The county is seeking public comment after completing a draft environmental assessment of the plan to develop 54 units of affordable housing at the former Coast Guard property in Point Reyes Station.

The Marin County Community Development Agency signed off on the environmental review on April 22, finding that the project would not have a significant impact on wildlife or sensitive environmental areas near the site, which is located east of downtown near Lagunitas Creek and two wells operated by North Marin Water District.

The $43 million project is a joint venture of the Community Land Trust Association of West Marin and Eden Housing, a Hayward-based nonprofit with a large portfolio of affordable housing projects across California.

“We’re very pleased that the county has concluded that the project design meets its environmental standards,” said Pamela Wright, CLAM’s board chairwoman. “We’re anxious to proceed to the next phase. This is a great opportunity for the community to express support for the project and encourage the county to expedite it.”

The 30-day public comment period closes at 4 p.m. on May 22.

If any substantial issues are discovered during the comment period, the county could be required to compile an environmental impact report, which requires a higher level of review.

“Additional environmental review could put the project in a much longer timeline,” said Leelee Thomas, director of the county’s housing and grants division.

Otherwise, Eden intends to obtain development permits by the end of the year and begin construction in January. It expects to complete the project by the summer or fall of 2027—three years later than originally planned.

The environmental assessment ensures that the project complies with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. CLAM and Eden originally hoped to complete the project later this year, but their efforts have been slowed by design challenges that arose largely due to the site’s environmentally sensitive areas. 

The assessment conducted by San Francisco-based Panorama Environmental outlined various steps that could mitigate any potential harm to wildlife, water or native vegetation. “All impacts identified in the environmental review would be reduced to a level of less than significant with the incorporation of the required mitigation measures,” said Rachel Reid, the county’s environmental planning manager.

A biologist will survey wildlife species in the area, including the California red-legged frog, monarch butterflies and nesting birds and will monitor the site during construction. Parts of the property will be fenced off to protect vulnerable species, and workers will be trained to recognize them. Removal of some eucalyptus trees would be timed to avoid monarch nesting season. 

The county coordinated with the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board to ensure that the project does not have negative impacts on Lagunitas Creek, which supplies water to two nearby wells. Those efforts focused on the design of a wastewater treatment system that includes a leach field and irrigation system that will deposit treated water on fields around the property. 

“The environmental review prescribes robust mitigation for protection of the North Marin Water District water supply wells from the potential impacts of the project’s proposed leach filed,” Ms. Reid said.

Eden would be required to conduct detailed water quality monitoring and submit regular reports to the water quality board. The project will also include a new stormwater drainage system to prevent runoff that could carry sediment to the creek.

The Coast Guard housing complex was built in 1972, providing 36 two-story townhouses for employees and their families and a dormitory for more than 40 enlisted ranks. At its peak, the facility housed about 185 people, most of whom worked at the Communication Area Master Station Pacific, which operated a receiver near the Lunny ranch. The station was decommissioned in 2015, and in 2019, the county purchased the housing site after local advocates, led by CLAM, lobbied for federal legislation to set it aside for affordable housing. 

The conversion of the property will transform the townhouses, dormitory and a third building on the site into affordable apartments ranging in size from one bedroom to four bedrooms, with most large enough to house families with children. A former maintenance building on the property will be converted into a common space with a community room, kitchen and library. 

Although locals are encouraged to apply for the units, fair housing laws prohibit the county from giving them priority over other applicants.

After the comment period closes, CLAM and Eden will apply for permits and continue fundraising for the project. 

Find more information at https://tinyurl.com/coastguardproject, and send comments to envplanning.marincounty.org.