Menlo Park Planning Commission to consider Specific Plan amendments May 18

On Monday, May 18, beginning at 7:00 pm, the Menlo Park Planning Commission is scheduled to consider a recommendation that the City Council approve amendments to the El Camino Real/Downtown Specific Plan.

The proposed amendments are focused on the following updates:

• Expanding allowed land uses along Santa Cruz Avenue to encourage more types of businesses between the Caltrain station and University Drive within the Downtown/Station Area “Main Street” Overlay;
• Updating and clarifying definitions for four land use types: business services, personal improvement services, personal services – general, and personal services – restricted, across the entire Specific Plan area;
• Revising the plan’s public benefit requirements to allow existing buildings within the Main Street Overlay to satisfy their public benefit obligations through an in-lieu payment, where a building is requesting bonus level floor area ratio for office uses.

Please attend the hearing to learn more about the proposed Specific Plan amendments and to share your feedback.

Photo by Miya Yu / M-A Chronicle; storefronts in downtown Menlo Park.