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Uploaded: Thursday, January 10, 2013, 9:01 AM
Menlo Park seeks input on two projects
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by Sandy Brundage
Almanac Staff
Speak your mind on two upcoming Menlo Park projects: First, city staff requests feedback from business and property owners about replacing the irrigation system along Santa Cruz Avenue.
In October the City Council rejected an initial bid as too expensive because of the night work required; the new proposal would let the contractor work during the day as long as traffic is not blocked and no more than one block of parking gets closed off at a time, according to the city. The project goes out to bid in January with construction likely to begin in the spring.
Next, the city is planning the next phase of tree planting along El Camino Real, this time in the medians and along sidewalks from Santa Cruz to Middle avenues. The existing crepe myrtle trees would be replaced with London planetrees. The project will likely go out for bid in February. Business owners will be contacted individually about trees on the sidewalk outside their properties.
To comment, contact Assistant Public Works Director Ruben Niņo at rnino@menlopark.org or 330-6780 by Jan. 18.
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Posted by Janet, a resident of the Menlo Park: Stanford Weekend Acres neighborhood, on Jan 10, 2013 at 12:40 pm The crepe myrtles are pretty. London planes are a perfect nuisance, dropping the seed balls and leaves. This is a perfectly idiotic waste of money
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Posted by WhoRUpeople, a resident of another community, on Jan 10, 2013 at 2:50 pm I'm not a tree guy, wouldn't know a crepe myrtle from a london plane. I do suspect that neither of these species are native to this area. I'm a fish and wildlife guy, and when it comes to enviornmental issues I am most concerned about screwing with mother nature. Non-native species, be they animal, fish or fauna are not a good idea. Add to that the fact that they take up room on the street, and this is a really dumb idea; but, I am sure they will get planted--only to need to be torn out when ECR has to be expanded to handle the traffic increases that are coming our way.
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Posted by Downtowner, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Jan 15, 2013 at 1:28 pm The crapemyrtles are lovely trees with pretty flowers that enhance downtown.
On the other hand, here is what Wikipedia has to say about the London Plane tree:"...it (London Plane tree) has a number of problems in urban use, most notably the short, stiff hairs shed by the young leaves and the dispersing seeds; these are an irritant if breathed in, and can exacerbate breathing difficulties for people with asthma. The large leaves can create a disposal problem in cities."
Menlo Park should not be wasting our tax dollars to remove our beautiful, well-established trees, nor should it even consider burdening us with messy trees known to create breathing and other problems in cities.
It ain't broke. Don't fix it.
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