Tim Sheeper, operator of Menlo Park’s Burgess Aquatics Center, said he expects an agreement will be reached this week with nonprofit SOLO Aquatics.
He said SOLO Chief Chris Hinshaw is reviewing a copy of the final contract, and SOLO swimmers are expected to start using the aquatics center this week.
SOLO is guaranteed access to the $3.4 million publicly funded facility in the contract between the city and Mr. Sheeper’s for-profit organization, Menlo Swim and Sport LLC.
Negotiations had previously stalled between the two groups, and Mr. Hinshaw had told the Almanac he may file a formal complaint to the city charging Mr. Sheeper with restricting access to the pools.
Opposed to BevMo
Menlo Park alcohol retailers aren’t the only businesses opposed to nationwide alcohol retailer Beverages and More (BevMo) opening a store in downtown Menlo Park, according to a recent letter.A letter signed by 65 local businesses was mailed to Menlo Park residents last week, urging residents to oppose the issuance of a use permit for BevMo to move into the former Dal Baffo restaurant site at 878 Santa Cruz Ave.
The letter, which isn’t credited to a specific group, echoes arguments made in a previous letter authored by the Menlo Park Purveyors of Wines and Spirits, a group of six local alcohol vendors including Beltramo’s Wine and Spirits and Draeger’s.
Beltramo’s and Draeger’s are also among the 65 businesses listed on the most-recent letter.
Many of the businesses opposed to BevMo’s application are located in the downtown area, such as Carpaccio, Cafe Borrone and Kepler’s Books and Magazines.
BevMo’s application could go before the Planning Commission later this month, said city staff. The City Council would consider the application if the commission’s decision is appealed.
Against Derry project
Menlo Park Tomorrow, a group of residents who have opposed past development projects, are calling on residents to oppose the Derry project, a condo-commercial project approved by the City Council August 29.In an advertisement in this week’s Almanac, the group says the project — which calls for 135 condominiums and 22,525 square feet of commercial space on a 3.5-acre site between El Camino Real and the Caltrain station — will lead to “the Manhattanization of Menlo Park.”
The development, and other high-density residential projects, will increase traffic and overburden schools, says the group.
Resident Chuck Bernstein, who placed the advertisement, could not be reached for comment before the Almanac’s deadline.
Zoning meeting
A working group of residents, city officials and members of the business community are scheduled to discuss, on September 14, how to “clean up” Menlo Park’s zoning laws.The group will not discuss changing the city’s general plan, but will focus on “cleaning up” smaller, procedural details associated with the city’s zoning categories and regulations, according to Assistant Planner Thomas Rogers.
The meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Burgess Recreation Center at 800 Alma St.
