Belle Haven / RDA
Plan update Community Engagement Process

Opportunity statement: The Belle Haven area is home to roughly 1000 Menlo Park families, many community businesses, and parks and other sites important to the future of Menlo Park. Since 1981, when a redevelopment area was created in the Belle Haven neighborhood, over 31 million dollars have been spent on housing, infrastructure and other projects. We now have chance to update the implementation plan for the area and incorporate new ideas and priorities that are important for the future of the neighborhood. Your input on how these community investments will be made is important.

Project Givens:

• The Redevelopment Implementation Plan must comply with State law.
• The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation and Housing Element goals and objectives will be integrated into the Redevelopment Implementation Plan as appropriate.
• There are limited vacant and available parcels where projects can be located, so projects included in the updated plan must be physically feasible as well as economically viable.
• The Redevelopment Implementation Plan will build on the previous Plan.
• All new projects must meet the legal criteria established for Redevelopment projects.
• Projects which help meet Council goals of creating a vibrant economy will be given high priority.

Key Stakeholders:

• Belle Haven residents
• Belle Haven Neighborhood Association
• Other Redevelopment Area residents
• Redevelopment Area business owners
• Redevelopment Area property owners
• Habitat for Humanity
• Beechwood School
• Other Menlo Park residents
• Area churches
• Housing Commissioners
• City Council

Proposed process

Phase One (April 29) (community meetings: one with business interests, one with neighborhood interests and one Spanish language meeting)

• Using the five redevelopment project categories, what additional projects meet the legal criteria?
• What type of housing development is needed?
• Where would new housing development in the Redevelopment Area be appropriate?

Phase Two (May 11) (joint community meeting)
Presentation of draft project priorities for final plan

Phase Three (October) Final plan presented and Council approval

Implementation
January, 2010 – 2015

Phase One Meeting format (April 29)
7:00    Welcome and agenda review
7:10    RDA overview presentation and purpose of input (givens and process) / slide presentation
7:30    Small group work
Divide into groups by color dots on name tags (5 stations organized by plan topics).  At each station staff facilitator reviews examples of previous projects, current projects and possible new projects.  Floating experts available to answer questions about current projects.  Group brainstorms and prioritizes three additional projects for that category to leave behind on the growing list. 15 minutes at each station. 
8:45    Report out from each station’s facilitator (graphic note taker creates a vision)
9:00    Review next steps in the process and adjourn