California Attorney General Challenges Menlo Park’s Delays on 665-Unit Willow Park Project

California Attorney General Robert Bonta has intervened in the prolonged planning process for the 665-unit Willow Park development at 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park, San Mateo County. Over two years have passed since N17 filed plans for the project, which includes two residential towers of 33 and 39 floors, a 15-story office complex, and a preschool. The Attorney General's ten-page letter to the city asserts that reasons for the delay are improper and unlawful, citing inaccurate interpretations and violations of state laws, specifically AB 712 and AB 2011.

The proposed development, designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, features 665 residential units, with 100 designated as affordable for lower-income households. It also includes 332,000 square feet of office space, 17,000 square feet of retail, and a 130-key hotel. The tallest structure, at 458 feet, could become San Mateo County's tallest building. The project requires demolishing the former Sunset Magazine headquarters, listed on the California Register of Historical Resources. N17 founder Oisín Heneghan stated that the Attorney General has rejected the city's legal bases for denying streamlined approval. This intervention underscores the state's commitment to enforcing housing laws against local resistance, potentially accelerating approvals for significant housing projects.