Stanford Changes Plans for El Camino Real Project

Stanford University altered its plans for a strip of land on El Camino Real, after Menlo Park residents vocalized their perspectives about the project’s impact on the community. 

“Our revised plan reflects a considerable evolution of the project to positively respond to the community feedback received,” said Steve Elliot, Stanford’s Managing Director of Development.

“We believe these changes address the suggestions we have heard and ensure that it sustains Menlo Park’s village character,” Elliiot said.

Stanford proposed to convert the land between 300-550 El Camino Real into a mix of buildings that would be used for retail, medical, and housing. The Planning Commission reviewed the proposal for the the 8.43 acres of land on January 28, 2013 to assess it for its adherence to the new land use guidelines outlined in the city’s Draft Specific Plan, which was approved by City Council in June 2012.  Since then, Menlo Park residents shared their concerns with City Council en masse.

Menlo Park residents Hugh and Jean Macdonald said in a letter to City Councilmembers that the project would increase traffic on the roads and reduce the quality of life in Menlo Park.

“Who will want to live and work and visit stores here?" the Macdonalds wrote. "I know many people who avoid Palo Alto's crowdedness and shop instead in Menlo.  Planning is your job and so please do it well.  Or else be transparent about your plan to allow Menlo's main thoroughfare  become a clogged artery waiting for an attack and death of the heart,” the Macdonalds said.

Although the specifics of the project are not set in stone, the initial proposal would have created 229,500 sq. ft. of office space, and 203,700 sq. ft. of housing space on the land.

The developer wanted to place two five-story residential buildings on the north end of the property, with parking located underground, according to the staff report prepared for the Planning Commission.  The original amount of housing units could have been between 136-152.  Elliot announced Wednesday that the amount of housing units to be included in the projectwill increase to 170.

The middle and south portions of the land were slated to hold two four-story, and one three-story office buildings, with parking for shoppers at ground level.  The amount of office space was reduced Wednesday by 30,000 sq. ft. to 199,500 sq. ft.

“These changes are estimated to have more than 35% reduction to daily car trips as compared to the previous proposal submitted in January 2013,” Elliot said.

The revised plan also provides a pedestrian and bicycle route from the El Camino Real to the future bike tunnel.  

Menlo Park’s City Council is scheduled to review this project on April 16, 2013.

You can read the letter to Stanford University in the .pdf attached to this article.

What do you think about this project? Scroll down and tell us in the comments. 

More on Patch:

MP Officials Vote For More Control Over City Water System 

San Mateo County Homeless to Get Rental Assistance

El Camino Real Lanes To Close

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