San Rafael, CA – The Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) is embarking on the next phase of a plan to meet housing needs at all income levels in unincorporated areas of the County, and a community workshop is being held at 1 p.m. April 26 in San Rafael.
The event at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin church (240 Channing Way) will be a different kind of public meeting. In a hands-on workshop setting, participants will work together in a practical exercise to discuss future housing for unincorporated Marin. The exercise will consider housing sites throughout the unincorporated areas of the county, not just those near the workshop location.
The workshop format will be repeated at three other locations: Al Boro/Pickleweed Community Center in San Rafael (May 3), Mill Valley Community Center (May 6) and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Strawberry (May 10). Residents may attend any or all workshops.
The next housing element update to the Countywide Plan is required to plan for significantly fewer homes than the previous update. The 2014-2023 plan, with approximately 185 homes, will replace the current plan. The 2007-2014 housing element was certified by the California State Department of Housing and Community Development in December.
Marin has one of the highest median incomes in the United States – $97,100 for a family of four – yet many working families and young adults, seniors on fixed incomes and people with disabilities struggle to meet basic housing needs.
A draft housing element update will be presented to the Marin County Planning Commission in the summer, and Board of Supervisors hearings are set for winter 2014-15. The public is encouraged to provide feedback and input during these hearings.
Can’t make it to one of the workshops? Consider visiting our online forum called Open Marin to take a survey about housing, or sign up for email notices on our website at www.marincounty.org/housingelement.