Last Update: August 1, 2018

Historical Context

In July 2008 the Menlo Park City Council unanimously accepted the El Camino Real / Downtown Vision Plan. “This document  reflects the vision of the Menlo Park community for its Downtown and the El Camino Real corridor and was developed through intensive outreach and discussion. The Vision Plan is intended to serve as a starting point for further discussion and community planning”.

In 2013 Menlo Park approved its Specific Plan which was largely completed in 2012. This document focuses on improving the commercial, civic and social vitality of three areas; vitality is a measure of how well these areas attract and serve residents, businesses and visitors with e.g., shopping, dining, entertainment, public spaces and transportation.

• The Downtown Santa Cruz district between El Camino Real and University, Oak Grove and Menlo Avenues.
• All parcels along the full length of El Camino Real.
• The train station area between Ravenswood, Oak Grove, Alma and El Camino Avenues.

The  Specific Plan includes many elements.

1. Visionary objectives.
2. Examples and illustrations of desired private and public investments.
3. New regulations for individual and total commercial developments.
4. A General Environmental Impact Report that evaluates the expected impacts of allowable commercial developments.
5. A wishlist of potential civic investments that merit comprehensive evaluations, e.g., parking, bike improvements

Disappointing Progress Since 2012

The Vision Plan established a set of key objectives for private and public investments in the areas affected by the Specific Plan. While commercial development has accelerated due to the robust economy, public investment has significantly lagged for almost six years. It’s hard to justify an overall progress grade of more than a “D”.

1. Village City Character:  There has never been broad agreement on what “village character” actually means and where this goal actually applies. Downtown but not El Camino? (Grade: ???)
2. East-West Connectivity: No improvements have been made and vehicle traffic problems have worsened due to the economy and many large development projects both at Stanford University and in Redwood City. The city has also has not selected an acceptable solution for future grade separations at Caltrain rail crossings. (Grade: F)
3. El Camino Real Circulation: No improvements have been despite the city spending almost $0.5M on the El Camino Corridor Study, and traffic problems have significantly worsened. (Grade: F)
4. Neighborhood Context: The many approved commercial developments on El Camino are compatible with the Specific Plan; there has been almost no significant commercial development downtown. (Grade: C)
5. Vacant and Underutilized Parcels on El Camino Real: 2018 marks the first year of significant commercial developments; the two major ones should be completed by 2020. (Grade: A)
6. Train Station Area: No significant improvements; one major commercial developments approved in 2018; the future vitality of this area has been ignored during the evaluation of future grade separations – possibly at both Ravenswood and Oak Grove. (Grade: F) 
7. Santa Cruz Avenue Pedestrian Character: No meaningful improvements. (Grade: F)
8. Downtown Vibrancy: Downtown street dining finally approved in 2017. (Grade: A) The 3-year “parklet” experiment – first on Chestnut and then on Crane –  was a total disaster. (Grade: F)
9. Housing: One new development completed in 2014; high-end housing (Middle Plaza, Station 1300) underway; very little affordable housing. (Grade: C)
10. Open Space: Assuming this refers to public infrastructure, no significant improvements have been made. (Grade: F)
11. Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation: No significant improvements. Minor improvements with University and Oak Grove bike lanes,. No progress on most critical problems. (Grade: C)
12. Parking: No significant improvements. The pursuit of a downtown parking structure remains a “pipe dream”. No consideration of satellite parking for daily permit users who monopolize the downtown parking plazas. (Grade: F)

Mixed Progress In 2018

El Camino Vitality & Attractiveness. Ensure all new developments produce the maximum practical NET benefits for Menlo Park re: aesthetics, traffic impact, public benefits.

 Progress – Grade: A

• The approved Middle Plaza multi-use development has a much improved design and construction started July 2018. (El Camino)
• Construction of  the Station 1300 multi-use development is well underway. (El Camino)
• Construction of a 63-room boutique hotel at 1400 El Camino – the Park James Hotel – is  near completion in July 2018.
• Plans approved for office/retail/housing complex at 506-556 Santa Cruz Avenue/1125 Merrill Street. (Train Station area)
• Construction of a small office building at 1020 Alma is underway.
• Guild Theater entertainment venue approved May 2018. (El Camino)

Downtown Vitality and Attractiveness.

Progress – Grade: D Minus

• A 3-year field trial of a small “park” on Crane was so poorly conceived, planned and implemented that residents and businesses forced its removal. (Grade: F)
• A study of a downtown parking structure is underway despite no formal justification, indication of likely funding sources nor the consideration of alternative parking solutions. (Grade: D)
• Given the robust local economy the overall progress in attracting a more appealing mix of downtown businesses remains disappointing. The only exception: Coffeebar Menlo Park on Crane (Grade: (Grade: A)
• The success of downtown street dining program has not been evaluated; nor have modifications been considered. (Grade: E)

Community Bike Network.

Progress – Grade: C Minus

• New bike lanes on University are beneficial (Grade A); the value of ones on Oak Grove will likely offer only minor benefits and the current field trial is poorly defined. (Grade: C)
• No public reviews of the Middle Avenue Pedestrian-Bike Crossing project since May 2017. (Grade: F)
• Ravenswood Avenue is the most popular route for adult bicyclists crossing El Camino. Although a separate bike path could be built on City property between El Camino and Laurel and on SRI property between Laurel and Middlefield the City Council has refused to consider this major improvement. (Note: Bike lanes should be required as part of the Ravenswood grade separation project.) (Grade: F)

Traffic Management. Develop policy and programs that encourage alternatives to single passenger vehicle and mitigate neighborhood impacts.

Progress – Grade F

• No apparent progress at the city level
• Greenheart will provide its residents Caltrain commuter passes.

Stanford plans????

Grade Separations. Develop a grade separation plan for Ravenswood, Oak Grove, Glenwood and Encinal Avenues.

Progress – Grade: D

• The City has selected an alternative that only separates Ravenswood. (Grade E)
• The City did not study alternatives that fully elevated rail over Ravenswood, Oak Grove and Glenwood (Grade: F) but in May decided to do so. (Grade: B); still waiting for approval.

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