BLOG - Marin Real Estate

To Preserve north Novato, Marin, CA - we went to bat at the City Design Planning Workshop, and WE WON!!! 

Although I live in the immediate area, but I  got involved in San Marin Improvement Association (in Novato, CA) three years ago because of my son's high school wanted to be more community minded.  I was on the San Marin Site Leadership team in charge of PR plan and that's one of the steps we decided to take.  A small organization / watchdog for a pretty large neighborhood.   

I only attended the meetings to start with and tried to get the high school involved in what SMIA is doing (Halloween Parade, Easter Egg Hunt, etc).  Then I started to get more involved.  A recent notice was brought to my attention where it said a developer who bought an empty lot right in the middle of San Marin is planning to built a 2 story (36+ ft), 9500+sf, right against curb building in the middle of San Marin.  This is just totally agatinst the neighborhood charisteristics.  The developer bought the lot knowing the historical problems with the neighborhood's opposition on building on this lot and decided to build this medical / dental building (even had prospects) in just a few months, sell the building and then leave town.

Well, San Marin is flanked by Mt. Burdell which sloped down to San Marin Valley; with gorgeous, famous Marin views, luxury to middle class homes (not what you would envision as outrages homes but the ones that are understand, with great view of the beautiful Marin setting and just user friend homes).  A giant modern building just does not fit with the neighborhood.

As SMIA, we tried to work with the developers and gave them our input about what we thought of their plan, but after a couple half hearted attempts, they decided to go with the original plan as the others are not 'profitable' for them.

I went to my first ever design review workshop with city of Novato.  I would speak and was a bit nervous as I really do not this to happen.  The neighbors came out in support and the Novato City Planners; knowing how the local landscape / environment is and how the citizen feel about the issue, soundly rejected the proposal from the outside developers!  What were the developers thinking when they bought the lot, they are seasoned developers also!

Yes, Round One.  I was so happy coming home - what a wonderful feeling

:-))