On June 19, 2015, the community development director determined that MidPen Housing’s proposed 90-unit, affordable senior development located at 1221 Willow Road is consistent with the R-4-S (High Density Residential, Special) zoning district and the Affordable Housing Overlay. This project, branded as Sequoia Belle Haven, is the first in Menlo Park to utilize the AHO provisions, which were established to encourage the development of affordable housing in exchange for an increase in density beyond what would be allowed under the zoning district, as well as other development regulation incentives and fee waivers. This compliance determination follows the Planning Commission’s study session on the project in May 2015 and the City Council’s recent action June 16, 2015, to abandon a portion of right of way along Willow Road to facilitate internal circulation and parking on the site, and is a key step in MidPen’s state tax credit application for financing. MidPen is also the recipient of up to $3.2 million from the City’s Below Market Rate housing fund to assist with the development of the project. The project will add much needed affordable housing for seniors who qualify at the extremely low-income (up to 30 percent of the area median income) and very-low income (31 percent to 50 percent of the area median income) categories. For more information about the proposal, please visit the project page.