Menlo home-building rules: Referendum signatures top 2,500, city says Menlo home-building rules: Referendum signatures top 2,500, city says (February 25, 2004)

Menlo Park city officials say the number of signatures on a petition to overturn a new set of home-building rules total 2,536, well over the 1,700 needed.

After reviewing the petitions, which were submitted to Menlo Park City Hall earlier this month, City Clerk Silvia Vonderlinden sent them to San Mateo County elections officials, who are comparing them against the voter rolls. Signers must be registered Menlo Park voters.

County officials expect to finish the job this week, elections manager David Tom said.

If the signatures are verified, the City Council must then decide at the next scheduled meeting whether to rescind the home-building rules or to have the voters decide whether to overturn them, either at a special election or the next scheduled election.

Councilwoman Mickie Winkler, a champion of the new rules, last week declined to say what she thought the council should do if the signatures are verified. She said, "I'm committed to this ordinance," but expressed concern about the cost of an election.

The controversial plan includes a rule-based framework for the approval process for new homes and major remodels. Supporters say it's fair and will encourage the remodeling of aging homes, while critics say it will lead to more outsized housing.

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