Menlo Park City Council to consider Specific Plan amendments June 23

On Tuesday, June 23, beginning at 6:00 pm, the Menlo Park City Council is scheduled to consider adoption of 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 across the entire Specific Plan area, including: business services, personal improvement services, personal services — general, and personal services — restricted
• 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

On Monday, May 18, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the amendments with two changes:

• Maintain the banks and financial institutions use classification as not allowed within the Downtown/Station Area “Main Street” Overlay land use designation
• Allow the commercial recreation — small scale use classification as a conditional use within the Main Street Overlay

Attend the meeting to learn more about the proposed Specific Plan amendments and share your feedback.