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Health & Fitness

County Planning Commission to Discuss Housing Element

Over the next few months, the County of Marin is moving toward approval of the Housing Element portion of its General Plan, which outlines how the County will support an adequate supply of decent, safe and affordable housing for Marin’s residents, particularly our workforce, seniors and other special needs populations. It is not too late for residents to share their thoughts and recommendations about the state-mandated update for unincorporated areas of the county.

The Marin County Board of Supervisors is expected to review the Housing Element later this summer, but the next opportunity to comment is a Marin County Planning Commission public hearing at 1 p.m. June 24 in Suite 328 of the Marin Civic Center’s Administration Building in San Rafael. A continuation of the discussion is set for July 8, at which time County staff proposes that the Planning Commission recommend adoption of the documents to the Board of Supervisors. The item is to be placed on the Board agenda later this summer.

The topic for both meetings will be the final supplement to the 2007 Countywide Plan Environmental Impact Report for the 2012 Draft Marin County Housing Element (Final SEIR), project merits of the 2012 Draft Marin County Housing Element, amendments to the Countywide Plan related to housing, Zoning Map amendments and Development Code amendments related to housing, definitions and development.

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Brian Crawford, Director of the Marin County Community Development Agency, said he is pleased that residents care enough to participate in the planning process. “Although the state requirements can be confusing, we hope to have a constructive discussion at these meetings,” he said. “We have taken many steps to inform the public so far, and we are headed down the home stretch.”

In May, County compiled fresh information on a new web page to help clarify and answer questions about the Housing Element process. The page -- www.marincounty.org/housingelement -- is packed with details about the housing portion of the Marin County General Plan Update, a document that must be updated every five years by state law.

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In Marin, civic meetings about affordable housing have attracted much attention in recent years, and many residents have raised concerns and questions.  The new website includes frequently asked questions and corresponding answers plus written feedback from the public on the draft Housing Element. To share a comment about the Housing Element, community members are encouraged to e-mail housingelement@marincounty.org. The County is posting all written feedback under the “comments” section of the page and updating FAQs often.

Among the highlighted items on the County’s new web page are the testimonial stories about local residents living in or involved in affordable workforce housing, a draft version of the Housing Element, the final supplemental environmental impact report, written feedback from the public and frequently asked questions. Housing Element notices are available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

The staff reports and attachments for the June 24 meeting are available at www.marincounty.org/housingelement. Printouts will be available for public review at the Community Development Agency, Planning Division Suite 308, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

Oral and written comments may be presented to the Planning Commission at the hearings June 24 and July 8. Written material for the commissioners should be submitted to the Community Development Agency at least 10 working days prior to the meeting date. Any written material submitted after that date will be distributed to the commission prior to or at the meeting.

Public comments may be directed to the Planning Commission, by e-mail to housingelement@marincounty.org, by fax to (415) 473-7880, or mailed to the Community Development Agency at the address below. Subscribe to the Housing Element web page to receive email notices and updates by visiting www.marincounty.org/housingelement.


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