Body of News Release
San Rafael, CA – During its October 29 meeting, the Marin County Board of Supervisors will consider proposed amendments to the main planning document for unincorporated areas that would clarify and strengthen language about community plans and the role of multifamily housing.
The Community Development Agency (CDA) plans to ask the Board to adopt a resolution that addresses language in the Marin Countywide Plan (CWP) that speaks to expansion of housing options in established neighborhoods. The CWP is a state-required policy document known as a general plan. Specifically, the proposed amendments would eliminate passages that require primary consideration of the housing portion of the plan, so that the 22 community plans for unincorporated neighborhoods carry just as much weight as the rest of the CWP. Those distinct neighborhoods include Strawberry, Tam Valley, Santa Venetia, Kentfield-Greenbrae, and the villages of coastal West Marin.
CDA Director Sarah Jones said the amendments were prompted by a 2023 legal challenge following the state’s approval of the CWP’s Housing Element for 2023-2031. Superior Court Judge Sheila Lichtblau found that a handful of clauses in the adopted plan improperly elevated the Housing Element over the community plans, which are part of the CWP. The judge directed removal of that language, a change that requires reconsideration of the Housing Element by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Jones said the proposed amendments would ensure housing choice and compliance with state housing law while clarifying the County’s intent in the eyes of concerned petitioners.
“Our community plans are important long-term visions with comprehensive goals that mean a lot to Marin residents,” Jones said. “These plans guide how those neighborhoods with strong identities can be shaped in the coming years while still accommodating multifamily housing.”
At 1:30 PM October 29, CDA staff is providing three options for Board consideration and recommending one called Option C, which removes certain clauses as required by the Marin County Superior Court order and adds specific language to satisfy the requirements of state Housing Element law.
The court deadline for the Board action is November 12. If the Board adopts the resolution, the document will be posted for seven days of public review before it is sent to the state HCD. A state-approved Housing Element is required by law by all municipalities.
The County of Marin is constantly working to accommodate housing needs in one of the most expensive housing markets in the United States. Many older adults and workers in Marin are struggling to pay rent and mortgage payments, causing a housing affordability and employment recruiting crisis. The response will require a shift from single-family detached homes, which account for more than 80% of all Marin homes. The Housing Element points the County toward development of multifamily housing, accessory dwelling units, and townhomes.
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