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September 5, 2010

Bled Hard

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Here are the links to the downtown vision plan, , including the specific plans at their current stage.

I realize that those of you who don’t live in Menlo Park and aren’t getting advanced degrees in Urban Planning probably don’t give a crap about this. But you’ll have to just imagine that it’s your current town that’s undergoing a similar revision. And if you’re in New York City or something, then I’m so, so sorry.

4 Responses to “Bled Hard”

  1. I have Glen Beck and Sarah Palin running around down here. I have it worse.

  2. Michael C. Chen says:

    Where’s your honor? Restore it.

  3. laura says:

    this all reads like a progressive 2010 master plan update. widening sidewalks, traffic-calming with medians and “bump-outs”, denser residential use near transit, and increased bicycle infrastructure are all standard issue these days, and i think that’s great. the land use plan looks pretty restrictive– note how many uses require permits from the planning council, which allows them to use discretion on liquor stores, day cares, churches, etc. the code also has a lot to say about what building facades can LOOK like, which is pretty common in small, upscale towns.

    very little mention of affordable housing, and seemingly no mandate to increase the number of affordable units. :( you can get the same density bonus for building a small park as for including senior or affordable housing in your development.

  4. Michael C. Chen says:

    Yes. It is clear that the city council and planning committees are pretty uptight about controlling details. There isn’t a lot of land to go around, which means landowners hold a lot of bargaining leverage. The restrictions are the landowners concerns about market values for their property, as well as overall town character. Those concerns are embodied in the stranglehold over details.

    Sad news: there are affordable housing rules in place, sort of, but they really mean nothing. If you have enough influence and power (which in this town, doesn’t require much), you can bend the city government to your will and wriggle out of the requirements. See:

    http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7274

    Comments lend some insight into how BMR ‘in-lieu’ fees get pushed through and disappear into city coffers, while BMR housing itself is shifty. Affordable housing in Menlo Park is the punchline.

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What's a Third Antarctic Journey?

The Third Antarctic Journals is Michael C. Chen's blog on science, religion, and other reflections of his life that are designed to bore even his closest family and friends, one day at a time.


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