Marjorie Macris and Barbara Salzman: County limits on St. Vincent's-Silveira site are vital

Staff Report
Marin Independent Journal
Sunday, September 23, 2007

Marjorie Macris and Barbara Salzman
THE IJ's Sept. 16 editorial, "Supervisors must balance all needs," is misguided when it chastises environmental groups for calling for stronger protection policies for the St. Vincent's/Silveira properties in the new Marin Countywide Plan.

California's general plan guidelines require cities and counties to review and, if necessary, revise their plans in the light of new information and changed circumstances, every five years if possible. When it becomes clear that policies and regulations are out of date or inappropriate, it is local government's responsibility to make changes.

Much information now is available since the 1973 plan, on which the properties' zoning of one unit per two acres is based. We have learned about the environmental resources and constraints on the site from scientific studies, including the plan's Environmental Impact Report and analysis by the San Francisco Estuary Institute.

These facts must guide the policies for St. Vincent's/Silveira in the new plan:

- Environmental resources include tidal marsh, seasonal wetlands, fresh and brackish creeks, vernal pools, oak savanna and foraging habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds.

- Indian middens - the most intact in the county - are at the Silveira Ranch.

- The property contains aesthetic views from Highway 101 to the bay, the Miller Creek riparian corridor, historic buildings, and Miwok archaeological sites, they also function as a community separator between San Rafael and Novato.

- Low-lying lands will be affected by projected sea-level rise. Undeveloped lands fringing the bay should be left in a natural state, to the greatest extent possible, to accommodate these changes.

- The sites provide wildlife corridors in a variety of habitats.

- Many areas on the site contain seismically unstable soils and could experience severe ground shaking in major earthquakes.

- Much of the two properties are in the 100-year floodplain.

- Major development here would require new infrastructure, such as new roads and widening of the Marinwood freeway overpass.

- Any development will increase traffic congestion on local roads and Highway 101.

The Planning Commission has recommended limiting development on St. Vincent's/Silveira to 221 housing units, including 100 units for low- and very low-income families, or other uses such as senior housing that would not exceed the traffic "footprint" of 221 units. This is a reasonable and balanced compromise that Marin environmental organizations support.

We recognize that for complete protection of the property it should be acquired, at a fair price to the owners. Marin Audubon Society has expressed interest in buying the site; Audubon always purchases properties at fair market value.

The Board of Supervisors is responsible for considering all the scientific facts that have been produced about St. Vincent's/Silveira, and clearly should adopt policies in the countywide plan to provide the strongest possible protections for the environment and public safety.

Marjorie Macris is chairwoman of the Campaign for Marin, a coalition of local environmental groups, including Sierra Club, Marin Audubon society, Marin Conservation League, Tomales Bay Association, Marin Baylands Advocates, SPAWN, Environmental Action Committee and Citizen Advocates for Preservation of St. Vincent's/Silveira. Barbara Salzman is president of the Marin Audubon Society.

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