Today, EAC submitted our comments regarding the initial phase of the Housing Element proposal that is focused on potential housing development locations.
Over the last fifty years, EAC has worked to support A-60 zoning to protect Marin’s agricultural lands; supported collaborative efforts to address water quality issues, preventing sewage from being discharged into our watersheds; worked collaboratively within our coastal communities and with the County to identify sustainable pathways for development and growth; participated extensively in the Local Coastal Program Amendment update; and supported countywide efforts to adapt, mitigate, and build community resilience to the effects of the climate crisis.
Since 1973, the Marin Countywide Plan has called for the protection and development of communities characterized by accessibility, mixed use, and amenities for shopping, services, and public spaces. The prevailing character of new development in Marin County continues to be focused on single use, urban sprawl, and vehicle dependence. Future growth in Marin should be planned in accordance with standards for protection of the environment and the availability of services and resources.
Careful planning to develop housing on the scale contemplated needs to be completed through thoughtful and meaningful community participation to avoid unnecessary negative impacts that include environmental degradation and continued displacement of residential community members. The planning should also recognize and include the decades of community engagement to develop long-range plans that allow for sustainable housing development.
Next Steps
Tuesday, March 1st at 5pm, the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission will hold a joint session to receive an update from County staff about public feedback around the candidate Housing Element sites.
At this meeting, site recommendations will be presented and new sites will be considered for inclusion in the Housing Element programmatic environmental review. This will be the first of two meetings with the second scheduled for March 15th. The board packet will be posted to the County Housing and Safety Element webpage in the coming days.
Read the Staff Report and Attachment
Join the meeting by accessing the Board of Supervisors webpage.
