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December 31, 2022, 07:00 PM
The City of Menlo Park, as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, has prepared a focused Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the following application:
Use Permit, Architectural Control, Heritage Tree Removals and Environmental Review/Tarlton Properties, LLC/1350 Adams Court:
Request for a use permit, architectural control, heritage tree removal permits, and environmental review to develop a five-story research and development (R&D) building with up to 260,400 square feet of gross floor area, as part of the 1350 Adams Court Project in the LS-B (Life Sciences, Bonus) zoning district. The project site consists of an existing two-story approximately 188,100-square-foot life sciences building, addressed 1305 O’Brien Drive, and an undeveloped northern portion of the site. The proposed R&D building would be located on the vacant site area and the existing building would remain. Parking for the proposed new R&D building would be located in a partially-below-grade podium level with three additional levels of parking provided above grade and integrated into the building.
The total gross floor area at the project site with the proposed and existing buildings would be approximately 448,500 square feet, with a total proposed floor area ratio (FAR) of approximately 92% for the site. The proposal includes a request for an increase in height and FAR under the bonus level development allowance in exchange for community amenities. The applicant is proposing payment of a community amenities in-lieu fee.
The project also includes upgrades of water lines beneath Adams Court, along the interior of the project site, and beneath O’Brien Drive from the southwest corner of the project site frontage to the intersection with Willow Road. The project also includes a hazardous materials use permit request to allow a diesel generator to operate the facilities in the event of a power outage or emergency.
The Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared pursuant to CEQA will be released Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. The Final EIR for the proposed project does not identify any significant and unavoidable environmental impacts that would result from the implementation of the proposed project. The Final EIR identifies potentially significant environmental impacts that can be mitigated to a less than significant level (LTS/M) in the following categories: Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Noise and Transportation. The Final EIR identifies less than significant (LTS) environmental impacts in the following categories: Population and Housing and Utilities and Energy.
Previously, an Initial Study (IS) and Notice of Preparation (NOP) were released December 10Dec. 10, 2018, and included a public review period from Dec. 10, 2018 through Jan. 24, 2019 to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project and determine what level of additional environmental review would be appropriate. In accordance with Section 15168 of the CEQA Guidelines, the project-level IS was prepared to disclose the relevant impacts and mitigation measures addressed in the certified program-level ConnectMenlo EIR and discuss whether the project is within the parameters of the ConnectMenlo EIR or if additional analysis would be necessary.
Based on the findings of the IS and consistent with the settlement agreement between the City of Menlo Park and the City of East Palo Alto, a Draft EIR was prepared to address potential physical environmental effects of the proposed project in the following areas: population and housing, transportation, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, noise (operation – traffic noise, construction noise and vibration), and utilities and energy. The Draft EIR did not identify any significant and unavoidable environmental impacts from the proposed project. The Draft EIR was circulated for a 45-day public review from April 2, 2022, through May 19, 2022, and the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Draft EIR at its meeting May 2, 2022. The Final EIR includes responses to all substantive comments received on the Draft EIR. The project location does not contain a toxic site pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code §6596.2.
The Final EIR is available for review on the city website at menlopark.org/1350AdamsCourt starting Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. A hard copy will be available for review at the Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St., and the Belle Haven Branch Library, 413 Ivy Drive. Interested parties should inquire at the library information desk.
If you would like to submit written comments on the Final EIR, you are encouraged to do so before 5:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 12, 2022.
Written comments may be submitted to Associate Planner Chris Turner or mailed to
Chris Turner
Community Development
701 Laurel St.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Email correspondence is preferred.