FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Menlo Park (CA), September 5, 2025—The League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County opposes “The Downtown Parking Plazas Ordinance” Ballot Initiative.
The ballot initiative is being proposed by a citizens’ group, and, if it passes, it would require an election to approve any proposed housing development on the lands of the downtown parking areas. Our opposition is consistent with (i) our League’s Housing Position (link below) and (ii) our League’s position that election requirements and public referendums are a barrier to new housing and thereby can increase the cost and uncertainty of housing proposals. Our League believes Menlo Park needs new housing and, therefore, needs to avoid barriers and added costs to housing production.
The League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County supports city housing policies that identify local housing needs, advocate for affordable housing, and provide for housing production, including low- and moderate-income housing.
Housing Position in Brief:
The League of Women Voters South San Mateo County supports city housing policies that identify local and regional housing needs, advocate for affordable housing, and provide for housing production, including low- and moderate-income housing. Consideration should be given to environmental quality, safety, design standards, jobs/housing balance, traffic patterns, and infrastructure.
The League’s housing position specifically promotes mixed-use development by:
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combining residential/commercial use in commercially zoned areas
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encouraging adaptive reuse, building conversions, and air rights dedication, enabling building over existing use
Links:
League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County - Position on Housing
Downtown Parking Plazas Ordinance Ballot Initiative
Lucia Tedesco
President
League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County
Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
