Gradual or no inhabitants progress is a long-standing credo in Marin and has been largely profitable. Since 2000, it has gained solely 7,000 residents, because of well-organized opposition and a aware effort to reduce growth of water, sewer and different providers.
The state’s Division of Housing and Group Growth, armed with new enforcement powers, has been leaning on rich communities to just accept housing quotas, threatening lawsuits and intercession in the event that they resist. At present, below state and regional directives, Marin is meant to be planning for 14,210 new housing models countywide, together with 3,569 in unincorporated areas reminiscent of Kentfield.
County officers have developed a so-called “housing element” that will, in essence, override group planning companies hostile to massive housing initiatives. It’s wanted, county officers say, to fulfill state housing watchdogs and keep away from penalties for non-compliance.
Nonetheless, opponents of the plan persuaded an area choose final spring to conform to take away the override language, making a dilemma for county officers. The choose set a deadline for this week to adjust to the order, and county officers — caught between state stress and native sentiment — are attempting to get an extension.
“This is really about trying to thread the needle to satisfy both sides as much as we can,” County Supervisor Dennis Rodoni mentioned throughout a stormy listening to on the difficulty.
However the developer is getting warmth from metropolis officers, despite the fact that town’s housing factor identifies the location’s potential for lots of of recent models. Metropolis officers have declared the venture utility was incomplete — which the developer denies — and the difficulty might turn out to be fodder for state intervention or lawsuits.
Marin officers characterised the exemption as a manner to offer extra time for the county to do the correct factor. However as the present clashes point out, sturdy opposition to the state’s 14,210-unit housing quota has not abated.
Dan Walters is a CalMatters columnist.
Initially Printed: December 12, 2024 at 5:00 AM PST
