Housing Element Update

To help address any questions and concerns from community members about the Town's 2023-31 Housing Element Update, we have developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

You can access the complete list: HERE

The Frequently Asked Questions cover the following topics:

• What is a Housing Element?
• What information is included in a Housing Element
• What is the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) and how is it determined?
• How much housing does San Anselmo need to plan for?
• What does Affordable Housing mean?
• When will the housing be built?
• The Town has listed my property as a Housing Opportunity Site, now what?
• If my property is rezoned, will I be required to build housing?
• Can the Town meet the RHNA through the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units?
• How does the Housing Element consider traffic impacts, ongoing fire and flooding risk, and water conservation efforts in San Anselmo?
• Is there adequate water and sewer infrastructure to accommodate development on the Housing Opportunity Sites?
• What is Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) and how does that relate to the Housing Element?
• What happens if the Town does not adopt the Housing Element by January 31, 2023?
• What happens if San Anselmo is found to be not in compliance with the Housing Element Law?

To avoid penalties, San Anselmo’s 2023-31 Housing Element must be adopted by the Town Council and found by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to be in conformance with state law within 120 days of January 31, 2023.

 
Stay involved:

As the Town moves forward to completing the Housing Element Update, your input continues to be an essential part of this process.  Now that the Housing Opportunity Sites have been selected, the next major milestone is to develop and consider goals, policies, and programs to help facilitate the development of housing Town wide.  A current example of a Housing Element goal, policy, and program that has successfully been implemented is as follows:
 
Goal 3:  Use our land efficiently to meet housing needs, and to implement “smart” and sustainable development principals.
 
Policy H3.10: Second Dwelling Units. The Town will encourage the construction of well-designed new second units and the legalization of existing second units as an important way to provide affordable housing.
 
Implementing Program: H3.D: Junior Second Units.  Review and adopt as appropriate standards to allow the creation of junior second units.
 
Progress: During the current Housing Element cycle (2015-2023), the Town continues to update its junior accessory dwelling units regulations to allow for the streamlined construction of these units by allowing a by-right approval process.
 
For more information on the Town’s current Housing Element’s Goals, Policies, and Program, read Section VI (starting on page 100) of the 2015-2023 Housing Element.

Opportunities to get involved:

November 3, 2022:  Join the Housing Element Advisory Committee (HEAC) at their next meeting (#5) in discussing and developing goals, policies, and programs to help ensure the Town’s housing goals are achieved and/or provide guidance to decision makers.  You are encouraged to attend and to be an active participant in the process. 

December 12, 2022:  Public Release and Notice of Draft Housing Element (30-day public review period)
December 15, 2022:  HEAC Meeting #6: Review Draft Housing Element and provide comments and recommendation to the Planning Commission and Town Council.
December 19, 2022: Planning Commission public meeting to review Draft Housing Element and provide comments and recommendation Town Council.
January 10, 2023: Town Council meeting to review Draft Housing Element and consider HEAC, Planning Commission, and public comments to date.

Further information on the Housing Element Update can be found at the Town’s Housing Element Update webpage and public comment via email may be sent to Heidi Scoble, Planning Director: hscoble@townofsananselmo.org

Why is Creek Park Plaza Closed?

Many people are asking why the popular Creek Park Plaza is closed for public use. Please read below, and click on the various links for more information

In June of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Town began leasing the deck of BB2 (Creek Park Plaza) from the  Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) for use as an extension of Creek Park. This space quickly became known locally as Creek Park Plaza. The Town covered the deck with bark and installed sinks, trash receptacles, trees, and picnic tables to facilitate public use. The property was purchased by the District as part of the San Anselmo Flood Risk Reduction (SAFRR) Program within Flood Zone #9.

Town staff learned on August 30, 2022 that based on engineering reports they had received stating that the foundation was unsafe, the District was considering removing BB2 before October 15, 2022 to avoid having BB2 go though another rainy season. As a result of this decision, on September 15, 2022 the District sent the Town a letter terminating the lease for BB2 effective immediately. The Town was notified by District staff that the safety concerns were identified in engineering reports on the structural integrity of BB2. These reports were submitted by Martin and Martin, by MRC and by Ballard and Watkins. Noted within these reports were recommendations that could allow for the structure to be repaired. These repairs were costly and are not being considered by the District.

In preparation of evaluating the emergency demolition, watercourse and FEMA Flood Plain Manager permits, the Town hired a structural engineer to provide an independent report of the structural integrity of BB2.  In a report prepared by structural engineer, Sunny Jhutti, Jhutti indicated that although it was in need of repairs, BB2 is structurally sound and not in danger of imminent collapse (Jhutti Report). This report was shared with District staff for their review.  

In response to the abrupt closure of this community gathering spot, and to answer questions and explore options as to working with the District to reopen the plaza, the Town Council called a special meeting on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. With 188 people in attendance, there was overwhelming support by the entire Town Council and community members in attendance for working toward a solution to reopen the plaza. At this meeting, the Mayor was tasked with appointing an ad hoc subcommittee to work directly with the District on negotiating a solution to get the plaza reopened. Mayor Alexis Fineman and Council member Brian Colbert are serving on this subcommittee.

