Parking is scarce enough on Santa Cruz.
Sidewalks are already to narrow and difficult for handicapped to traverse. This will also make it more dangerous bicycle riders and our children.

Another bad idea from the city which loves to give all to businesses while taking from the residents.

This is a great way to ad some vibrancy to downtown.

Contrary to whatevers comment, it sounds like these space will allow for outdoor seating without blocking the side walk as several currently do.

I would also add that adding features makes our downtown nicer, which I see as a much needed benefit in our dilapidated downtown.

Finally, MP has plenty of parking. If there is not a space available on SCA there certainly is in one of the lots on menlo or oak grove. I've never had to spend more than 5 minutes find an parking space downtown, no mater the time of day rain or shine.

Did you just read the headline and form an opinion? Your issues are not issues at all. You made up stuff and never bothered to check if you were correct in your assumptions. Sounds like Menlo has all the bases covered on this one. Lets do it!

I was not happy that Left Bank could take over 2 parking spaces. I frequently shop at Walgreen's for prescriptions and too often find it hard to find parking close to the store. although I'm disabled, I try to avoid disabled parking spaces because there are others worse off than I am. The loss of those 2 spaces is already a problem and the idea that Menlo Park would add to that problem is outrageous. I'm still puzzled as to how Left Bank was able to finagle taking over those 2 valuable parking spaces just to provide more seating for its patrons!

@whatever

What did I make up? My observations are mine, as is my opinion.
I didn't bring up any issues, just support for the project.

@John, why not just use the disabled spaces, that is why they are there. You could also try parking behind Walgreens, I never had an issue parking in that lot.

Does anyone in Menlo Park want to make it a nicer place to live? Or is SCA just a place to park.

And the usual push back from the "no birds" begins.

Adding outdoor dining space to restaurants will benefit diners and of course the restaurants,essentially expanding their square footage and presumably their revenues. Great idea. Poor execution.

Menlo Park's only involvement should be to provide permits to these businesses. Not to subsidize them. The restaurants, not the public, should bear the costs since the benefits also accrue to them. If the restaurants don't consider the additional dining space a viable investment, then why is the city underwriting it?

"Mini-park" has got to be the euphemism of the year.

I just wonder if people really like being in those spaces with all the cars driving by so closely. It's not for me!

If the city is paying for the spaces they should be for public use. not just that of the restaurant. That is how they do it in SF. Patrons can sit there but so can others. if that is not the case, the restaurant should be footing the bill.

Why not make Santa Cruz and Menlo Ave. one way in opposite directions. Santa Cruz could be westbound and Menlo could be Eastbound. This would provide plenty of room for one lane of car traffic,one or two lanes of bikes and plenty of room for the outdoor dining. Let's stimulate downtown Menlo Park.... Give the residents a reason to go out at night time and stimulate the downtown business.

For the parking neysayers.. a little walk won't kill you..

frivolous:

a better idea would be to close Santa Cruz Ave. entirely and make it a pedestrian mall a la Boulder's Pearl Street Mall. If you count the lost parking spaces there really not that many in the big picture. Of course, it might push the need for a parking garage. "God forbid!"

1. This is a great program!
2. My only complaint is that it has taken way too long - over 2 years - to actually make it happen - and it still hasn't happened!
3. All applicants should have outdoor dining in-place BEFORE mid-summer.
3. The City should financially assist the small businesses with public infrastructure because it is a wonderful investment in downtown and more than a small business can be expected to make.Every resident will either directly or indirectly benefit.
4. I recommend that the City Council ensure that "narrow-minded and selfish" opponents cannot take advantage of the outdoor dining once it's in-place. Perhaps, it could proactively identify them and then provide photos to the businesses so they can refuse to serve them outside. Violators would be harshly punished. Any ideas?
5. Those who bemoan the loss of a few parking spaces are entitled to their own opinion but also have the opportunity to opt out by moving to a less progressive community at anytime.Please contact me if you need assistance.

The parklet's would be a great addition to downtown. MP is ripe for a refresh to better reflect the cultured demographic of our community. Because options are dismal, we spend our money in neighboring downtown communities.

Yes, more of this please! What a great idea, to have more outdoor seating, more vibrancy, and fewer cars on Santa Cruz Ave. Let's get this approved!

Outdoor seating is a great idea - a more vibrant downtown is just what Menlo Park needs!

We should do this to make MP more fun and vibrant for everyone. Better in the long run than just a sleepy town with little foot traffic downtown.

What about pedestrians in this scenario? Have we forgotten them? A walk down Santa Cruz from El Camino to University Ave., may require edging around tables, umbrellas, and restaurant staff.

I don't mind the idea of the outdoor seating. I do think of safety with cars coming close or actually colliding into the businesses like they have in the past. I think it just happened one time, or was it in Palo Alto, but it could happen again. I also think about the limited parking. I prefer on the street parking because the lots are so run down (potholes, crumbled asphalt) and cramped. I have a compact car and always feel it could get hit by these ginormous cars that pass. If the city works on parking spots, lots, garage I wouldn't mind.

Amy:

I think what you are thinking of is when an elderly driver who was parked on Santa Cruz Ave. mixed up drive and reverse and ran into pedestrians on the sidewalk. Completely different from a scenario that would involve a car colliding with someone in a park-let as cars would not be parked adjacent to the park-let so that they could run into them. The danger of a car on Santa Cruz colliding with a park-let is no higher than someone colliding with a parked car on Santa Cruz. It's a non-issue.