Health & Fitness
Wake up, Novato, and Get This Housing Cycle Right
It is clear Novato is serving as the prime source of very low and low affordable housing for the other cities in Marin.
I was surprised at the significant differences in the breakdown of affordable housing in Marin in the past. Even though Novato is 20 percent of the county's population, from 1999 to 2006 the city created 51.4 percent of the affordable housing in Marin County.
A total of 1,241 housing units for very low income residents were allocated for Marin County. A total of 528 were built, with Novato building 297 — 56 percent of the total. Five of the 11 cities in Marin, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Ross and San Anselmo built none.
A total of 618 low housing units were allocated for Marin County. A total of 751 were built, with Novato building 527, which is 85 percent of the total. Six of the 11 cities in Marin, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Ross, San Anselmo and Sausalito built none.
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It is clear the result of this distribution in Marin results in Novato serving as the prime source of very low and low affordable housing for the other cities in Marin.
So much for planning and a playing field that is not level. Novato needs to make sure it does not fall into the same trap this housing cycle. I will be at the city council meeting June 26 on this subject.
