Point Reyes Light - November 24, 1999
Supervisor commits to housing project
Just as winter rains cleanse our West Marin air in a vitally refreshing way, recent activities surrounding Ecumenical Association for Housing's proposed project on the 19-acre Giacomini parcel have added fresh focus for that plan. It has become convincingly clear that most residents in both Point Reyes Station and surrounding communities embrace the vision of a diverse community where workers, longtime renters, and young people can afford to live, so long as such efforts don't trample the unique village character that exists or degrade the natural environment.
By cutting the project size almost 30 percent to start, adding active agriculture, and bringing the price of salable units to under $200,000, EAH has delivered a plan that passes the community's character test and improves its chances for meeting stringent environmental standards within the permitting processes that lie ahead.
During the last Dance Palace meeting, there were voices crying foul because the Point Reyes Station Village Association only polled Point Reyes residents. The anguish expressed was not unlike the resentment felt by many villagers when an earlier poll in May did not permit the local vote to be distinguished from the whole. My view is that each constituency is legitimate and deserving of consideration. While the process has been a bit bruising, each has now received its due, and we can move on all the wiser.
In reality, the County Community Development Agency and the State Coastal Commission recommendations to reduce the project, along with EAH's ongoing commitment to broadening support for its efforts, were the driving forces behind the changes to the plan. I applaud and appreciate the dedicated attention of the Village Association in helping define a locally acceptable project. They also deserve our thanks for organizing and hosting the public forum. That was no cakewalk.
For all the creativity and determination that has gone into this project to date, much remains to be done before a spade of dirt can be turned. As the project has shrunk in size, required subsidies have ballooned to a point where the project's economic feasibility has drifted away.
Beyond established tax and housing programs, $3,200,000 in additional subsidies will be required, representing more than three times the traditional per unit contribution for affordable housing projects. Clearly, a premium is justified when pursuing affordable housing in rural areas, even more so when the backdrop is a national treasure, but without financial restructuring or local fundraising to support the plan, these drawings will float into space. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the property goes up for sale.
In order to bring this dream to reality, the time has come for the County to fully engage our talented staff in facilitating the processing of this project. It is clearly consistent with the County's long term commitment to affordable housing, as evidenced by the Countywide Plan. Our best minds should scrutinize every line of EAH's estimate, looking for ways to reduce financing, waive fees, trim other preconstruction costs, minimize site development, maximize ecological balance, and economize construction. A value for future commercial uses must be factored into the project, with assurances included in the approval process.
Since time is money, permit processing must be swift without cutting corners on environmental review or public input. Once the project has received formal approval, and alongside the community, the County must be a passionate advocate before the Marin Community Foundation and the Coastal Commission, explaining the special value of this opportunity and the community's desire to be more than a living history museum.
In sum, the County must shed its bureaucratic dispassion and become a proactive partner, as has been done in the past at Marin City USA and Rotary Manor in Lucas Valley. Without that attitude, those 19 acres are doomed to "Hey, look at me" houses, and West Marin is one step closer to Leisure World.
Let's ponder that while we enjoy turkey, friends and this precious place we call home.