Marin Countywide Plan

667 Pages·2007·6.58 MB·English

M A R I N

COUNTYWIDE PLAN
ADOPTED NOVEMBER 6, 2007
Marin Countywide Plan

Adopted by the
Marin County Board of Supervisors

Steve Kinsey, President, District 4
Charles McGlashan, Vice President, District 3
Susan L. Adams, District 1
Harold C. Brown, Jr., District 2
Judy Arnold, District 5

November 6, 2007

Prepared by the
Marin County Community Development Agency

Alex Hinds, Director

Printed on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper.
MARIN COUNTYWIDE PLAN

Recommended by the
Marin County Planning Commission

Wade B. Holland, Chair, District #4
Randy L. Greenberg, Vice Chair, District #3
Don Dickenson, District #1
Jo Julin, District #2
Hank Barner, District #5
Mark Ginalski, At Large
Steve C. Thompson, At Large

July 23, 2007

With the assistance of the following Working Groups:

Built Environment Natural Systems Economy, Equity, Sustainability
and Culture
Sue Beittel Robert Berner Clark Blasdell Meg Amaral
Mark Birnbaum Janet Brown Virginia Brunini Sue Beittel
Raison Cain Katherine Cuneo Hilda Castillo Clark Blasdell
Ken Eichstaedt George Grossi Katherine Crecelius Nona Dennis
Tom Hinman Randy Hayes Kristene Cristobal Nancy Ducos
Deb Hubsmith Jared Huffman Faye D’Opal Jeffery Ehlenbach
Bill McCubbin Penny Livingston-Stark Manny Fernandez Jim Goodwin
Betty Pagett Kathy Lowrey Darcy Hammons Grace Hughes
Alicia Retes Peter Luchetti Jim Henderson Arie Kurtzig
Tim Rosenfeld Carol Misseldine Lisa Lord Luke McCann
James Stark Don Neubacher Vinh O. Luu Charles McGlashan
Chantel Walker Carlos Porrata Charles McGlashan Linda Novy
Patsy White Ellie Rilla Byron Sigal Larry Rosenberger
Cecilia Zamora Ellen Straus Michael Walker Sim Van der Ryn
Amy Wilson

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MARIN COUNTYWIDE PLAN

Marin County Community Development Agency

Project Staff Consultants
Alex Hinds, Agency/Project Director Terry Watt, Managing Consultant
Brian Crawford, Assistant Director Clem Shute, Legal Counsel
Tom Lai, Deputy Director Planning Services Richard Taylor, Legal Counsel
Nancy Grisham, County Counsel Charles Knox, Editor
Dawn Weisz, Acting Senior Planner Dan Hilmer, Residential Design
Kristin Drumm, Acting Senior Planner Jim Martin, Environment
Kris Krasnove, Planner Susan Bercu, Graphic Designer
Donald Allee, Senior Clerk/Typist Ken Smith, Photographer
Fred Vogler, GIS Manager Laura Hall, Urban Designer
Robert Taylor, GIS Analyst Jared Ikeda, GIS Analyst
Rachel Warner, Planner Bonnie Nelson, Transportation
Dana Armanino, Planner David Strong, Agricultural Economics
Omar Peña, Planning Aide Lisa Krieshok, Illustrations
Kim Shine, Senior Secretary Thomas Jacobson, Legal Counsel
Leelee Thomas, Principal Planner Margaret Sohagi, Legal Counsel
Sharon Silver, Senior Clerk/Typist Jeff Baird, Housing
Stacey Laumann, Planner Bob Berman, Environmental Quality
Dennis Healey, GIS Analyst II Lisa Bush, Agriculture and Environment
Margaret Moster, GIS Analyst II Suzanne Lampert, Economics
Vivian Lo, Planning Aide Karen Engel, Ph.D., Economics
Michelle Reed, Senior Clerk/Typist Alec Hansen, Ph.D., Economics
Joyce Evans, Secretary Tim Rosenfeld, Energy
Nancy Brooks, Secretary Steve Price, Photo Simulations
Elissa Rabellino, Copy Editor

Former Project Staff Former Project Interns
Michele Rodriguez, Principal Planner Julia Anderson
Dan Dawson, Senior Planner Marika Benko
Carol Williams, Assistant Planning Director Ariel Birtley
Barbara Collins, Affordable Housing Strategist Adam Fleisher
Larisa Roznowski, Planner Dru Krupinsky
Sam Ruark, Planner Aluxa Laliker
Gwen Johnson, Solar Program Coordinator Amelia Schmale
Link Allen, GIS Technician
Alexandra Morales, Senior Secretary Cover photo: ©Robert Campbell/Chamois Moon

