Derry Referendum

By Vincent Bressler

The Derry Lane referendum succeeded because many Menlo Park voters have legitimate concerns that their long term interests have been overlooked by the people who run our city.

I was at the city council meeting on August 29 and had at least an hour to review the project document for Derry. After speaking to the council and listening to their deliberation, it became depressingly clear to me that those who voted in favor of this zoning change had no idea what they were giving away. Housing density was almost tripled from general plan specifications for this project, maximum height went from thirty to fifty feet, retail space was minimal, traffic problems significant, impact on schools assumed to be negligible. There were no significant mitigations to any of this and only a standard recreation fee with no plan for more parks or fields nearby for all these new residents.

A conservative analysis of the costs and revenues per housing unit provided by the developer indicate that the city gave away eighteen million dollars in net value to the developer and land owner with the Derry Lane rezoning. The city did not conduct its own evaluation, and the council majority was apparently unaware of the facts underlying this transaction. I understand that the Derry project went through years of process, but what good is that process if the city's interest is not on the table?

It is impossible for the city to negotiate a fair deal for any project without an analysis of what the city is giving away and what the city should expect in return. Private businesses will negotiate in their own best interests, but someone needs to be looking out for the best interests of Menlo Park. After reviewing Derry and other projects that involve rezoning, I have found that the people who run Menlo Park do not appreciate the value of the zoning entitlements that they are giving out. Derry is simply the latest and most egregious example.