Appendix: Project Timeline, Early 1960s to 1999

Development Prior to Involvement of Debra Management Company

Early 1960s Approximately 900 acres of property in the Bahia area are owned by the home developer Maury Finley, who plans construction of a water-oriented community.

1964 First Master Plan for development of the Bahia area is approved by the City of Novato. The plan, which is submitted by Finley, calls for development of 2200-units. Also included are a marina, commercial shopping, parks, a school, community center, and professional office park.

1964-65 Construction of the first lots and infrastructure occurs, along with a lagoon, a channel, and a sewage treatment plant.

1965-66 Construction ceases due to a depression in the home building industry.

1968 Finley is forced into bankruptcy. Foreclosure by Union Bank occurs. Another developer, Ken Hoffman, assumes ownership of the property and continues construction. The sewage treatment plant is completed. A number of waterfront lots are constructed, and the first homes are built on the peninsula lots.

1972 Union Bank again forecloses on the property. Construction on the site is halted.

Debra Management ‘s Property Purchase and 1978 Master Plan

1973 Union Bank begins to offer and sell various developable areas of the Bahia site. Debra Management• (then known as Debra Homes) first becomes involved in the site. The company begins to purchase and build out several portions of property already approved for development.

1977 Debra begins to negotiate options for the purchase of unimproved segments of the bank’s ownership. Debra learns that further development at the site would have to undergo an environmental impact review process, as an outcome of the recent court decision that applies the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to private projects.

1978 Debra Management applies to the City of Novato for approval of a new (1978) Master Plan and evaluation of that Plan under CEQA. The Plan provides for construction of about 1200 additional units.

March 1979 Debra Management concludes purchase of all undeveloped areas on the Bahia property.

1979 Bahia Homeowners Association (BHA) expresses its dissatisfaction with the 1978 Master Plan. Debra begins to work with the BHA to reformulate the plan in concert with the BHA’s interests. The BRA forms a Master Plan Subcommittee to work with Debra.

1980 FEIR and 1982 Master Plan

1980 Submittal of the 1978 Master Plan results in issuance and certification of a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR). The findings and conclusions of that report indicate that the plan would require significant modification in order to be approved for further development. Debra withdraws plan and continues work with the Association in development of a revised plan.

1980-84 Debra works with interested parties to develop a plan that responds to the issues raised in the 1980 FEIR. Debra contacts agencies with jurisdiction over the site in order to secure necessary approvals. These agencies include the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), and others. Applications for approval are not sought, however, because the agencies advise Debra that local approval must be attained first. Work with the Association results in development of a new document known as the 1982 Master Plan.

September The City advises Debra that the revised Plan is incomplete and lists deficiencies.

1983 The City requires a supplement to the EIR regarding the Salt Marsh Harvest

Mouse and off-site traffic.

1984 The 1982 Master Plan is submitted to the City of Novato. It includes 1500 additional units as well as an expanded harbor and a navigational lock to control a longstanding salutation problem in the existing channel connecting the community to the Petaluma River.

June 1985 The 1982 Master Plan is approved by the Novato Planning Commission and City Council. This Plan modifies the original (1964) Master Plan.

1985-1989 Debra seeks approval of the 1982 Plan from the Army Corps of Engineers. Their approval is placed on hold pending approval by the BCDC and the Regional Water Quality Board. Modifications are made to the plan in response to requirements by the BCDC, California Fish & Game, and Federal Fish and Wildlife—Endangered Species.

1990 Master Plan and 1994 FELR

1989 Negotiations with agencies and Association result in development of a revised plan—the 1989 Master Plan. This Plan calls for approximately 925 units, as well as a navigational lock and dedication of wetland areas. However, because the Plan has been substantially modified, and because the 1980 certified ER was based on the larger 1982 Plan, the approving agencies require that the Plan be re-submitted to the Novato City Council. In addition, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) submits comments to the Plan. In response to these comments, the~ 1989 Plan is revised to create the 1990 Master Plan.

1990 The 1990 Master Plan is submitted to the Novato City Council for approval. The Plan calls for 729 units. An EIR is initiated on the 1990 Plan.

1990-1994 The EIR is prepared.

April 1991 CSW/Stuber-Stroeh conduct tree survey.

Nov 1993 Miller-Pacific Engineering issue detailed geotecbnical analysis.

January 1994 The FEIR is certified by the City. The City orders Debra to prepare a revised Master Plan more in line with the Mitigated Project Alternative identified in the

FEIR.

Fall/Winter

1994 Zentner & Zentner conduct tree analysis.

1995 Master Plan

Feb 1995 Dowling Associates issue Traffic Assessment plan (1995 master Plan, Appendix B).

March 1995 Fitzroy Dobbs issue noise Analysis (1995 Master plan, Appendix D).

1995 The City of Novato embarks on a revision of its General Plan. This revision process identifies a number of sensitive sites in the City, including Bahia. Following extensive public hearings and review, the 1995 Bahia Master Plan is found to be consistent with the City’s revised General

Plan.

1995 Debra develops and submits to the City the revised 1995 Master Plan. To meet the Mitigated Project Alternative, the plan calls for the development of 424 units. It revises the previous plan to exclude hillside development on the northwest portion in the Airport Traffic Safety Zone, and reduced the number of townhomes. It also excludes development on the Albatross Peninsula to address concern over exposure to electric and magnetic fields from the high voltage transmission line on the peninsula. In addition, it includes development of new Community Center Complex, a public park, and a number of pocket parks.

1995 Six members of the homeowners Association sue the Association to maintain boating access to the Petaluma River via the channel, which has silted up. The plaintiffs prevail in court. The Board of Directors resign. The Court appoints a Receiver—Marshall Levy.

Late 1995

Early 1996 The Army Corps of Engineers identifies new emergent wetlands due to natural settlement of fill in the spoils areas of the Orient and Patalita Peninsulas.

Spring 1996 Huffman & Associates issue Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse Trapping Study.

October, 1996 H.T. Harvey & Associates issue Harvest Mouse Trapping Study (1995 Master Plan, Appendix F).

1996 Debra files to the City for approval of revisions to the 1995 plan regarding treatment of the emergent wetlands, and requests a supplemental EIR.

Feb 1997 CSW/Stuber-Stroeh issue Supplemental Information for the Peninsula Storm Water Drainage Plan (1995 Master Plan, Appendix I).

H.T. Harvey & Associates issue Wetlands Mitigation Plan (1995 Master Plan, Appendix J).

Zentner & Zentner issue Twin House Ranch Wetland mitigation plan (1995 Master Plan, Appendix G).

March 1997 Zentner & Zentner issue Revised Biology/habitat Plan (1995 Master Plan, Appendix H).

October 1997 The Novato City Planning commission rejects Debra’s request for a supplemental EIR and directs Debra to prepare a new EIR. A new EIR is initiated.

1997 Debra files a permit with the Corps to address the issue of the emergent wetlands.

March 2000 The SEIR is completed and released for public review.