Meta Campus Expansion Project

Meta-Park-and-Building-21

Meta comprehensively redeveloped the former TE Connectivity site with two office buildings totaling approximately 962,400 square feet (a net increase of approximately 126,600 square feet of offices), plus an approximately 2-acre publicly-accessible open space and a new pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Bayfront Expressway, providing a more direct connection from the Belle Haven neighborhood to the Bay Trail. The initial project approvals also included a 200-room hotel that was revised to a 240-room hotel as part of citizenM’s project.

The site is located between Chilco Street and Building 20, formerly referred to as Meta’s West Campus. Building 21 is adjacent to Building 20. The publicly accessible open space “Meta Park” is located generally between Buildings 21 and 22 and connects Chilco Street with the publicly accessible bicycle/pedestrian bridge over Bayfront Expressway.

For more information about the approved Meta East and West Campus developments, please see the Meta Campus page. 

Current status

In November 2016 the City Council certified the project environmental impact report and adopted all land use entitlements and agreements. In November 2017, the City Council adopted amendments to the land use entitlements and agreements to modify the approved site plan, project timing, and architectural design of Building 22. Subsequently in early 2020, the City Council approved amendments to increase the total hotel rooms from 200 to 240.

Buildings 21 and 22 are complete. Meta Park is complete and open to the community and the publicly accessible bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Bayfront Expressway, connecting Chilco Street and the Bay Trail is complete. 

The citizenM hotel has received temporary occupancy and is operating. Please see the citizenM project page.

Development agreement

The Meta Campus Expansion project included a development agreement. Development agreements are legally binding agreements between the City of Menlo Park and an applicant that provide an applicant with vested rights to develop the project in exchange for providing benefits to the City. A development agreement is commonly used for land use developments that will be implemented in phases over a period of time and “freezes” development regulations at the time of approval. Development agreements also allow the City to obtain benefits from the project that would not otherwise be possible in exchange for the vested rights. The Meta Campus Expansion Project includes a development agreement and a development agreement amendment, approved in November 2016 and November 2017 respectively. Meta and the City also entered into development agreements for the East Campus (approved June 2012(PDF, 10MB)), (amended March 2018(PDF, 4MB)) and West Campus (approved April 2013(PDF, 1MB)) projects.

Development agreement annual reviews

The Planning Division evaluates Meta’s good faith compliance with the terms of Meta’s development agreements annually. The development agreements include a requirement that “The City shall, at least every 12 months during the term of this Agreement, review the extent of Meta’s and Owner’s good faith compliance with the terms of this Agreement pursuant to Government Code Section 65865.1 and Resolution No. 4159.” The Planning Commission is charged with conducting a public hearing on Meta’s good faith compliance with the terms of its development agreements. The next annual review is anticipated to occur in Spring 2024.

Environmental review

In compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the City of Menlo Park prepared a project-level environmental impact report (EIR) for the initial Campus Expansion Project. Subsequent modifications to the approved project were evaluated by the City for consistency with the certified EIR and the City prepared addendums to document consistency with the certified EIR. 

Second addendum to the certified environmental impact report

An EIR addendum was prepared for the CDP amendment to document consistency with the certified EIR, with regard to the increase in the number of permitted hotel rooms and reduction in onsite parking spaces. A copy of the addendum is available below.

First addendum to the certified environmental impact report

An EIR addendum was prepared for the CDP amendment to document consistency with the certified EIR, with regard to modifications to the site plan and project timing for Building 22.

Final environmental impact report

The final environmental impact report was released on September 15, 2016. Electronic files are available below.

Draft environmental impact report

The draft environmental impact report was published on May 26, 2016, with a review period from May 26 to July 11, 2016. A public hearing on the draft environmental impact report was held at the June 20, 2016, Planning Commission meeting.

Notice of preparation

A notice of preparation is an initial step to inform members of the public that an environmental impact report is going to be prepared.

The notice of preparation and the scope of the environmental impact report were the subject of a scoping session and study session, during the July 13, 2015, Planning Commission meeting. The following comment letters were received during the notice of preparation comment period:

FAQs

What is the status of Terms 7.1.6 and 7.1.7 (Chilco Street Frontage Improvements)?

All phases of the Chilco Street frontage improvements required by the terms of the development agreement are complete.

What is the status of Term 8.1.1 (Housing Inventory and Local Supply Study)?

The housing inventory and supply study(PDF, 13MB) is now available for review. The purpose of the study as identified in the development agreement was to provide a framework for future, fact-based actions and policymaking related to long-term housing solutions in the Belle Haven neighborhood and East Palo Alto. The development agreement anticipated that the study would assess the conditions, occupancy, and resident profiles of residents living in the immediate vicinity of the project site, including but not limited to the Belle Haven neighborhood, the Fair Oaks neighborhood (located in unincorporated San Mateo County), and the City of East Palo Alto.

The study is intended to establish a baseline understanding of the housing conditions, facilitate the development of an informed regional housing strategy, and develop recommendations to support the preservation of affordable and workforce housing. The study provides community profiles for each of the three communities (Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, and East Palo Alto) and outlines real estate patterns within each community. The study outlines recommended actions for housing unit production and preservation, as well as tenant protections. The study also identifies the need to monitor conditions over time and for large employers, such as Facebook, to consider how a company’s internal policies can affect housing conditions in the vicinity and educate employees. The UC Berkeley team presented the findings of the Study at the August 11, 2020 City Council meeting(PDF, 17MB).

What is the status of Term 8.1.2 (Housing Innovation Fund)?

The housing innovation fund is intended to build off the Housing Inventory and Local Supply Study (Term 8.1.1), providing the resources to implement near-term actions recommended by the study and therefore, is intended to be initiated immediately following the completion of the study. City staff and Facebook have begun discussing the approach to the housing innovation fund; however, at this time the housing innovation fund has not been initiated beyond preliminary discussions with City staff on the framework for the housing innovation fund. It is anticipated that in early September, following UC Berkeley’s presentation to the City Council regarding the study, Facebook will formally create the housing innovation fund and begin the process of determining which near term actions to fund.

In the development agreement, Facebook agreed to commit $1,500,000 to establish the housing innovation fund and provide funding for near term implementation actions based upon findings from the Study. The fund would be overseen by an advisory group convened to provide oversight that would include Facebook representatives, local elected officials, and members of local community organizations. The advisory group would be comprised of eight members, including at least one member selected by the city manager of Menlo Park and one member selected by the city manager of East Palo Alto. The remaining six members would be selected by Facebook at its discretion. More information on the status of the housing innovation fund will be provided when available.

Project plans

September 28, 2017
September 20, 2016

For previous versions of the project plan sets, please contact City staff.

Related documents

Conditional development permit
Fiscal impact analysis
Other documents

Contact us

Kyle Perata
Assistant Community Development Director
 Email

650-330-6721

Location

300 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025  View map

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