Belle Haven housing plan under the spotlight Belle Haven housing plan under the spotlight (August 10, 2005)

** Project calls for 20 BMR units for teachers, public employees.

By Renee Batti

Almanac News Editor

On the heels of endorsing a high-density, 12-unit housing development on Willow Road last month, the Menlo Park Planning Commission earlier this week reviewed a plan to rezone a portion of Hamilton Avenue to build 47 houses -- 20 of which will be below-market rate, giving purchasing preference to teachers, city employees, health-care workers and local firefighters.

The meeting took place on Monday night, after the Almanac's press time.

The project -- between Henderson Avenue and Chilco Street -- several blocks from Willow Road -- will include a 0.92-acre city park.

The number of below-market-rate homes planned for the 6.2-acre site far exceeds the percentage of BMR units required by the city for housing developments.

The Hamilton Avenue project in the city's redevelopment zone has been many years in the planning. The city, through its redevelopment agency, acquired the collection of parcels from various landowners, including a church congregation, a cabinet-maker, a heating and ventilation firm, and plumbing and painting companies. Existing structures were torn down and soil contamination was mitigated.

In addition to a change in zoning from apartment district to apartment district/conditional development and open space/conservation, the project requires a general plan amendment. All such changes require final approval by the City Council.

The commission on August 8 reviewed the project's draft environmental impact report as well as other details of the plan. The draft EIR identified several areas requiring measures to reduce significant environmental impacts, including hydrology and water quality, air quality and biological resources.

Increased noise and traffic congestion were cited in the draft EIR as "significant unavoidable impacts" of the project.

The public-comment period for the draft EIR ends at the close of the business day on August 15. For more information, log on at www.menlopark.org.

As with all projects involving zoning and general plan amendments, City Council approval is required.
Willow Road housing

On June 25, the commission unanimously sent to the City Council a recommendation to allow Jeff Warmoth of Benchmark Homes to build 12 three-story, single-family houses on a 0.9-acre property on Willow Road at Bay Road.

To do so, the council would have to amend the general plan and the zoning ordinance, changing the designation of the land from restrictive neighborhood/commercial to high-density residential/conditional development.

Under the plan, two of the units would be below-market rate.

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