Opponents of Menlo Park affordable housing proposal reach signature threshold for ballot measure

"Opponents of a plan to convert downtown parking lots into affordable housing say they've collected enough signatures to put the issue before voters, potentially halting an effort to build 345 affordable units on lots that currently provide more than 500 parking spaces. Save Downtown Menlo Park, a coalition of local businesses and downtown patrons, submitted 3,440 signatures to City Hall last Friday well above the 10% threshold of registered voters needed to qualify the measure for the ballot."

"The proposed initiative would bar the city from selling, leasing or giving away its eight downtown parking lots without voter approval. It specifically targets actions that would reduce or limit public parking for downtown customers, workers or visitors, and would require a majority vote of the city's residents to make any such changes."

"The city confirmed on Wednesday it had received the petition and forwarded it to the San Mateo County Elections Office for verification, a process that could take up to 30 business days. Once the county verifies the signatures, the City Council would formally confirm that the petition meets all legal requirements, making it valid to move forward, said Assistant City Manager Stephen Stolte. After certification, the council must schedule the proposed ordinance for a future agenda and decide whether to adopt it outright or send it to voters, either in a"

Opponents submitted 3,440 signatures—exceeding the 10% threshold—to qualify a ballot measure that would prevent the city from selling, leasing, or giving away eight downtown parking lots without voter approval. The initiative targets any action that would reduce public parking for downtown customers, workers, or visitors and would require a majority vote for such changes. Menlo Park's plan would replace 556 public parking spaces with at least 345 affordable housing units, with six developers invited to submit proposals by Dec. 15. The county will verify signatures within 30 business days before council certification and scheduling.

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