Letter of support for Waterstreet project appeal

MEHC sent a formal letter of support on March 30th for the Waterstreet project in Sausalito. You can view it below.

Dear Sausalito Planning Commissioners,

The Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative (MEHC) urges the Planning Commission to sustain the appeal of administrative determinations for the proposed mixed-use development at 605-613 Bridgeway.  

605-613 Bridgeway is a well-suited site for higher density housing in Sausalito. We support its inclusion as an opportunity site in the Sausalito housing element at the density listed in its certified housing element. 

Sausalito has limited sites suitable for development that are not constrained by Ordinance 1022 or Ordinance 1128. 605-613 Bridgeway is not at high fire, flooding or landslide risk. In addition, this site is close to a transit hub and highly bikeable and walkable. 

This site is within a historic district. The historic district is intended to protect the first-floor retail store fronts and buildings. The project is designed so the upper floor portions of the housing development “step back” so that the historic first floor elements are protected and respected.  Employing this type of design measure is commonly supported by architectural historians.

MEHC is surprised to see Sausalito City staff take a position that Ordinance 1022 applies to this project. Interpretations are necessary when the code provisions are vague or unclear, or when a permitted/unpermitted use is not listed in the ordinance.  In this case, the ordinance is EXPLICIT, so there is no room nor need for interpretation. Further, per Sausalito Title 10, Section 10.88.030, “the specific shall supersede the general.” We question whether what the city has done is legal. 

The Waterstreet project is a prime example of the sort of infill housing development that we should be building in Marin. It increases density in a walkable, transit-rich area. The project places 47 homes within 1/4 mile of a Marin County transit hub, one of only 14 transit hubs in the County. There are few potential projects in Marin that are so close to a transit hub. 

Lastly, this project offers 20% affordable housing in a high-resource area with no other affordable housing, nor is there any affordable housing within walking distance of the Ferry Landing, or, to our knowledge, in this Southern portion of Sausalito. We encourage Sausalito to uphold the appeal and give this project its due process. 

Best,

Jenny Silva, MEHC Executive Director