This year, Menlo Park and all jurisdictions in San Mateo County are updating their Housing Element. Each city, town and the County, adopts a Housing Element. The Housing Element is updated once every eight years and is a plan for how a jurisdiction is going to address its housing needs, including the type of housing, affordability level, and where they can be built. At its meeting March 23, 2021, the Menlo Park City Council selected a consultant, the M-Group, to lead the City’s Housing Element effort. 

Through an ongoing initiative called 21 Elements, the cities and the county in San Mateo county are working together to listen to and learn from the communities, helping to make sure everyone is involved in shaping our shared future. Let’s Talk Housing San Mateo County is a collaborative effort of all the jurisdictions in San Mateo County and will be hosting virtual introductory meetings on the Housing Element.

There will be four countywide meetings (March 30, April 8, April 13 and April 14), with an opportunity to learn about this important housing plan and why it matters.

Menlo Park, along with the cities of Belmont, Colma, San Bruno and South San Francisco, will be participating in the April 8 session. This is an introductory meeting, meant for everyone, especially people who are learning about this planning process for the first time. There is also a deep dive meeting April 22, 2021, that provides a more in-depth discussion about the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) related to this Housing Element cycle.

Please register to attend any of the upcoming events.

• Tuesday, March 30, 6-7:30 p.m.
  Countywide Community Meeting 1: Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Hillsborough, Millbrae, and San Mateo City
• Thursday, April 8, 6-7:30 p.m.
  Countywide Community Meeting 2: Belmont, Colma, Menlo Park, San Bruno and South San Francisco
• Tuesday, April 13, 6-7:30 p.m.
  Countywide Community Meeting 3: Brisbane, Foster City, Portola Valley, Redwood City and San Carlos
• Wednesday, April 14, 6-7:30 p.m.
  Countywide Community Meeting 4: Atherton, Daly City, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Woodside and Unincorporated County
• Thursday, April 22, 6-7:30 p.m.
  Let's Talk Housing: All About Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) Deep Dive

Learn more about Menlo Park’s current Housing Element on the city website. The webpage will be updated as more information becomes available. Please stay tuned and we hope to hear from you during this important process.