he Menlo Park Planning Commission last week gave a green light to a plan to build a small-scale office building on the current site of a parking lot at 638-640 Oak Grove Avenue near El Camino Real.
The commission voted 6-0-1 to approve the architecture and grant a use permit, with Commissioner Mike O'Donnell abstaining, at its March 5 meeting.
Bob Larson, who plans to build the 3,385-square-foot, two-story office building, said he was very happy with the commission's decision.
Mr. Larson first took his project before the commission in January, and the majority of commissioners said they wanted to see the building's appearance modified to form a better transition to a neighboring apartment building.
Among other suggestions, the commission recommended that a 30-foot tower be shortened.
Mr. Larson presented the commission with a revised design that includes a 28.5-foot tower. The height of the rest of the building was reduced from 27.5 feet to 26.5 feet.
Senior Planner Tracy Kramer said the commission instructed Mr. Larson to work with the owner of the apartment complex to create a landscape screening between the two buildings.
Commissioner O'Donnell said he approves of the building's design, but abstained from a vote because he doesn't like the elimination of two parking spaces used by patrons of Round Table Pizza at 1225 El Camino Real. Mr. Larson also owns and operates the pizza business, which is adjacent to the office building site.
"The pizza use is fairly intense," Mr. O'Donnell said.
When completed, the first floor of the office building will have an elevator and lobby; the second floor will be devoted to office space.
Three covered parking spaces will be located near the lobby, with 17 more spaces in the building's rear lot. Motorists will reach the lot through a driveway on Oak Grove Avenue that is adjacent to the lobby. They would exit on El Camino after passing through the Round Table lot.
