Regional Land Company
20
Sunnyside A-285
Mill
Valley, CA 94941-1928 kjheis@aol.com
415-492-4544
April 22, 2001
Marge Kolar
U. S. Fish & Wildlife
POB 524
Freemont, CA
Re:
Opposition to Baylands Refuge Mapping process
Dear Ms. Kolar:
As land broker/developers, our organization
procures land and develops the communities where we live, work and raise
families. Our group unequivocally
supported our nation's current President because we believe that the
responsibility for our country's success lies with individuals, not big
government.
It appears that the Baylands Refuge process
has been poorly orchestrated. First,
all landowners are not notified when their properties are tagged for refuge
status. In that step, there is no
inquiry as to whether property owners desire to have their land considered for
inclusion in a Fish & Wildlife mapping process. Conveniently, apologies are made to the public and the cities of
San Rafael and Novato for failing to notify all of the landowners in a timely
manner. Finally, promises are made to
find correct,
up-to-date addresses for the landowners so
that proper and timely public hearings can be held. This is a very inefficient, unfair process. Worse, it reflects poorly on our republic's
bedrock principle of having individuals control their own lands, for which they
pay taxes and provide our nations' infrastructure.
Affluent Marin has serious housing,
traffic, and even revenue generating problems that are of much higher concern
than putting a devaluing stamp of 'Baylands Refuge' on a piece of
property. Marin, with 84% of its land
in open space, park, and farm land, does not need more open space. It does not need to have additional problems
place on land owners and developers that comes with having to rebut the
perception that comes with having their land labeled 'Baylands Refuge.' It does not need to lose land that could
provide jobs and housing. It does not
need to lose the property tax revenue that results from finally placing lands
in a refuge or devaluing its property by appraising it as such.
To this end, we strongly support the
exemption of Canalways, Silveira's and St. Vincent's property and any other
landowners who so desire from being included in your mapping process. Please inform me in writing as to how:
You will balance the need for housing and
the property owners’ desire to be excluded from your process with the final
Baylands Refuge Mapping Boundary?
Sincerely,
REGIONAL LAND COMPANY, INC
Kevin Heisinger
Principal
Ali Moazzami
Associate
CC:
Gale Norton, Department of Interior
Mel Martinez, U.S. Department of HUD
Julie Bornstein, California Dept. of Housing
Bill Pavao, California Department of Housing
Mike Spear, Regional Director USF&WS
Dan Ashe, USF&WS , Refuge Director
San Rafael Chamber
San Rafael Dredge Committee
Congresswoman Woolsey
Senator Boxer
Senator Feinstein
Marin & Sonoma Supervisors
Bay Planning Coalition
Mayor Al Boro & Council Members
San Rafael Planning Department
Assemblyman Joe Nation
North Bay Agricultural Coalition
Kerner Partners
Novato Council