Marin Independent Journal  October 27, 1989

The County

 

Agency wants ranch developed for housing, commuters

 

The North Bay Transportation Management Association has asked the Marin Community Association not to help fund the acquisition of the  Silveira Ranch in Marinwood as open space.

The Novato based group said acquisi­tion of the 366 acres removes some of the most “easily developable” land needed to build affordable housing and launch a commuter railroad service.

Mann Supervisor Robert Roumiguiere has proposed the County work with other groups including the Marin Community Foundation, and buy the acreage to save it from being used for high-density residential and commercial growth.

“If you assist the county and environ­mental groups in such land purchases you will be driving spikes into the hands of those trying to build affordable housing and reduce our overreliance on the air-polluting single-occupant vehicle,” Dwayne Hunn, the management association’s assistant executive director, said in a letter to the foundation’s chief, Douglas Patino.

Hum urged the foundation, which controls most of the Buck Trust funds, to spend its money on acquiring the North­western Pacific Railroad’s tracks and land nearby. Affordable housing could be built near the tracks, enticing future residents to use the train, he said.

This would make the most sense to the region’s environmental and housing needs, said Hunn, also assistant director of Novato Ecumenical Housing, an affordable housing group.