Coalition Newsletter

April 6, 2007

The Pt. San Pedro Road Coalition wants to help keep our neighbors informed of issues of importance to our area. Residents tell us that among the most important issues are the proposed Loch Lomond Marina Development, concerns related to the San Rafael Rock Quarry, preservation of wetlands in our area, and emergency preparedness.

WETLANDS:

We have good news concerning the wetlands: we are forming a Wetlands Preservation Committee and we have already made important steps toward protecting our local wetlands!

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS:

Unfortunately, our Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair, Yves Masson, is moving away. He has devoted countless hours to training residents how to be prepared in the event of a disaster. We will miss him! We are looking for a volunteer to take his place. Please let us know if you are interested.

COUNTYWIDE PLAN UPDATE IN PROGRESS--Quarry Site Land Use Under Review:
 
The Marin Countywide Plan, which is the land use constitution for the unincorporated areas, is currently being revised. Among the policy issues being evaluated by the County Planning Commission in hearings this month are several that relate to the San Rafael Rock Quarry property. Public comment is taken on all issues and the Commission takes a straw vote (non-binding motion of intent) on each issue.
 
Following are Countywide Plan public hearing dates and issues of interest to the Point San Pedro Road community that will be (or have been) considered at these hearings.
 
Monday, April 2: Baylands Corridor. On Monday, April 2 the Planning Commission endorsed a new planning corridor, the Baylands Corridor, that would include wetlands and tidal areas at the quarry. The Baylands Corridor is a planning device to recognize the importance of protecting the environmental resources on the sites that it includes.
 
Monday, April 9: Housing Overlay. A Housing Overlay Designation program is proposed in the draft Plan that would designate specific sites in the county for "bonus" housing units that would be at least 50 percent income-restricted. The quarry is designated for up to 75 of these "overlay" units; these would be in addition to whatever the zoning would allow. This meeting begins at 9 AM.
 
Monday, April 23: Land Use Designations for the SRRQ. The draft Countywide Plan proposes conducting traffic studies for a range of 75 to 350 units but recommends defering consideration of any change in the Planned Designation: Reclamation Area zoning until completion of the Amended Reclamation Plan.
 
The Planning Commission will vote on final recommendations for the Countywide Plan in mid July with final action to be taken by the Board of Supervisors in the fall. Most of the meetings begin about 10 AM and public comment is welcome. For agenda information and staff reports go to www.co.marin.ca.us, click on Departments in the left hand column, then click on Community Development Agency, go to the top (yellow) circle where it says Planning and when a menu opens click on Planning Commission. Click on Agendas, Minutes & Reports for the current Year.

LOCH LOMOND MARINA:

The Loch Lomond Marina Committee continues to review and weigh in on the Village at Loch Lomond Marina plans. The next public hearing will be before the San Rafael Planning Commission, to be held on April 24, 2007, at 7 pm at the City Hall Council Chambers.  For more details on this hearing see the official announcement (PDF document). For more information on the project, to to the Marina topic on this website.