Community Development Department

Published on October 28, 2024

October is National Community Planning month. This month, we recognize the role of the Community Development Department (CDD) in helping create a better Menlo Park. CDD is responsible for ensuring a sustainable and vibrant community that supports a high quality of life for residents, business and visitors. It is comprised of 27 dedicated staff that make up the Planning, Building and Housing teams. Core services include long-range planning, development review, building plan checking, permitting and inspection and affordable housing programs and initiatives. 

Did you know?

• The Building Team issued 1,721 building permits and conducted over 10,080 inspections in 2023.
• The CDD team combined has over 225 years of service to the City.
• Menlo Park borders both Alameda County and Santa Clara County, and approximately 46% of the City’s jurisdictional area is within the San Francisco Bay.
• The State Housing and Community Development Department certified the City’s Housing Element in March 2024, which includes policies and programs to help produce, preserve and protect affordable housing units and plans for approximately 3,000 units at all income levels through 2031. Currently, there are 628 below market rate housing units in Menlo Park.
• The City’s first Environmental Justice Element was adopted in September 2024, which focuses on the Belle Haven and Bayfront neighborhoods. The top three community-identified priorities are:

1. Providing safe, sanitary and stable homes
2. Facilitating access to high quality and affordable foods
3. And reducing pollution and improving air quality.

• The City has collaborated with Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together and Peninsula Clean Energy to conduct home repairs and home electrification to qualified homes in Belle Haven through the City’s Below Market Rate housing funding and state grant funds.

Interested in joining us? Check out our current openings at menlopark.gov/jobs.