Copies of this report my be obtained by contacting the
Marin County Community Development Agency
3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 308
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone [phone]

or download for free from: http://www.future-marin.org

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MARIN COUNTYWIDE PLAN

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MARIN COUNTYWIDE PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to the Countywide Plan.....................................................................................................1-1
1.1 What Is the Countywide Plan?........................................................................................................1-1
1.2 History.............................................................................................................................................1-3
1.3 Framework: Planning Sustainable Communities.............................................................................1-4
1.4 User Guide....................................................................................................................................1-16
1.5 Plan Implementation.....................................................................................................................1-19

2 — The Natural Systems and Agriculture Element...............................................................................2-1
2.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................2-1
2.2 Key Trends and Issues....................................................................................................................2-3
2.3 Framework.......................................................................................................................................2-5
2.4 Biological Resources (BIO).............................................................................................................2-7
2.5 Water Resources (WR).................................................................................................................2-53
2.6 Environmental Hazards (EH)........................................................................................................2-69
2.7 Atmosphere and Climate (AIR)....................................................................................................2-91
2.8 Open Space (OS).........................................................................................................................2-115
2.9 Trails (TRL)................................................................................................................................2-133
2.10 Agriculture and Food (AG)........................................................................................................2-149

3 — The Built Environment Element.....................................................................................................3-1
3.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................3-1
3.2 Key Trends and Issues....................................................................................................................3-3
3.3 Framework.......................................................................................................................................3-5
3.4 Community Development (CD)......................................................................................................3-7
3.5 Community Design (DES).............................................................................................................3-55
3.6 Energy and Green Building (EN)..................................................................................................3-75
3.7 Mineral Resources (MIN)..............................................................................................................3-97
3.8 Housing (HS)...............................................................................................................................3-107
3.9 Transportation (TR)....................................................................................................................3-141
3.10 Noise (NO).................................................................................................................................3-175
3.11 Public Facilities and Services (PFS)............................................................................................3-193
3.12 Planning Areas (PA)...................................................................................................................3-217

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MARIN COUNTYWIDE PLAN

4 — The Socioeconomic Element...........................................................................................................4-1
4.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................4-1
4.2 Key Trends and Issues.....................................................................................................................4-3
4.3 Framework.......................................................................................................................................4-7
4.4 Economy (EC).................................................................................................................................4-9
4.5 Child Care (CH)............................................................................................................................4-23
4.6 Public Safety (PS)...........................................................................................................................4-33
4.7 Community Participation (CP)......................................................................................................4-49
4.8 Diversity (DIV)...............................................................................................................................4-57
4.9 Education (EDU)...........................................................................................................................4-67
4.10 Environmental Justice (EJ)............................................................................................................4-77
4.11 Public Health (PH).......................................................................................................................4-85
4.12 Arts and Culture (ART)..............................................................................................................4-111
4.13 Historical and Archaeological Resources (HAR).......................................................................4-127
4.14 Parks and Recreation (PK)..........................................................................................................4-141

5 — Appendix..........................................................................................................................................5-1
Table of Figures......................................................................................................................................5-1
Table of Maps.........................................................................................................................................5-7
Figure 5-1 Special-Status Animal Species Known From Marin County..............................................5-13
Figure 5-2 Special-Status Plant Species Known From Marin County..................................................5-17
Glossary.................................................................................................................................................5-21

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MARIN COUNTYWIDE PLAN

The mission of the County of Marin is
to provide excellent services that
support healthy, safe and sustainable communities;
preserve Marin’s unique environmental heritage; and
encourage meaningful participation
in the governance of the County for all.

STRATEGIC PLANNING GOALS

The following strategic planning goals have also been adopted by
the Marin County Board of Supervisors

COMMUNITY GOALS ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
♦ Healthy Communities ♦ Excellent Customer Service
♦ Safe Communities ♦ Employer of Choice
♦ Sustainable Communities ♦ Effective Communication
♦ Environmental Preservation ♦ Managing for Results
♦ Community Participation ♦ Financial Responsibility

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MARIN COUNTYWIDE PLAN

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THE COUNTYWIDE PLAN
What is the Countywide Plan?
T
he Marin Countywide
Plan guides the
conservation and
development of Marin County.
California law requires every
city and county in the state
to prepare and adopt a
comprehensive long-range
general plan for the physical
development of the jurisdiction.
While the law establishes specific
requirements for the contents
of the general plan, within that
framework each community
has the latitude to design its
own future. Through extensive
public participation, individual
on
Mo residents and representatives
ois
m
Cha of many organizations have
mpbell/
Ca contributed to the creation
Robert of this document.
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MARIN COUNTYWIDE PLAN 1.1 Introduction 1-1