CITIZEN MARIN

Using Sonoma County as a case study, the film showcases community opposition to state-mandated housing policies, county supervisors' decisions, and a developer's plans to transform a beloved, historic, and environmentally sensitive wildlife corridor into a large-scale development with minimal affordable housing. 

Blog post below

There is a new and dangerous assault on local control. Senator Wiener is now targeting Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps as “impediments” to housing.

“to keep localities from weaponizing the fire hazard mapping as anti-housing/development tools.” 

“LRA maps can functionally result in restrictions on growth in those areas through imposing costly building standards, increased disaster planning and mitigation requirements, or increasing home insurance premiums.”

Blog  post below

The Center for Biological Diversity wrote a strong opposition letter to this sneaky legislation, and within days 90 organizations had signed on.  

Full text of letter in blog post below.

County finally acknowledging the Superior Court ruling in favor of Corcoran vs County of Marin — which would restore community plans —  but the changes made to plans  still muddy the waters. 

blog post below with my  7/30/24 letter to the Board of Supervisors  

Emmy-nominated, award winning filmmaker Carolyn Scott’s new film in progress, "SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL," documents a small rural community’s fierce  battle against  an ill-conceived, massive development  in a high-fire risk zone — and atop a crucial wildlife corridor. This project threatens safety, the environment, and biodiversity,  

California's relentless urbanization takes center stage in this compelling documentary.  Highly recommended,. Trailer  here, more info coming soon:

https://vimeo.com/953221618?share=copy

This “spot” bill happened so fast there weren’t even any arguments submitted in support or opposition; please put your voice into the public record now! 

We can all recognize the critical need for affordable housing. None of the current punitive policies that rely on the private market are going to create it, and cities are punished as a result. SB 7 is a continuation of these dangerous, destructive, and unsuccessful policies.

See blog post below for details

Big win for local zoning control. Five Charter Cities sued the state over  SB9, a 2022 state law that allows homeowners to split lots, and add 2 homes to each side —   without neighborhood notice or on site parking. It was  ruled unconstitutional in Charter Cities (which have their own constitutions, as opposed to General Law cities). The court decision soundly questions housing policy that promotes a “housing emergency” with  the cover of “affordability”— while the law has provisions to provide none;  there is not a single word in the law about affordability or even a requirement to rent any of the resulting new homes.

See blog post below for details

San Diego Area cities are facing mid-cycle review soon, and bluntly tell the HCD that they resent being set up for failure. They can approve projects, but HCD only counts permits pulled — an action taken by developers. Because they can’t get most developers to add more than 10% affordable units, they will fail the low income category mandates even if massive numbers of new units are built.

See what every locality’s future is like:  

start at minute 43 to skip over HCD presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arKeg7IFk7w&t=2617s

full video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arKeg7IFk7w

Marin County Community Plans have long zoned sensitive wildlife areas, the Bay Lands Corridor, the Ridge and Upland Green Belts, areas with no water or sewage, and no road access at lowest density -- allowing the fewest homes per acre possible.

The County is moving forward to codify changes that go beyond what is required. These areas will be open to density, just to  “prove to the state that we‘re serious about housing.” These areas aren’t  suitable  for anything but market rate  homes — if that.

This  doesn’t improve access to affordable housing. See more in blog post below. , 

Not satisfied with last year’s SB 423 to override Coastal Commission decisions, this  years’s laws intend to gut the commission and allow density along our treasured coastline —  for profit, largely market rate, and  close to the shore. 

SB 951 is whipping through the senate, along with two others. The assembly will be next to push back or — cave. 

So many major insurers non-renewed policies  that the state insurance plan — FAIR — is on the brink of insolvency. Plans are not just being cancelled for fire risk, they’re being cancelled for age of home and density — in cities!  The state is trying to lure insurers back with a plan that lets them use disaster modelling to base rates, which can set them sky high. It also allows easier rate increases. Unless you’re a mega corp, you can’t build or buy homes without insurance. 

New legislation will make it possible for the state to start fining cities up to $10,000 per day, to $50,000 per month, starting at the time they are noticed that their housing elements are being revoked. There are plenty of other fines, withholding of funds, and lawsuits that already pressure cities — watch the SANDAG video to see how impossible it is to satisfy the HCD and avoid Attorney General Bonta’s Housing Strike Force.