From: Megan McCaslin
To: Council, City
Subject: Feedback about Greer Stone agenda item #10
Date: Monday, April 13, 2026 10:51:41 AM
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i
Esteemed council members,
I live at 1485 Edgewood Drive and have been a resident of Palo Alto since 1984.
The changes we have seen, not only in its commercial development, but also in its demographic makeup, have been stark and startling.
I am writing in support of Greer Stone’s proposal to modestly restrain the impacts of residential
compounds.
When I
moved to Edgewood Drive in 1991, it was a street of then-middle class residents - the head of the Post Office, a doctor at PAMF, an architect, a therapist, a cook. Yes, there were some professionals - a law partner, a psychiatrist, etc. But the thing they all had in common was their neighborliness.
We had each other over for holiday cocktails. When I had a baby, neighbors brought him presents or wrote a congratulatory note. We shared gardening equipment - a shredder, a lawn mower, a fruit picker - and one neighbor literally oversaw the remodel of our kitchen, arriving every afternoon to check out the day’s work.
We were friends.
Now, we have, instead of single family homes welcoming single families, compounds. Gifts for new babies go unacknowledged. Letters sharing local history of their house (one of them) and the artwork and activism of the original owner are ignored. No interaction occurs unless one is harassed by their security guards for looking - from the sidewalk - at their various construction projects. The sidewalk is not private property.
Not only is the creation of these compounds - now prevalent all over Palo Alto - off- putting, unpleasant because of all the construction and truck traffic and parking, and just plain wrong. It is also ruining the diverse and friendly composition of our streets.
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To be scrutinized by a security guard every time I walk by my local compound, rather than greeted by a friendly neighbor is just plain unpleasant.
The compounds create a them vs us energy. The high hedges (at least ban them) or fences or walls are so offensive in their message of exclusion. And, from an aesthetic point of view, they hide the elegant nature of the older houses, the relaxed lawn leading to a beautiful old house, the front yards that by simply being a neighbor, we all share.
Please do not let any more compounds be created. Judging from talks with the planning director, the city is not even aware of what is going on inside them - a school, a business, a server center. Once you allow the compounds, you shut not only the neighborhood out with a giant F-U, but you shut out the city.
I want our neighborhoods to continue to reflect the diversity of our residents. I want families to be able to buy houses so we see babies being strolled down the street.
Not security guards following in their cars when the Master of the Compound takes a walk. This is weird.
Palo Alto, at least in my neighborhood, is a shell of its former self.
I want the possibility of diversity back in play. Please create rules to eliminate the possibility of future compounds being built. I realize that doing so requires time, money, and energy to write the laws. It may seem daunting now, in view of budget constraints, but it would be short-term pain for a long term rescue of our wonderful city.
It’s too late, I guess, to save Edgewood and Hamilton. But in the spirit of being good neighbors to all Palo Alto residents, I beg you to save other neighborhoods from this compound creation. Yes we have billionaires in our midst. But let them abide by OUR ways, not make us bow down to theirs.
Respectfully, Megan McCaslin
Megan McCaslin
1485 Edgewood Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650-380-2727
From: John Melnychuk
To: Council, City
Cc: Veenker, Vicki; Stone, Greer; Burt, Patrick; Lauing, Ed; Lu, George; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith; Shikada, Ed
Subject: Vice Mayo Stone"s Colleagues" memorandum to encourage fair development standards in neighborhoods. I Support.
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026 10:05:54 AM
Attachments: Microsoft Word - Council - Fair standards of development..docx.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.
Re: Support for Stones’ Colleagues Memo on Mitigating Impacts of Property Aggregation in Residential Districts for Monday April 13.
Fair Development Standards to Protect Neighborhoods
April 12, 2026
Hello Mayor Veenker, Vice Mayor Stone, Councilmembers Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl
Thank you for your service. Regarding this item: Staff provided a thoughtful, comprehensive analysis that outline the complexity of the issue. I support Vice Mayor Greer’s position.
