City of Menlo Park finds 80 Willow Road project inconsistent with development standards
The City of Menlo Park continues to process the development application at 80 Willow Road, referred to as “Willow Park.”
On November 7, the City completed its review of the latest development application which was resubmitted on October 10 pursuant to AB 2011 and the Builder’s Remedy (refer to the “Frequently asked questions” section of the project webpage to learn more).
The application was reviewed for consistency with development standards and the City found the application to be inconsistent for multiple items identified by the Planning, Housing, Building, and Engineering Divisions, as well as the City Arborist. A determination of inconsistency does not amount to a denial of the project.
The City has determined that the application is not eligible for streamlined processing under AB 2011 and continues to evaluate the assertion of application filing under the Builder’s Remedy.
With regard to environmental review, the City Council approved a professional services contract for LSA Associates to perform the required environmental analysis on May 13. The environmental review work is pending the applicant’s submission of a required deposit for the environmental review work.
The public may view the application materials, including architectural drawings, in person at City Hall, preferably by an appointment which can be made online.
Chris Ziegler November 09, 2025 at 4:29 am
Can’t Menlo Park just say “NO” to this project?
I lived in the Willows for 50 years and can’t imagine such a disturbing
building protruding into the visible space of a lovely residential town.
I’m sure the residents would give a resounding No tu this project if it were put up for a vote.
Kevin Kranen November 09, 2025 at 1:54 pm
@Chris,
The city can only say ‘NO’ on highly-specific grounds, based on the project’s failure to meet objective standards, outside the usual zoning/density/height restriction, because this project was submitted as a Builders Remedy project. There is perhaps positive news in the inconsistencies with city development standards.
FYI – The Builders Remedy is penalty/cure for cities that fail to deliver a state-mandated and approved Housing Element (8 year housing plan) on time. Menlo Park was reasonably diligent in developing the plan, but missed several components and plus had some addtional state challenges associated with the failed Measure V referendum, that forced several re-submissions after the due date for a state-certified plan. 80 Willow and the problems that come with it, are a reminder that we have to fix our broken housing situation (5 jobs for every 1 housing unit) on schedule, or the state and developers will fix it for us.
Charlotte Muse November 09, 2025 at 5:07 pm
If this enormous complex is built, no one in either Palo Alto or Menlo Park will be able to reach 101, the major north-south traffic artery. Traffic on Willow Road leading into it is already bumper to bumper during rush hour, and people who live on Willow Road have a very hard time getting out of their driveways during those times. The Willows neighborhood will also be destroyed by people flooding through it, trying to circumvent the traffic.
It is like setting down the equivalent of another city right in the middle of Menlo Park, which is unprepared — what city is prepared for something like this?– to handle the huge increase in traffic and the drain on public systems.
I see by Kevin Kranen’s explanation that Menlo Park didn’t come up with a housing plan on time. What are our options? Do we have any? This is so obviously out of scale and disruptive I can’t believe it can be forced on us.