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Planning Commission approves Atria Health use-permit revision for 333 Middlefield Road; applicant cites $50 million investment
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously approved a use-permit revision to allow a membership-based medical institute at 333 Middlefield Road, with the applicant saying the project will bring a $50 million investment and roughly 43,000–44,000 square feet of clinic space; commissioners accepted staff analysis that parking impacts are unlikely to be significant.
The Menlo Park Planning Commission voted unanimously March 9 to approve a use-permit revision allowing a membership-based preventive care institute to operate at 333 Middlefield Road.
The applicant’s representative, Seema Otoya, said the institute will be a membership, appointment-only facility and described plans for advanced imaging and specialties. "So, Atria's gonna be making a $50 million investment in the Menlo Park community," Otoya said, and told commissioners the project will be about 43,000–44,000 square feet and create local jobs.
Staff introduced the item and recommended a CEQA categorical exemption under Guidelines §15301 (Class 1) for existing facilities. Staff and the applicant told the Commission the institute is not a hospital or urgent-care facility but an appointment-based preventive health center intended to have limited peak traffic. Staff also clarified that the C1 Administrative and Professional District has no principally permitted uses, so conditional uses are processed through use permits.
Commissioners expressed support for reusing an existing building and for the project's sustainability features; several noted that conservative assumptions in the traffic study (prepared by W‑Trans) still concluded there would be no significant traffic impact. Commissioners also asked the applicant to coordinate construction and access with nearby projects along Middlefield Road; the applicant said they have begun outreach to utilities and will coordinate with other developers.
The Commission moved and passed the revision unanimously (Baruzzi, Doe, Farrick, Schindler, Sillen and Vice Chair Ross Silverstein voted yes). The approval allows the facility to operate as described in the application and under conditions listed in the staff report.
Staff will record the use-permit revision and monitor coordination with other nearby projects during building permit and construction review.
