Bohannon proposes hotel, office complex near 101 Bohannon proposes hotel, office complex near 101 (September 21, 2005)

** The project could take 15 to 20 years to complete.

By Rory Brown

Almanac Staff Writer

In the midst of preparations for Stanford's proposed 265,000-square-foot hotel and office project near Interstate 280, another major Menlo Park project is in the making, albeit much farther down the road.

Bohannon Development Co. is proposing the construction of a 125-room hotel, an associated fitness center, several restaurants, and approximately 514,543 square feet of office space near Marsh Road and U.S. 101.

David Bohannon II, the company's president and CEO, is asking the city to rezone two sites -- at 100-190 Independence Drive and 101-135 Constitution Drive -- to a new mixed-use commercial business park (M-3) zoning to permit the new uses. The sites total 13.5 acres.

Under the plan, existing buildings would be demolished, and new facilities built. Construction could go on over a period of 10 to 12 years, and the entire project might take 15 to 20 years to complete, said Mr. Bohannon.

Large portions of the facilities are currently vacant, he said. The remaining space is occupied by several tenants, including a law firm, research and development companies, and Mr. Bohannon's company while its San Mateo offices are being remodeled.

A City Council study session is tentatively set for October 4 with the goal to release a draft environmental impact report (EIR) in November, said the city's development services manager Justin Murphy.

On July 14, an EIR "scoping" session was conducted by city staff and environmental consultants at the Menlo Park Senior Center in Belle Haven. A potential increase of cut-through traffic in residential areas was the chief concern of five people who spoke, said Mr. Murphy.

"There is a tendency to say no to office projects based on a concern of traffic," said Mr. Bohannon. "It's a legitimate concern, but while we're saying no, our neighbors are moving ahead and reaping the benefits."

Traffic has been a primary concern for the proposed Stanford/Rosewood hotel and office complex at Sand Hill Road and I-280. Plans include a 120-room hotel with five extended-stay villas, a restaurant and a spa and fitness center, plus a 100,000-square-foot office complex.

Although both projects would establish a 120-room hotel and office complex near a major freeway, Mayor Mickie Winkler said there is room for both sites to be successful.

"These are totally different projects in different parts of town," she said. "The Rosewood project is a very high-end hotel; it's a resort. The [U.S.] 101 project is much more of a business-oriented hotel."
Hotel shortage

"There's a shortage of good hotel space in Menlo Park and the surrounding areas," said Mr. Bohannon. "I've stayed in a Rosewood Hotel in Dallas, and we're not visiting that type of facility. This will be a businessman's hotel."

The same firm, EIP Associates, is preparing the environmental reports for both projects, said Mr. Murphy.

Five years ago, Mr. Bohannon proposed a 127,000-square-foot office complex at 105-135 Constitution Drive that would have required changes to the city's zoning ordinances, but the City Council voted 3-2 to reject the plan. Then council members Mary Jo Borak, Steve Schmidt and Paul Collacchi voted against the proposal, and Nicholas Jellins and Chuck Kinney voted in favor.

Mr. Schmidt told the Almanac at the time that he did not support the project because of the city's "housing-to-jobs-imbalance." Further commercial development in Menlo Park would create jobs faster than the city could accommodate more residents or traffic, he said.

"The majority argued [that] office [space] didn't offer favorable benefits to the city, but they were unable to substantiate what kind of benefits they were looking for," said Mr. Bohannon. "We need first-class office space to attract and retain the very best companies in the region."

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