHILD for local land-use abuse and fuel the state bills removing local land-use control.

Cecilia and Betsy’s appointment to the Development Agreement subcommittee is a great thing. It ensures their negotiation and recommendation whether to accept or reject any potential development agreement that will come before the City Council prior to any decision to approve the Facebook development. That means Cecilia and Belle Haven literally has a seat at the table in negotiating with Facebook whether the project proceeds.