Menlo Park: Second look for secondary units?

I'm surprised the minimum lot size for secondary dwellings is currently set at 6,000 sq. ft. This seems far too small already. If anything, I would hope the minimum would be raised and to take further measures to ensure that (1) secondary units count fully toward current maximum lot coverage limits, and (2) will never extend into current setbacks for single family residential parcels. Maybe those provision area already in the plan. I hope so.

We need to be mindful that these measures which aim to increase residential density, will result in noticeable and permanent changes to the character of our Menlo Park neighborhoods. Is this what we want?

I think this line of thinking has waited to long to be discussed. I think large parcels with secondary units are fine...as long as the units are not so far from the principal residence that they can be loud and a disturbance to neighbors, without impacting teh homeowner. One of the nice things about a smaller parcel is that the homeowner has to deal with the users of the secondary unit. I agree that they cannot be so small that they negatively impact parking, but there are plenty of lots that would be able to build a secondary unit and not impact parking. Perhaps a parking permit system should be put in place in potentially high impact areas if this is a concern.

Commissioner Riggs is absolutely right about the number of small, dangerous secondary housing units in our neighborhood. As housing gets more expensive, large families with grown children have to turn outbuildings into housing for the second generation because there aren't other affordable units. It would be better for people converting outbuildings to housing to be able to do it safely and legally. It would be even better if people with ordinary jobs could afford to buy or rent around here, but that's another story.
More secondary units in the rest of Menlo Park might even relieve some of the housing pressure over here, if they were priced reasonably.

Rental prices are 50-75% more than they were in 2013 in Menlo Park (and in the rest of the Peninsula, too), and it is a hardship for many residents. Personally, several of my friends have had to leave Menlo Park in the last couple of years because they could no longer afford the rent.

Revisiting the second units ordinance makes a lot of sense - they are naturally affordable, have very little impact on the surrounding neighborhood, and benefit both the homeowner and the renter. The rules about overnight parking ensure there will be no impact on street parking, because the residents of the second units will already have a place to store their vehicle overnight. The lot size requirement is superfluous - it's the setback requirement that affects disturbance to the neighbors.

Part of keeping Menlo Park a great place to live is making sure that we provide an option for all kinds of people to live here. Second units won't solve this problem by themselves, but they can help.