MARIN CITY is COMPLICATED

This much neglected area of Marin, home to 3,000 predominantly African American residents  with a long history of discrimination, is in a severe fire hazard area, prone to flooding, and has the densest development in Marin, with only one road in and out for evacuation access. The Board of Supervisors and the Marin Housing Authority are responsible for overseeing the area.

In spite if these issues, a developer selected a 1.1 acre parcel for an SB 35 project there. Marin City, as part of the Unincorporated Areas, is subject to SB 35 , a penalty against the County for not completIng its 5th cycle RHNA. Despite having no control over that, Marin City is being saddled with a 74 unit, five story development with 23 parking places. 53 units will be  “affordable.” That term is based on Marin County median income, although Marin City itself has a median income of about half the rest of Marin. So the units are out of range of current residents. 

SB 35 has no mechanism for appeal. It was designed that way by its author, State Senator Scott Wiener. SB 35 was supposed to sunset in 2025. New legislation, SB 423, currently making its way forward, not only makes SB 35 permanent, it reduces the affordability requirement, eliminates CEQA, and is permissible along the coast, over any objection by the Coastal Commission. 

These excellent articles and news story illustrate  the issues with the project, and why it is a great insult to the Marin City Community.

https://pacificsun.com/shit-show-hearing-ends-with-county-letting-down-marin-city-residents-again/

https://pacificsun.com/opposition-growing-against-marin-city-housing-project/

Marin Co. residents to protest new housing development that will create 'nightmare situation'

https://abc7news.com/marin-city-housing-affordable-drake-avenue-apartment-county-authority/12983160/

https://www.marinij.com/2023/03/24/marin-supervisors-reject-pleas-to-halt-marin-city-housing-project/

https://www.marinij.com/2023/04/05/editorial-concerns-both-broad-and-focused-surround-marin-city-development-proposal/