Jack Diego

Diego Bros. Construction, 124 Paul Dr. Suite 1

San Rafael, CA 94903

May 14, 2001

Cathy Osugi

U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service

911 NE 11th Ave

Portland, OR 97232

Re: Baylands Refuge impact on housing opportunity sites

Dear Ms. Osugi:

Since 1982 my brother and I have run our general contracting business in Marin. Our father was a Marin fireman who provided for Mom and all seven of us children. It wasn’t easy, but Dad did the job. Having come from middle class roots we have always tried to deliver a product that would address the needs of the class we grew up in. Today, providing a housing product for the middle and lower middle class in Marin is almost impossible.

We build individual homes and small projects and we deliver the mandated low income housing units subsidy when required. But delivering subsidies merely passes the cost onto other unsubsidized homeowners. The better answer lies in delivering more units at less cost. That means increasing densities and reducing the costs tied into development – from processing to politicking.

Our small business has tried not only to build for middle class families but has also participated in several affordable housing initiatives with NEH, Novato Ecumenical Housing (now North Bay Ecumenical Homes). One of those initiatives, Dream House I, had us build a home at cost which was then sold at a mark-up by NEH to fund their on-going affordable ownership housing initiatives and programs. Again, however, I stress these small initiatives are not a big enough answer to the housing cost problem that no longer allows Marin fireman and policeman to live in the county where they work.

Therefore, I was dismayed to learn that the federal government wants to put 17,600 acres of land into a Baylands Wildlife Refuge Mapping Boundary. That may be a good program in a county that is not dominated by those who “got theirs” and don’t want to share any of Marin’s scenic and land riches with regular working class folks. Putting such a program in Marin will just give the NIMBY (Not In my Backyard) folks another arguing point with which they will increase costs in the already costly and time consuming housing delivery process.

Although your Baylands Refuge designation claims to not effect land values or zoning, how will you measure the council and planning arguments that designation will cause and the resultant time and cost effects of having such a designation placed on 17,600 acres of land? Such a designation and its arguments will reduce density and/or increase time and costs which must then be passed on top of Marin’s $650,000. ++ average home sales price.

Must you do an Environmental Impact Report to address the issue I raise above? If property owners such as St. Vincent’s Silveira, Canalways, the Marin Airport and farmers demand to be left out of your designation, will they be left out?

Thanks for your time. I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Jack Diego

Julie Bornstein, California Housing Dept.

Bill Pavao, California Department of Housing

Marge Kolar, Project Mgr. USFWS

Mike Spear, Regional Director USF&WS

Dan Ashe, USF&WS , Regional Refuge Director

Charles Houghten, USFWS, National Refuge Director

Novato Council

San Rafael Chamber

San Rafael Dredge Committee

Congresswoman Woolsey

Senators Feinstein & Boxer

Marin & Sonoma Supervisors

Bay Planning Coalition

San Rafael Council Members

Assemblyman Joe Nation

North Bay Agricultural Coalition