Choosing the Future We Want: Maintaining Marin’s character

CHOOSING THE FUTURE WE

WANT

A short history of development in

Marin County Until the 1940’s, Marin County was primarily

agricultural land serving San Francisco

Post-War development expanded northward and

westward from San Francisco, threatening the West

Marin ecosystem and the farming community

Legislation was in place that was very favorable to

developers

Proposals were in the works to build freeways,

homes, and commercial centers throughout West

Marin

Seeing the need to preserve the pristine beauty and

increasingly vulnerable farm lands, Marin Agricultural

Land Trust (MALT) was formed

It was the first of its kind in the United States

It succeeded in preserving some of the most beautiful

coastland in the world

The Trust has become a model for similar preservation

efforts throughout the country

The area has become a “must see” destination for visitors

from all over the world.

Perhaps the Marin County Visitors

Bureau sums it up best:

"The West Coast’s only national seashore stretches over 80 miles of untouched coastline. It is home to some of the most beautiful nature and wildlife in America."







The “Grand Bargain”

But to succeed against very stiff opposition,

the MALT founders knew they had to

negotiate on some key issues

An agreement was reached: In return for the

preservation of West Marin, and to

accommodate Marin’s rapidly growing

population, development of higher densities

would be allowed along the Route 101

corridor

The General Plan

Marin County’s General Plan has worked toward that

goal in the ensuing decades.

Encouraged preservation of open space within

the corridor to the extent practical

Encouraged creation of transit-oriented

development

As a result,

more than 85%

of Marin County is

permanent,

dedicated open space

So how do we accommodate our

growing population in the remaining

15%?

Last year, driven by economic

development in Silicon Valley, the

Bay Area was the fastest-growing

region

in California. Over the long term,

regional growth will continue.

Consequences of Marin’s Lack of

affordable housing:

compels 60 percent of the people employed

here to commute from out of county, adding

to air pollution and greenhouse gases

inhibits diversity

Inhibits social equity

How are we doing?

Only a few hundred affordable units have

been built in the last 15 years

The approval process is often arduous and

contentious

We have not come close to meeting the need

Waiting lists for affordable units are years

long

How can we do better?

Educate the general public about the

environmental, social, and economic benefits

of affordable housing

Streamline the approval process

Allow for appropriate density in appropriate

areas

A few words on DENSITY…

Density helps create walk-able neighborhoods

Density supports housing choice and affordability

Density helps expand transportation choices

Density supports community fiscal health

Density helps improve security

Density helps protect the environment

Source: Local Government Commission in cooperation with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

What we’re afraid of:

What does 30 units of housing per

acre actually look like?















