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Menlo Park residents have submitted enough signatures to force a citywide vote on an ordinance that would require voter approval before Menlo Park could build housing on its downtown parking lots.
On Oct. 10, Save Downtown Menlo submitted 3,440 signatures, around 60% more than required to force the initiative to go before voters. Once the city verifies it has enough valid signatures, the Menlo Park City Council will have three choices: call a special election, submit the ordinance for the Nov. 3 2026, election or adopt the ordinance outright.
The proposed “Downtown Parking Plazas Ordinance” would require a citywide vote before the council could lease, sell or otherwise repurpose any of Menlo Park’s downtown parking lots. Routine maintenance, improvements that preserve or expand parking and short-term community uses such as farmers markets would still be allowed.
The measure aims to block the city’s controversial plan to pursue affordable-housing projects on some of the parking lots, a key element of Menlo Park’s state-mandated Housing Element. In early 2025, the city sought proposals from developers to build affordable units downtown, but following strong resident backlash, the council delayed declaring the lots “surplus land,” a necessary legal step before transferring public property for housing.
In May, Save Downtown Menlo launched the efforts to get an initiative after the city council maintained its support for using the parking lots to meet its housing goals. Save Downtown Menlo argues that the loss of parking would be detrimental to local businesses and the city did not exhaust consideration of alternative sites.
Opponents of the initiative say that Menlo Park’s housing plan included careful consideration of alternative sites and public input.
The city continued to move forward with the plan in September by issuing a request for proposals to some developers for plans for the parking lots.
This is not the first time an initiative has been launched to block a housing development in Menlo Park. Measure V in 2022, sought to require citywide votes on zoning changes for single-family parcels. That measure failed with only 38% support.
Save Downtown Menlo has collected signatures at local events, Draeger’s Market and the Sharon Heights Shopping Center. Residents were also able to sign the petition at some local businesses.
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“Opponents of the initiative say that Menlo Park’s housing plan included careful consideration of alternative sites and public input.”
There is no evidence to support these two claims. Ask the City to provide a well-reasoned published analyses of individual housing sites proposed by our community, e.g., at the Civic Center, and rejected by the Council, and it cannot provide one because the Council and city planning staff have displayed no genuine interest in finding them.
“Ask the City to provide a well-reasoned published analyses of individual housing sites proposed by our community, e.g., at the Civic Center, and rejected by the Council, and it cannot provide one because the Council and city planning staff have displayed no genuine interest in finding them.”
And this is why we are here. The council is trying to shove this project down our throats. Had they actually produced a study and clear evidence that other potential sites had been consider and rejected and why they were it would be a different story. The council works for us, not the other way around. The problem they seem to think they can do whatever they want whether it coincides with what the citizens they work for want. We will remember this when they are up for reelection.
Menlo Voter:
We agree on this topic. Thanks
The Flood Park/ Ravenwood Project according to emails I requested from the Fire District – MP, showed the city, attempting to waive the California Fire Code, for a power-line that crossed their proposed main entrance. This was never disclosed by the city or the developer, until identified. All MP Council Members had that information, while hearing the Planning Commission’s decision. The MP Fire Inspection Report contained the CFC requirement. In addition, PGE also provided a review and evaluation.
Summary:
The council will do anything to get these projects built, showing their bias.
The courts are the only true, fair, review of these projects. Please make them safe for all, and city, be open transparent. Also, to bury this power line will cost us taxpayers, since, the developer refuses to pay in the millions. This developer has bid for the Downtown Project too.
PS.
This developer refuses to use union labor.
This is nonsense. While there’s an affordability crisis and young people leave state because they can’t afford to buy or lease housing, the NIMBYs keep preventing new housing from being built in the middle of Silicon Valley.
We need more housing. Build it.
I encourage readers to learn more about the reasons a large number of residents and local businesses support this ballot initiative . View my Almanac blog post “Downtown Menlo Park Affordable Housing Plan Faces New Challenges” (October 14, 2025).
https://www.almanacnews.com/blogs/creating-a-more-vibrant-menlo-park/2025/10/13/downtown-menlo-park-affordable-housing-plan-faces-new-challenges/
Ronen:
how about we build a high rise next to where you live?