So it appears we have another full year of discussing, analyzing and finalizing a document that outlines the city of Novato's grand game plan for housing its residents ... for the years 2007-2014.
And when we're done with this one, we get to start another.
The city's planning staff — whose members probably all deserve a month's holiday in Fiji after this is all done with next December — have unveiled an interpretation of the California Department of Housing and Community Development's nearly indecipherable written reaction to a draft housing element submitted in October.
Lost you already?
Just be thankful that our local government employees can write in the English language rather than grade-A Sacramento bureaucratese.
The city's nine-page memo released Thursday outlines the process of adoption and certification of the housing element, a required section of the city's periodic general plan update that lays out a plan — sometimes general, sometimes specific — of how new housing developments might shape the city and where new future additional residents will live. Accounting for growth is a mandatory task for municipalities, and it's the M word that has ticked off so many Novato residents who are wary about a trend toward high-density complexes for lower-income people.
A sticking point at this juncture of the housing element was the city's insistence on sticking with a density of 20 units per acre for future developments. The state recommended 23-28 units per acre.
Another crux is plotting properties that could be rezoned for housing. HCD contends that the city did an inadequate job of pinpointing those buildable areas.
Those two points are just grains of sand in a desert of information.
Pour yourself a 2-liter of dark roast and dive into the summation by the city planners. You'll want to know what city officials are talking about for the rest of 2013.
If you having the kind of day when you're up for diving on a live grenade, sink your teeth into the HCD's response to the draft housing element. Masochists need only answer the call.
Both documents are attached. Knock yourself out. If you are among the brave, please share your thoughts by adding a comment below.
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If you go to the city website under housing element they have a more detailed list but essentially the state can shut you down and the fine you. It has happened in other cities. I believe Pleasanton may have been a target. It is costly and there are more effective ways of responding. That is why getting the draft approved is so important. Please write to HCD and let them know that Novato has done their fair share and that other cities in Marin need to step up. http://www.marinscope.com/mill_valley_herald/opinion/guest_editorials/article_d94f1de6-8ed1-548a-8d28-10cd7fc4a3ba.html
This task is difficult because there is lack of space and money to provide for new residents emigrating from other counties in the bay area. Even with spending $500,000 in new personnel to solve this problem, the loss of Measure F funds in a few years, the ongoing need for repairs to streets, safety issues, social issues, and the lack of funds for adequate schooling for those needing to adapt to the goals of reading, writing, and critical thinking. Novato needs for its citizens are barely being sustained currently with the present city budget. It will need higher taxes in the future when Measure F funds are zero. There are few beneficial impacts of state housing programs for the citizens of Novato; benefits are for the new immigrants, who are welcomed, but cannot be expected to pay for Novato’s needs on their incomes. That is why public participation by Novato residents in forums is needed. They pay the bills for the city, not the developers or the non-profits. My hope is that in the timelines there are included forums instead of only media information and three or four city planning and council meetings, which are skewed towards developers and non-profits and not for the residents who pay for the city functions.