The Menlo Park Planning Commission met on Monday evening for one of its last meetings of the year. The Commission considered several proposals for continued development of residential homes and an ambitious plan to remodel the office spaces on Sand Hill Rd.
Residential Constructions and Demolition Approved
Items FI-F3 concerned construction on personal dwellings, with the Commission approving proposed renovations and the demolition of existing homes.
The Commission kicked off by approving a request from Marco Buro to begin construction of an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and interior modifications to a single-story home on Marmona Drive. The Commission noted that the lot is under 5,000 square feet, therefore requiring a permit to set the floor-limit area, which is the proportion of residential living space to the total size of the lot.
The Commission agreed that the project met zoning requirements and building codes, and also qualified for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption, which allows certain infrastructure to disregard environmental regulations if they meet certain criteria, such as being under a certain square footage.
Two-Story Home on Euclid Avenue
The second agenda item concerned the proposed demolition of a one-story home on Euclid Avenue to make way for a new two-story house. The remodel also proposed converting an existing structure on the property into an ADU. The Commission affirmed that the project is eligible for construction under CEQA and adopted the recommendation.
Two-Story Home with ADU on Henderson Avenue
The Commission’s third agenda item was a proposal from applicant Ali Fahmy, a local contractor, to demolish a single-story home on Henderson Avenue. The applicant hoped to demolish the existing structure to rebuild a new two-story house with an ADU. The applicant’s lot was identified as substandard, requiring him to obtain a use permit. Substandard refers to buildings that don’t adhere to all state and local ordinances. Use permits are obtained by substandard buildings before they can start construction.
Along with the other proposals, the Henderson Avenue demolition was exempt from review under CEQA, meaning that the proposed remodel and ADU addition would not require discretionary approval. Ultimately, the Commission voted to adopt the recommendation.
Architectural Plans For Sand Hill Road Offices
In what was the most complicated issue of the evening, the Commission discussed plans to revise existing approvals for office spaces on Sand Hill Road. The extension includes a proposed second-story bridge that would connect two large office buildings. Based on the blueprints displayed at the meeting, the bridge is intended for pedestrian use only. Additionally, the proposed Sand Hill remodel would slightly increase the property’s square footage, including the addition of fencing, security infrastructure, and modest landscaping modifications.
Unlike the other proposals, the Sand Hill Remodel was subjected to different standards, as it is zoned for corporate use. However, the Commission agreed that the project qualifies for CEQA exemption. Commissioners ultimately decided to approve the project with the revised permits and architectural modifications to ensure the project doesn’t take away from the character of its neighborhood.
The Commission will reconvene on Dec. 15 for their last meeting.
