Politics & Government

Affordable Housing Discussion Wednesday Expects to Draw a Crowd

Months of volunteer work by a hand-picked group culminate with public comment about where affordable housing should be placed around Novato.

Tonight is the Super Bowl of affordable housing discussions in Novato.

The subject that has gripped this city like no other topic in recent memory — zoning for high-density housing for low-income people — will be discussed at 6 p.m. at Novato City Hall.

Expect a full house.

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“We don’t know whether there will be 500 angry people or 100 calm ones,” said local attorney Jay Strauss, a member of the working group. “I can tell you that we’ve been inundated with e-mails about it.”

The gathering culminates the volunteer efforts of the City Manager’s Ad Hoc Housing Working Group, a 21-person unit picked by City Manager Michael Frank to advise the city on the best places to rezone properties around town for possible housing. The volunteers have met regularly with a moderator to discuss the philosophy and ethics of obligations to provide housing and to narrow down the list of prospective sites.

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After much sweat and argument, the group came up with a list of nine properties that would fulfill the quotas through 2015 for the city’s general plan update:

* 1787 Grant Ave. (at Virginia Ave.)

* North side of Wood Hollow Drive at Redwood Boulevard

* 495 San Marin Drive (Seventh-Day Adventist Church)

* 1461 Novato Blvd. (Quest Church)

* 1901 Novato Blvd. (at McClay Road)

* North Redwood (vacant site between Pineiro Circle and Ranch Drive)

* North Redwood and Olive (east and north of Trader Joe’s)

* Landing Court RV Storage on north side (no address)

* 102 Hill Road (off Redwood Boulevard, behind Journey Ford)

The general public did not get a chance to voice opinions during meetings of the ad hoc working group. Tonight is the public’s turn to give advice and help solve the problem.


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