A proposal to expand Facebook's footprint in the city of Menlo park gained key approval from the city's planning commission recently. The full City Council still needs to approve the plan.

"The Menlo Park Planning Commission voted 5-0 Monday to support Facebook’s plan to build two new office buildings and a 200-room hotel along Bayfront Expressway, and possibly 1,500 housing units as well," reports Kevin Kelly.
Some members of the community have said the plan doesn't include enough housing to accommodate the 6,500 workers expected to report to the new Facebook offices. Also of concern is the lack of a solid commitment to build the housing. "Staff said it is not requiring a commitment from Facebook because that would create a conflict with the General Plan update process," according to Kelly. "The housing units would be built on a different Facebook site under another plan that awaits approval."
FULL STORY: Commission supports Facebook’s latest expansion plan

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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