Menlo Park inherited from San Mateo County a unique development which combines density and livability - Park Forest which was built in the 1960's.

With some 90 three story townhouses (each of which which share one of three common areas - each having open space and a pool) Park Forest has a density three times that of single family houses and twice that of duplexes yet Park Forest remains a very comfortable place to live.

Many of the current Park residents are people who have downsized from larger single family homes on large lots - and few of us complain about the density.

And Park Forest is a closer and more vibrant community than most single family neighborhoods.

And yet the City of Menlo Park, when it annexed Park Forest from the County, deemed the entire development as "non-conforming".

Menlo Park would be wise to establish the Park Forest model as a standard for new developments rather than as an aberation.