Fix the Specific Plan

By Kelly Fergusson, Ph.D., P.E,

Instead of the vibrant, resident-friendly downtown our community envisioned, councilmember incumbents are poised to turn El Camino Real into a monolithic office park. Replacing the expected mixed use (restaurants, retail, hotels, housing, offices), developers exploiting loopholes in the new Specific Plan are poised to build mega-office projects that will leave our downtown gridlocked at rush hour and devoid of life on nights and weekends. El Camino Real's already terrible peak-hour traffic will worsen, forcing even more cut-through traffic into every one of Menlo Park's neighborhoods, from Belle Haven to Sharon Heights.

In 2012, over my objections, councilmembers Kirsten Keith, Richard Cline, and Peter Ohtaki (all currently running for re-election) voted to DOUBLE the zoning density along El Camino Real without obtaining ANY benefits for the city. If elected, I'll work to fix this gaping flaw and restore the City's ability to rein in unbalanced and out-of-character mega-development.

We are in a battle for the soul of Menlo Park. Vote for a councilmember who will stand up for YOUR interests, not just those of big developers.

Thanks for your support!