Will a heritage oak impact downtown Menlo’s redevelopment?

Menlo Park’s propensity for all things “oak” has been noted earlier here. And according to Nancy Couperus, a downtown property owner – and founder of the weekly farmer’s market – who has been outspoken during the process to develop  the Menlo Park Downtown Specific Plan, a heritage oak is in danger of being eliminated if the plan goes forward as presented at last night’s community meeting. In her email recap of the proceedings she wrote (in relation to a number of multi-story parking structures that are being proposed) : “Plaza 6, where the Farmers Market is held, remains open for parking, but the end where the large heritage oak tree is located is shown as a retail building.  A number of us spoke to the consultants and City planners about this, and this may be altered because of the importance of the oak tree as the location for Market entertainment and distribution of produce to local organizations, such as Urban Ministry, St. Anthony’s, etc.”