A recording of this community meeting can be found HERE.

While these talks are happening at the County level, Creek Park is still open! 
This includes the Redwood grove picnic tables, and the Amphitheater grass and stage area are open. The Town has moved the plaza picnic tables back to that area to provide more seating.

You can access the Park via the pedestrian bridge from San Anselmo Avenue or from Center Avenue and Sir Francis Drake Blvd.

Additional Info: For more information about the Creek Park Plaza shut down, CLICK HERE. For additional information regarding the San Anselmo Flood Risk Reduction (SAFRR) project, and Flood Zone #9, CLICK HERE.

Goblins' SPOOKtacular is Back!

Friday, October 28, 2022  5:00 pm

When you flip your calendars to October you know it’s officially spooky season!! Those noises at night and those creaks in the floorboards take on a whole new meaning! The ghosts, goblins, and ghouls of San Anselmo gearing up for an early Halloween celebration!!

Not just any celebration though, the Goblins’ SPOOKtacular is back! And bigger than ever! Children ages 10 and under are welcome to come trick or treat from the merchants, Recreation staff and volunteers will be on-hand, along with our volunteers from Cedars who are always dressed to the nines! And don’t forget to stop by the fire station for some cookies, candy, and water!
 
Join the whole town on Friday, October 28th starting at 5:00pm in downtown San Anselmo for our annual trick or treating event!

San Anselmo Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic from Tamalpais Avenue to Tunstead Avenue.

Questions? Please e-mail Kevin MacLeod: kmacleod@townofsananselmo.org

Thank you to our generous sponsor, Eric Gelman, Coldwell Banker Realty, for helping make this happen and doubling the fun with so much candy this year!!

Live Concert in the Library:
Tenaya Guitar Duo

Wednesday, October 26  7:00 pm

Library Reading Room

Enjoy a live concert in the library! Tenaya Guitar Duo, a classical guitar group featuring Jonathan Braun and Gareth Loy, will perform arraignments by JS Bach, Francis Poulenc, Claude Debussy, and Edvard Greig in the Library Reading Room.

Kate Quinn, author of
The Diamond Eye

Tuesday, October 25 at 4:00 pm

Register for this virtual author talk here: https://libraryc.org/sananselmolibrary/18418

Join us for a captivating conversation with historical fiction writer Kate Quinn as she discusses her latest book, The Diamond Eye, an unforgettable World War II tale of a quiet bookworm who becomes history’s deadliest female sniper.  
After Hitler's invasion of Ukraine and Russia, Mila Pavlichenko must forge herself from studious young woman to deadly sniper - a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. When news of her three hundredth kill makes her a national heroine, Mila finds herself torn from the bloody battlefields of the eastern front and sent to America on a goodwill tour. But when an old enemy from Mila's past joins forces with a deadly new foe lurking in the shadows, Lady Death finds herself battling her own demons, and enemy bullets, in the deadliest duel of her life. Based on a true story, The Diamond Eye is a haunting novel of a woman and mother who became a soldier and who changed the course of history forever. 

Get Prepared

October's wildfire safety message:  Home Maintenance

Did you know that most home ignitions are caused by embers? You can protect your home from wildfire by doing three simple things:

1. Clean out your gutters. 
2. Check your vents to make sure the screening is 1/8” or 1/16” wire mesh. 
3. Clear combustibles such as leaves and firewood from under decks.

15-30 minutes of work can save your home! We think that’s worth it, how about you?

For more information go to www.firesafemarin.org

Video: How to Prevent Your Home from Igniting During a Wildfire
Photo: Adapt Ad - Gutters

Central Marin Police Authority: Pedestrian Safety Operation

The Central Marin Police Authority will conduct a traffic safety operation on October 25^th, 2022 between 7:30am and 3:00pm focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people walking at risk.
 
These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.
  
The Central Marin Police Authority offers steps drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash:

Pedestrians take note:

• Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.  
• Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.  
• Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop. 
• Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night. 
• Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when?it is?harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits. 

• Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks. 
• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn. 
• Never drive impaired. 

 
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

CLIMATE ACTION UPDATE:

Electric Leaf Blower Rebate Offer Extended

To apply for the rebate, you’ll first need to go to the Leaf Blower Information page on the Town website to get instructions on dropping off your gas blower, and to download and complete the rebate application that provides further details about the program.

Limited funds remain for the rebates, so get yours now!

Help Keep the Flower Baskets in
Downtown San Anselmo

Donations are being accepted to help
fund this annual community effort
 
The San Anselmo Beautification Committee has launched its 2022 fundraising campaign to raise funds for the annual hanging flower basket program in the downtown.
 
There are two ways you can contribute:

1. Donate by visiting the program’s GO FUND ME PAGE or
2. Mail a check to: San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce
   PO Box 2844, San Anselmo, CA 94979
   (please mark check for “baskets”)

For more information about this project contact:
Nancy Altman at nnaltman@me.com