Measure V, Menlo Park’s single-family zoning ballot initiative, is headed for defeat after a contentious and expensive campaign.
As of noon on Nov. 9, only 2,601 yes votes, or 40.3%, were reported by the San Mateo County Elections Office, while no votes were ahead 3,856 votes, or 59.7%.
Measure V, a citizen-sponsored initiative on the November ballot, aimed to restrict the Menlo Park City Council’s ability to rezone single-family lots to higher density.
If it passed, the city would have to put any rezoning of lots zoned “R1” to a citywide vote in a regularly scheduled election. Proponents of the ballot measure say that will give residents a voice in what happens to their neighborhoods, as opposed to letting the City Council make decisions. Opponents warn it will block future development, particularly of low-income housing, in most of the city.
The election over Measure V has been contentious, and No on V is one of the area’s highest-funded campaigns, raking in over $400,000.
Representatives for the campaign against the ballot initiative were excited over the results on election night, and said that they are eager to see the final vote count.
“We’re pleased and we hope that it holds,” campaign volunteer Karen Grove said. “And we’re pleased to be together and celebrating each other as well.”
Nicole Chessari, who has spearheaded the effort to pass Measure V, said Tuesday night that she was eager to see updated results.
“I think it’s still early and I don’t know what the results will show, so we are still anxious to see how it shows up,” Chessari said.
Email Staff Writer Cameron Rebosio at crebosio@almanacnews.com.
