Council Eyes Moratorium On North Redwood Blvd. Development

The Novato City Council will decide tonight if they want to take a long, hard look at potential development of the North Redwood Boulevard Corridor.

At the Tues., April 9, 6:30 p.m. meeting, the council will consider adopting a moratorium on buildings and developments in the area.

The Novato Chamber of Commerce likes the idea. In a letter to City Hall, the Chamber openly supported the moratorium. "We also recommend that the City enact a moratorium on any new development along the Redwood Corridor until the ‘North Redwood Boulevard Planning Study' published in 2009 is enacted into law by the City. We define the Redwood Corridor as the area from Olive Avenue on the South to San Marin Drive on the North and Redwood Blvd. on the West to the 101 freeway on the East."

An advocate for business growth, the Chamber has a vision for the property: "Community leaders and City staff spent over one year developing the 'North Redwood Boulevard Planning Study' published in 2009 that envisioned a 'Lifestyle' retail center offering high-quality merchandise, services and restaurants/entertainment venues similar to Town Center in Corte Madera."

Some of the land has also been eyed by affordable housing proponents. Several of the larger parcel owners in the corridor have placed their properties up for sale, meaning this might be an opportunity for a large-scale project.

According to staff reports, "A moratorium ordinance may be enacted by a 4/5s vote of the City Council for an initial period of 45 days, and may be extended for an additional 10½ months, and then may be extended again for one additional year. A moratorium can identify the types of permit applications, the types of land uses or the specific areas of land to be included or precluded from the moratorium."

The meeting takes place at Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue.

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