SRI takes plan for new office, lab space to council SRI takes plan for new office, lab space to council (December 01, 2004)

Early last year, SRI International put on hold its sweeping plans to renovate its research park to the tune of $250 million to $400 million, citing concerns about the gloomy economy.

This week, SRI officials will be back before the Menlo Park City Council on November 30 with a much smaller plan.

While the old plans at one time included adding hundreds of new employees and creating a small housing development on the campus' perimeter, the current proposal is to build a 27,498-square-foot addition to one building.

Building T is about 23,000 square feet and is in the southeast portion of SRI, neighboring the United States Geological Survey and several multi-family residences. Under the plan, the building would get a new office wing and laboratory space, as well as an 8-foot-tall mezzanine for new mechanical equipment, associate planner Julie Thompson wrote in a staff report.

The project would require the removal of 24 trees, including 17 heritage trees, Ms. Thompson wrote. In exchange, SRI would plant 34 new trees.

The city's Planning Commission voted 6-0 in October to recommend that the council support the project. Lou Deziel recused himself from the vote because he lives within 500 feet of SRI. No one from the public spoke on the project, Ms. Thompson wrote.

SRI officials have indicated that they anticipate submitting a new plan for renovating the research park some time in the future, Ms. Thompson noted.

The November 30 council meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 701 Laurel St. For more information on the SRI project, go to www.menlopark.org, click on "City Council," and go to the November 30 agenda.

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