Novato Council Extends Redwood Corridor Moratorium

The Novato City Council on Tuesday by a 4-0 margin voted to extend an ordinance prohibiting development on the North Redwood Corridor for 10 months.

The extension follows a 45-day moratorium the council approved approved on May 14.

A consensus on moving cautiously and prudently with proposed development on the potentially lucrative land between Olive and Atherton Avenues and Redwood Boulevard and U.S. Highway 101 carried the day on Tuesday, as the council seeks a Master Plan for the last patch of land that's zoned for commercial use.

“We need more time,” councilmember Jeanne MacLeamy said.

MacLeamy said the corridor is made up of several parcels that the council wants to see developed coherently, with the possibility of housing along with retail.

“We need to make sure that it's well designed and laid out so that it's an asset to our community,” she said. “Rather than developing it piecemeal, we want to see it developed with an entire Master Plan in mind.

City officials are hopeful the development will help Novato address “retail leakage.” The results of a study released last month estimated the city is losing $169.5 million annually in retail leakage, or how Novato residents spend on goods and services outside the city limits versus what they spend in Novato.

MacLeamy warned not to expect the development to be the city's fiscal panacea, however.

“What we know is it that can help contribute to our sales and property tax revenues,” she said. “It's not going to solve all our problems going forward but it can contribute to those sources of funds.

“It can be a help, but we're not sure of the magnitude at this point.”