Point Reyes Light - October 4, 2001

Countless hearings for affordable homes

By Gregory Foley

After 20 months of review and revision, EAH’s proposal to build a 36-unit affordable-housing project in downtown Point Reyes Station is about to get its toughest test.

County planners this week said the nonprofit developer could receive approval for the project by the end of the year, but first it will have to clear a series of hurdles before Marin supervisors and planning commissioners.

EAH in February 2000 asked the county for permits to construct 27 affordable rental apartments, seven cottages to be sold below market-rate, and one market-rate, single-family home with a cottage and barn. The project is planned for an 18.6-acre parcel being sold by Toby Giacomini of Point Reyes Station.

Many studies required

The county hired a consultant, EDAW of Sacramento, to study the possible impact of the project on the town and adjacent natural areas. In May, EDAW released a draft environmental-impact report on the proposal, and Marin planning commissioners in June held a public hearing on the EIR.

Lamar Turner, EAH project manager, said that EAH is currently updating its proposal to reflect the recommendations EDAW made in the draft EIR.

Protecting wetlands

The main "mitigated alternative" EDAW recommended for the EAH proposal consists of relocating two apartment buildings and modifying the proposed wastewater and storm runoff systems in order to protect wetlands in the northwest corner of the site. (EDAW initially claimed the EAH proposal would have an impact on wetlands, and this would be inconsistent with several state, county, and local policies.)

"We will propose certain modifications and adjustments based on the mitigated alternative," Turner said this week.

The draft EIR notes: "The mitigated alternative would include the same number of housing units and bedrooms as the proposed project. The purpose of the mitigated alternative is to avoid filling any of the onsite wetlands and to provide the maximum practicable setback between the development and the wetlands."

Schedule of hearings

Tom Lai of the county Planning Division told The Light this week that the county expects to receive the final EIR from EDAW by Oct. 19. After the EIR is reviewed by the public a second time, it will be reviewed by planning commissioners a second time on Nov. 19, Lai said.

If approved by commissioners, the document is scheduled to be sent to county supervisors for final certification on Dec. 4.

Once the EIR is certified, the project must go through a second round of county hearings, Lai noted. The proposal would go back to planning commissioners for a "merit hearing" on Dec. 10, when the commission will be asked to approve the project based on its values, impact, and compliance with local and county plans.

If commissioners once again give the project a green light, it will go before county supervisors for final approval on Dec. 18. Assuming the supervisors approve the project again, EAH could begin construction.

Delays possible

Lai said that the approval schedule is not final and could very well be delayed if EDAW does not submit the final EIR by the middle of this month. He said that he could not comment on the likelihood of the project making it all the way through the approval process but noted that county planners are prepared to weather any delays. "We’re prepared to go to January if it’s necessary," he said.

Turner said that he plans to schedule a meeting in the next 30 to 40 days in Point Reyes Station to show the updated plan and discuss how it will be financed. He noted that the project "is costing more" than EAH anticipated, and any changes to the project must reflect the need to keep it financially viable.

"Finances will be critical. You don’t have a project if it’s not financially feasible," he said.

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