Menlo Park Mayor Invites State Attorney General To Inspect 39-Story Tower Site
Betsy Nash requests a visit to the contested Willow Road development as the city and developer N17 battle over housing compliance.
By Leila Santos ·
Mayor Betsy Nash has asked California Attorney General Rob Bonta to visit a controversial housing project in Menlo Park.
The mayor sent a letter to Bonta on Oct. 16 inviting him to tour the former Sunset Magazine campus at 80 Willow Road. The site is planned for a 39-story development that would include 665 housing units, a 130-room hotel, and commercial space. Nash questioned how the proposal would impact traffic, emergency response times, and the city's housing balance.
The request follows a similar invitation sent in August. That earlier outreach came after Bonta alleged that Menlo Park violated state housing law during the application review process. City officials have disputed those allegations.
Developer N17 is pushing for approval under California's builder's remedy provision. This legal mechanism allows qualifying housing developments to bypass certain local zoning restrictions. N17 sued the city on Oct. 2 to pursue this path.
The dispute centers on whether the city followed state requirements while evaluating the high-rise project. Bonta's office has not confirmed the timing of a visit.
The development remains pending as the legal and administrative conflicts continue.
Source: Patch Doylestown
