Entrance to Novato versus New Bus Transit Hub's Location versus Mission Lodge, a Park, and Parking

 Building a New Bus Station Transit Hub at the Entrance to Novato

 The main entrance to Novato’s downtown is Redwood Blvd and De Long Ave.  Another entrance is Atherton and Redwood Blvd.  Yet another entrance is South Redwood Blvd and De Long.  Plans are now in the process of revamping the small bus stop across from MacDonald’s and enlarging it with another lane, for  safety reasons.   So far, the city is unable to find documents relating to this bus stop, having been asked numerous times for links.    At the same time, there are plans to build a 4-5 story low-income apartment building of 55 units with limited parking and placing the building on Front Street and Mission Lodge to accommodate the size. 

 These two projects are incongruent with the parking needed for the downtown and the aesthetics of a small town atmosphere at the heart of Novato, which is Redwood and Grant. Instead of a bus depot and a large transit hub with no parking, there is a need to beautify the area with a walkable park in the median with benches for the community and guests who want to dine, shop and see movies and theater at the new renovated Novato Theater. 

  A parking lot on Machin or a parking garage near the new Trek Winery makes more sense.  Locating the bus transit hub near Trader Joe’s or south near Diablo’s Safeway center, which have parking makes more sense.

 Instead of eliminating Front Street by Mission Lodge and building a 55 unit  low-income rental property, there is a need for a 2-3 story lovely boutique hotel as in Pleasanton, “ the Rose”  hotel, or one in Lafayette for people who want fine dining, shopping, strolling, and entertainment.  Danville has dining on the sidewalk, boutiques, and consignment stores, Novato could too on both sides of Grant from Reichert to Lucky Market.  Planning is the key to making Novato a lovely place for customers.

Because property taxes will give the city seven cents on the dollar and the sales taxes will be 9 %, it makes sense that a  Mission Lodge Hotel with a better design than a low cost economy of scale apartment building will bring in more revenue to the downtown and to the city.  Guests may shop, dine, be entertained and  enjoy the ambiance of a park that could become Novato's signature as a rural, small, friendly town.

 This will happen if there is a green and welcoming park across from an aesthetically pleasing hotel inviting people to enjoy a small town atmosphere such as in Danville and Pleasanton.  Low-income rental units make more sense to locate them either near Trader Joe’s or south near the Diablo Safeway near parking.

One of the issues with low-income housing is that state law says low-income units must be for families.  A better location may resolve our forced ABAG/ Plan Bay Area/ state mandates for rezoning and forced building when the city has no funds for extra safety personnel, infrastructure, and maintenance. 

And the chance of being sued by the “affordable housing” groups will be diminished.  Instead of seeing a huge building as in Corte Madera and a bus, transit hub like San Rafael’s, Novato needs a well-thought out better plan proposal for the entrance to downtown.  There needs to be more thought into what best meets the need of businesses and residents.

 I see a need to coordinate these projects with the Transit Authority of Marin, housing groups and downtown businesses.   Most of all there is a need for businesses and residents who want to keep a suburban, small, rural city, as a locally controlled city, and Grant Avenue as an enjoyable area, to help in this endeavour.  I support our local government and community in helping Novato reach its potential as a great place to live, work, and play.  Please consider me for city council on November 5th. Thanks.