Novato focus must be on multi-family buildings

Marin Independent Journal, Letters to the Editor, February 27, 2022

Novato officials are starting to review an application to redevelop the long-vacant Fireman’s Fund property. As a member of the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative, I can say we believe this site can be a model for sustainable development.

Adjacent to the SMART train station and the Atherton Avenue freeway interchange, this property is ideal for much-needed workforce housing. Unfortunately, the current design does not take full advantage of this opportunity.

Marin County, including Novato, desperately needs to get beyond large single-family homes and, instead, focus on smaller single-family homes and cottages, dedicated affordable units, senior care facilities and smaller apartments and condos more affordable by virtue of size for singles and small families.

Considering its location, the campus is ideal for meeting these needs. But, as proposed, more than 45% of the developed area of the project would be single-family homes. Multi-family housing at this site would serve Marin’s need for housing with a much smaller footprint and lower environmental cost.

The collaborative also wants to bring attention to the current layout of the project. The single-family homes would be separated from the rest of the project, creating an unhealthy segregating effect. If single-family housing is created, it should be mixed in with multi-family buildings and open space for common use, to create a feeling of neighborhood and community. The project should also include restaurants, convenience markets and personal services to serve residents, provide employment opportunities and reduce vehicular trips.

Novato City Council should send a message to the developer: reduce or eliminate single-family housing in favor of additional multi-family buildings, provide better integration of single-family homes and multi-family buildings and include community-serving commercial uses on-site. The campus is a blank slate that can meet many community needs. Let’s maximize the benefit of this unique opportunity.

— Bob Pendoley, San Rafael

See original letter here>>