Council Must Act—Carefully and Fairly
Despite the delicacy of politics and challenge of devising a balanced policy, I support Vice Mayor Stone’s effort to create clear, common-sense standards for neighborhood development.
Palo Alto benefits from successful residents and businesses—but strong communities depend on good neighborly conduct. When that breaks down, Council must step in—not to punish success, but to protect fairness and preserve neighborhood character.
Real Examples of Imbalance
A wealthy landowner challenged public coastal access in a dispute involving the California Coastal Commission.
Closer to home, Caltrain operations—more trains, higher speeds, and persistent noise—have created real impacts, including safety concerns and tragic loss of life.We also see aggressive use of “Builder’s Remedy” to push projects without regard forneighborhood context, and telecom installations in residential areas with limited sensitivity to community standards.
A Simple Standard
When power—whether private or corporate—is used without regard for neighbors, the community is harmed.
A Reasonable Path Forward
Council already sets limits on noise, construction hours, building scale, and parking. This is a natural extension of that role. Most act responsibly—but when they do not, Council should act with restraint and balance to ensure no one’s influence comes at the expense of others.
Conclusion
Please move forward with this thoughtful effort.
Respectfully,
John Melnychuk
Fairmeadow, Palo Alto, CA
(650) 906-5656
[email protected]
City Council Submission KEY TAKEAWAY: Council should act—carefully and fairly—to prevent misuse of wealth and power from harming neighborhood quality of life. Re: Support for Colleagues Memo on Mitigating Impacts of Property Aggregation in Residential Districts for Monday April 13. Fair Development Standards to Protect Neighborhoods April 12, 2026 Hello Mayor Veenker, Vice Mayor Stone, Councilmembers Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl Thank you for your service. Regarding Item number StaI provided a thoughtful, comprehensive analysis that outline the complexity of the issue. I support Vice Mayor Greer’s position on this issue. Council Must Act—Carefully and Fairly Despite the delicacy of politics and challenge of devising a balanced policy, I support Vice Mayor Stone’s eIort to create clear, common-sense standards for neighborhood development. Palo Alto benefits from successful residents and businesses—but strong communities depend on good neighborly conduct. When that breaks down, Council must step in—not to punish success, but to protect fairness and preserve neighborhood character. Real Examples of Imbalance A wealthy landowner challenged public coastal access in a dispute involving the California Coastal Commission. Closer to home, Caltrain operations—more trains, higher speeds, and persistent noise—have created real impacts, including safety concerns and tragic loss of life. We also see aggressive use of “Builder’s Remedy” to push projects without regard for neighborhood context, and telecom installations in residential areas with limited sensitivity to community standards. A Simple Standard When power—whether private or corporate—is used without regard for neighbors, the community is harmed. A Reasonable Path Forward Council already sets limits on noise, construction hours, building scale, and parking. This is a natural extension of that role. Most act responsibly—but when they do not, Council should act with restraint and balance to ensure no one’s influence comes at the expense of others. Conclusion Please move forward with this thoughtful eIort. Respectfully, John Melnychuk Fairmeadow, Palo Alto, CA From: Michael Kieschnick
To: Council, City
Subject: Property Aggregation Colleagues Memo
Date: Monday, April 13, 2026 9:01:50 AM
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I am writing to support Mr. Stone's Property Aggregation Colleagues Memo, which is on your agenda for this evening's meeting.
I am a long time resident of Palo Alto and reside at 1467 Hamilton Avenue. I have seen the astonishing accumulation of residential properties - at least 11 - by the Zuckerberg/Chan family, and the enormously disruptive 8 year construction spree.
The great majority of these acquired homes now service quasi commercial purposes - materially reducing the amount of residential homes in Palo Alto. My home is surrounded on three sides - one by a building that appears to be used as a gym and two that are empty, no doubt awaiting construction.
With the accelerating rise of wealth inequality, this problem will not go away and is likely to worsen.
I urge a yes vote.
Sincerely,
Michael Kieschnick
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