Each day
most of the world’s water, land and air become dirtier, and America’s lifestyle
remains a prime contributor. Each year
more nations in the world become stronger economic competitors, and America’s balance of payments baggage drags us down as
we try to become more productive. These are just a few reasons why we must
“Think Globally and Act Locally.”
Almost every city in Mann is engaged
in General Plan revisions and/or Growth Control Ordinances. Each of Mann’s
cities can enhance global health and America’s economic/environmental future
by promoting “Logical Planning for Maximum Environmental Protection.”
A General Plan policy that would
promote ecological development of Silveira Ranch for North San Rafael would
serve as a local example of logical planning. With proper residential
densities and a mixed-use designation for that site, substantial open space for
cows, parks and people could be guaranteed. Logical planning based on
sufficient residential densities could simultaneously provide a healthy
percentage of affordable rental and ownership units. Doing so would ensure:
• Greater
opportunity for jobs and housing to
be balanced in that specific area — wasting less Americans’ time in ‘senseless
commuter gridlock.
• Greater opportunity for better
balanced development to compliment the Berg-Revoir Hamilton Field Development
— benefiting both San Rafael and Novato.
• More
effective utilization of the North West Pacific Right of Way by Marin/Sonoma
worker/residents which would thereby reduce 101’s singe-occupant vehicle induced
traffic congestion — and reducing air pollution.
The Silveira Ranch is presently
not zoned for such mixed use development.
One enlightened means of allowing this development without changing
the present General Plan (GP) or later seeking a time consuming GP amendment ís
to develop a “Mixed Use Overlay Map” during San Rafael’s present GP Revision.
The Mixed Use Overlay Map could be pulled from the drawer and considered as
another development option on presently undeveloped land that has different
zoning allowances.
If a
developer felt such a mixed development was a better risk for his investment,
he could then present to the community the benefits that the community could
receive by allowing him to implement a mixed use project. Major economic and
environmental changes have taken place between the nations of the world in the
last two decades. Major economic and transportation shifts have taken place
between Mann, Sonoma and San Francisco during that same Period.
Only by logical and flexible planning can each local community prepare to
ecologically adjust for the unpredictable regional and national economic shifts
that will occur over the next two decades.
Dwayne
Hunn
Mill
Valley