Point Reyes Station-area residents will get a chance at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, to offer opinions about the affordable-housing project proposed in town by the Ecumenical Association for Housing.

The town meeting will be held in the Dance Palace and hosted by the county Community Development Agency. A Spanish-language interpreter will be on hand.

EAH has proposed building 25 moderately priced homes and 25 rental units on 19 acres now owned by the Toby Giacomini family. As part of the proposal, a small lot along Mesa Road would be split off and used for a six-bed facility for seniors needing 24-hour care.

The association has invited the county to have a major role in the planning process if the community wants it to, noted Lamar Turner of EAH. "EAH needs a consensus and is prepared to offer an alternative way to reach a conclusion," he explained this week.

"EAH has control of the land and is viewed as the project sponsor or developer."

At Wednesday's meeting, Supervisor Steve Kinsey and county planning staff will present background information, describe the traditional approach to processing development applications, and offer to facilitate planning that involves the county, the property owners, and the community, noted a county announcement this week.

EAH has three years to get the project going if it doesn't want to lose its purchase agreement with the Giacominis.

If the affordable-housing plan fails, existing zoning and soil studies (which determine the property's capacity for septic systems) will allow more than 60 buildings to be constructed on the site.

Almost any commercial or residential construction is possible there, Anne Vitale, president of the Point Reyes Village Association, noted two weeks ago.

Those with questions can contact Kim Hansen of the Community Development Agency at 499-6290.

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