Jack Krystal

                                                                 1299 Fourth Street, Suite 202

                                                                 San Rafael,  CA 94901

 

May 17, 2001

 

Marshall Jones

Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service

Department of the Interior

18th & C Street, NW

Washington DC 20240

 

Dear Mr. Jones:

 

I urge you to suspend the current wildlife refuge study being conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Marin County, California.  Only 16% of Marin County is inhabited and the remaining 84% is already protected through park land, open space and agricultural zoning.  Marin’s bay lands are also protected by strong environmental policies through the County’s Bay Front Conservation Zone.  There is no demonstrated need for USFWS to declare a wildlife refuge in Marin.  The financial and social consequences, if this were to occur, would be very drastic and damaging to the tremendous need for affordable housing and transportation of all types.

 

I request that the determination for a wildlife refuge be instead made by the local governing bodies of the City of Novato, San Rafael, Corte Madera and Marin County to determine if there is such a need.  None of the local elected officials requested, or were they consulted about a wildlife refuge.  The fact that none of the elected officials, or any of the property owners were brought into the process before a study was commenced has resulted in a highly distorted explanation of the reasons for this situation.

 

USFWS has not considered or studied the local general plans.  There has been no rationale for the boundaries.  In fact, the study boundary includes properties that have been subject to 20 years of intense land use planning, with stringent environmental protections in place, and are designated as three of our best opportunities for significant workforce housing.  The serious crisis that Marin County is facing with lack of affordable housing far surpasses any consideration for a wildlife refuge on these properties.

 

USFWS did not take into consideration the extensive multi-modal transportation plan passed by the voters in 1998.  The refuge boundaries, if imposed, would impact future planned rail, ferry, aviation, bike and pedestrian pathway projects, as well.

 

My company owns property in southern Marin.  Through this study by the USFWS, it has been placed within the anticipated boundaries of a wildlife refuge without any prior contract, consultation or discussions of any kind with me, or my neighboring property owners.

 

 

Page Two

Letter to Marshall Jones

May 17, 2001

 

 

I am sure that Congress would not look very kindly at this method of imposing additional constraints on the very little property, we have left to use in Marin County. This is an imposition of the will of a select few, contrary to the clear and honorable conduct demanded of your Agency, through its legislative process, who are using taxpayers money and unjustified reasons, to implement a personal agenda.

 

With the many critical and complex issues of land planning and usage before our community at this time, it is highly inappropriate for the USFWS to usurp the local planning process.  I respectfully request the immediate cancellation of any USFWS study of a wildlife refuge in Marin County.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jack Krystal

 

Jack Krystal

 

Cc:      Marge Kolar, Project Leader

           Cathy Osugi, Wildlife Biologist

           Mike Spear, Manager Calif. And Nevada Fish and Wildlife Operation

           Dan Ashe, Chief of National Wildlife Refuge System

           The Honorable Gale Norton, Secretary Untied States Dept of Interior

           Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey

           Senator Diane Feinstein

           Senator Barbara Boxer

           Mel Martinez, US Dept of Housing and Urban Development

Supervisor Hal Brown, Supervisor Steve Kinsey, Supervisor John Kress, Supervisor Cynthia Murray, Supervisor Annette Rose

San Rafael Mayor Al Boro, San Rafaael City Councilman Paul Cohen, San Rafael     City Councilwoman Barbara Heller, San Rafael City Councilman Gary Phillips, San Rafael City Councilman Cyr Miller

Assemblyman Joe Nation