Read the full story here Web Link posted Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 11:36 AM
https://n2v.almanacnews.com/square/print/2015/08/11/planning-commission-starts-another-review-of-specific-plan
Town Square
Planning Commission starts another review of specific plan
Original post made on Aug 11, 2015
Read the full story here Web Link posted Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 11:36 AM
Comments
Posted by dana hendrickson
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Aug 11, 2015 at 1:40 pm
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Aug 11, 2015 at 1:40 pm
I agree that the City needs to track it's progress implementing the ideas in the Specific Plan. There are qualitative and quantitative measures for both recommended actions and results that could be included in a scorecard during the City's annual budgeting process. For example, describe the SP ideas/projects included in the 2015/2016 Five-Year Capital Investment Plan and rate overall progress.
Posted by looking on
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Aug 11, 2015 at 3:41 pm
a resident of Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Aug 11, 2015 at 3:41 pm
The lack of more public input on the Specific Plan, and indeed on the ongoing new General Plan, now in the works, is really to be expected.
Why should those opposed to these really outrageous plans, bother to turn up at public meetings. The City's use of public funds to defeat opposition to these plans (remember $165K spent on the Wise report to defeat Measure M, and the City Manager's hiring of Malcolm Smith as well as the City Manager's refusing to provide requested public records on a timely or even at all basis, leads those opposed to just give up and not waste their time.
The present Council and planning commission represent a total "developer's dream" world. No longer is Quality of Life even considered in approving of projects. No longer do restrictions in zoning mean anything -- granted will be "overriding considerations" by Council when needed. We really should start comparing Menlo Park to the City of Belle... sure sounds like corruption to me.
Posted by really?
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Aug 11, 2015 at 4:01 pm
really? is a registered user.
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Aug 11, 2015 at 4:01 pm
really? is a registered user.
Ask any developer if Menlo Park is a 'dreamworld' and I think you'd get a radically different response. 40% of the town thinks we're going from utopia to wasteland; 60% thinks we're going from sleepy waste-sites to something much better. Planning commission reflects that.
Posted by Menlo Voter
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Aug 11, 2015 at 4:14 pm
Menlo Voter is a registered user.
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Aug 11, 2015 at 4:14 pm
Menlo Voter is a registered user.
looking on:
you really haven't a clue and you misstate the facts. The Wise report wasn't put up "to defeat Measure M" it was produced to provide objective review of the measure. Just because it didn't back up your skewed belief doesn't mean it was meant to "defeat measure M."
I can tell you from personal experience I am currently dealing with, developers HATE dealing with Menlo Park. They are a HUGE pain in the ass. Definitely NOT a "developer's dream." Especially in the DSP. The requirements are insanely burdensome.
Posted by scorecard
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Aug 12, 2015 at 8:43 am
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Aug 12, 2015 at 8:43 am
@ Dana - Scorecards are great, but how about using a scorecard right now, during the Specific Plan's review process? Why wait?
Where are the public improvements?
Where is the funding plan to pay for them?
How is development shaping up to provide housing?
How is development shaping up to provide new retail (I think the net is negative so far, by the way)?
How do the parking lots downtown look? I see filthy, crumbling surfaces.
