Menlo Park council adopts resolution to abandon small portion of Terminal Avenue beside 100 Terminal Ave

Menlo Park''s city council on a routine motion approved a resolution to abandon a remaining portion of Terminal Avenue adjacent to 100 Terminal Avenue while reserving a public utility easement to preserve utility access.

Senior civil engineer Ebby Sarabi told the council staff recommends the abandonment because the strip of right of way already has been incorporated into the Belhaven Community Center site and city ownership of adjacent parcels means vacation is an administrative cleanup. "This piece of right of way has already been incorporated into the Belhaven Community Center site," Sarabi said, adding staff would return later to delineate the public utility easement.

Sarabi said the city identified an additional area to vacate after acquiring formerly PG&E‑owned parcels in 2021. He described prior steps, including an initial vacation in 2020 and planning‑commission confirmation that the action is consistent with the general plan.

Mayor Combs moved to adopt the resolution and Vice Mayor Nash seconded the motion. The council approved the resolution by roll call; Council Member Taylor was absent.

The resolution directs staff to reserve a necessary public utility easement over the abandoned area and to return to the council with details of the easement's delineation and establishment. Sarabi noted staff will preserve utility access during the process.

Background and next steps: staff said the city will formalize the easement and provide a future report to council with precise easement boundaries. The staff presentation cited an area figure for the proposed vacation (the transcript includes both 4,689 and 4,869 square feet in different slides/staff remarks); staff will supply a final, authoritative measurement in the record when easement delineation returns to council.