Menlo Park city rules to be eased Menlo Park city rules to be eased (May 18, 2005)for commercial projects

Rules for commercial development are still being eased in Menlo Park, but in some areas the streamlining will likely be less dramatic.

Under a plan given the go-ahead by the City Council on May 9, many businesses would no longer need a public hearing at the Planning Commission to get a permit to make structural alterations.

Originally, city staff had recommended that businesses in shopping and commercial zones in the El Camino Real and Willow Road areas would need only a building permit to make those changes. But in a compromise pushed by Councilwoman Kelly Fergusson, the council agreed that many of those projects would still have to be reviewed by planning department staff.

Structural alterations that also include changing the building's use to professional offices or financial services would need that extra review. Ms. Fergusson said she was concerned that such changes would deprive the city of the sales-tax revenue it gets from retail.

The council voted 4-1 to support the plan, which will later need formal council approval. Andy Cohen dissented, saying the Planning Commission process is quicker than during the dot-com boom and thus not such a hindrance for businesses.

The streamlining measures, which also include eliminating the need for commission review for many projects in the M-2 industrial area, will be revisited by the council next year.

For a staff report, go to menlopark.org, click on "City Council" and go to the May 9 meeting agenda.

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