Menlo Park Housing Commission recommends Planning Commission approve 50-unit 68 Willow project with eight BMR units

Menlo Park — The Menlo Park Housing Commission on Nov. 5 voted unanimously to recommend that the Planning Commission approve a draft Below-Market-Rate housing agreement for a proposed 50-unit townhouse development at 68 Willow Road.

Senior Planner Chris Turner presented the project and staff’s recommendation, describing the site as within the city’s C1 zoning district and noting the applicant, 68 Willow Owners, LLC, proposes eight BMR units within a 50-unit, eight-building townhome project. Staff said the city’s 15% BMR requirement produces a fractional obligation (7.5 units) and the applicant has offered the additional unit on-site to meet that obligation; the draft agreement would restrict those eight units for eligible moderate-income households and establishes a 55-year affordability term.

Why it matters: The Commission’s recommendation advances the project to the Planning Commission, where staff expects to complete CEQA review and the Planning Commission will make the final CEQA determination and act on the project. Staff told commissioners the city has contracted technical studies (biological resources, air quality, traffic) and is targeting completion of environmental review in December; staff said they anticipate a categorical infill exemption but noted that the Planning Commission will make the formal determination.

Developer rationale and finances: An applicant representative identified in the transcript as Gloria (Premia) said the firm is a local developer and that adding the extra unit was intended to be “better for the community” and to demonstrate partnership with the city. Gloria said developers must balance community goals with project finance considerations and described rounding the half unit up to eight as a practical decision to avoid a fractional in-lieu payment and keep the project economically viable.

Project design and constraints: Staff described the proposal as eight townhouse buildings with five unit types and at least one BMR unit representing each type. The townhouses are planned as three-story units (entry/garage level, living/kitchen level, bedroom level). Commissioners raised site-design concerns including removal of 23 heritage trees identified in the staff report and whether site reconfiguration could protect more trees. The applicant said the team tried to preserve trees but that the constrained site and unit-count goal required removals; the developer also said it would consult design teams about potential accessibility or multi-generational design options.

Next steps and timeline: The Commission’s recommendation (recorded in the transcript as a motion that passed 7-0) moves the draft BMR agreement to the Planning Commission. Staff said environmental review is expected to conclude in December and that, if exemptions hold and permits follow, the developer estimated one to two years before breaking ground. The Planning Commission will make the formal CEQA finding and consider the project’s entitlements.

Other notes: Commissioners discussed reuse or donation of removed tree trunks as a potential community benefit; staff and the applicant said they were open to exploring reuse but had not committed to a specific plan. Commissioners also discussed upcoming agenda items including a draft Anti-Displacement Plan scheduled for the December Housing Commission meeting and an upcoming city Nexus study that could revise BMR percentages and AMI targeting.

The Housing Commission meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.