Town Square

Post a New Topic

Menlo Park man files lawsuit against creek authority

Original post made on Nov 12, 2019

A lawsuit was filed Oct. 24 against the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority and its board, claiming that the board skipped a step when it approved a new flood control project in Menlo Park and Palo Alto in September.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, November 11, 2019, 3:38 PM

Comments (6)

Posted by Enough already
a resident of Menlo Park: The Willows
on Nov 12, 2019 at 1:28 pm

This resident had more than ample opportunity to voice his concerns and engage with the JPA in development of this plan. Now his lawsuit will extend the period of flooding risk for hundreds of his neighbors. I hope everyone will let him know how they feel about his action.


Posted by Last grasp at straws
a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood
on Nov 12, 2019 at 2:02 pm

One person is doing his best to thwart a very basic project that should have been done years ago.
I hope someone couter-sues him for a reason as drummed up as his.
What a jerk.


Posted by Facts Matter
a resident of Menlo Park: South of Seminary/Vintage Oaks
on Nov 12, 2019 at 2:04 pm

Enough already:
The gentleman who filed the suit did, in fact, make comments to the Draft EIR and had his attorney file comments also. The JPA responses were dismissive and legally questionable. In addition the two permitting agencies for this project the California State Water Resources Board and the State Fish and Game filed comprehensive comments and the JPA ignored these agencies and went ahead and certified the EIR. The JPA takes the position that said permitting agencies will be responded to when the Board decides to do so. I don't think this is going to sit well with these State agencies.

Do not presume that the fellow who filed the law suit did nothing and only filed a law suit after the certification of the EIR decided as a protest. You might ask yourself why the Board didn't respond to the concerns of the Water Board and Fish & Game.

Furthermore, the EIR stated that upstream retention of flood waters on Stanford land was an option that the JPA should explore. Leave it to Stanford to say no to the idea and refuse a preliminary on site visit by the Creek JPA biologist to assess the viability of upstream retention.

This is the same Stanford University who will pay no property taxes on its Menlo Park El Camino Real 400,000 sf development. There's a right way and a wrong way to process these projects and make decisions. Thankfully the law suit will bring to light the deficiencies of this particular process.


Posted by He lives next to it
a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood
on Nov 12, 2019 at 2:09 pm

This is the very definition of it, 100% NIMBY. He does not want the bridge PERIOD. Watch and see the target move if they dismiss this particular issue.
The rest of the citizenry thank you(sarcasm) Mr Peter Joshua.


Posted by Jack Water
a resident of Menlo Park: The Willows
on Nov 12, 2019 at 7:34 pm

"Furthermore, the EIR stated that upstream retention of flood waters on Stanford land was an option that the JPA should explore. Leave it to Stanford to say no to the idea and refuse a preliminary on site visit by the Creek JPA biologist to assess the viability of upstream retention."

Actually Stanford representatives were ask to and then refused to give upstream access at a public board meeting of the JPA.


Posted by steve schmidt
a resident of Menlo Park: The Willows
on Nov 12, 2019 at 7:46 pm

There will not be 100-year flood protection from the plan whose EIR was certified by the JPA unless retention basins are constructed on Stanford land. The JPA Chair is intentionally overstating the benefits of the project. He knows better.

During the Draft EIR discussions Stanford refused access by hydrologists and others to identify characteristics of retention basin sites. Stanford appears to be disinclined to cooperate in building a solution to the flooding problem.

Despite the channelization and deforestation of the creek and its immediate surroundings, there is little prospect of this project attaining 100-year protection or exemption from flood insurance for property owners in the flood zone for the foreseeable future. Yes, this means property owners with mortgages will still be on the hook for flood insurance.


Don't miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.

Email:


Post a comment

On Wednesday, we'll be launching a new website. To prepare and make sure all our content is available on the new platform, commenting on stories and in TownSquare has been disabled. When the new site is online, past comments will be available to be seen and we'll reinstate the ability to comment. We appreciate your patience while we make this transition..

Stay informed.

Get the day's top headlines from Almanac Online sent to your inbox in the Express newsletter.