Marin IJ: Strawberry to Marin County on Priority Development Area Housing zone:" No Way!"

Strawberry to county on housing zone: No way

By Nels Johnson
Marin Independent Journal

Posted:   01/24/2014 11:47:18 AM PST

Angry Strawberry residents packed a Civic Center hearing waving placards and signs to make it crystal clear for officials they regard as tone deaf: Take your housing zone and shove it, period.

As a result, a Marin transportation panel declined to move ahead with a staff recommendation that could have provided $261,000 to plan transportation improvements in the community — if it remains in a controversial "priority development area" or PDA along Highway 101

Forget about it, many in a crowd of about 90 told the Transportation Authority of Marin Thursday night, citing fears of regional plans promoting affordable housing along the freeway in suburban neighborhoods like theirs.

"We do not need any money for analysis or planning," declared Penny Crow of Strawberry, adding that vital traffic safety improvements needed in the community should not be linked to housing zones. "Send the money back."

"We will stand in line and wait our turn" for transit improvements when other money becomes available, said Sylvia Marino of Strawberry.

"We do not want to accept taxpayer grants with strings attached," added Bruce Corcoran of Strawberry, who has appeared at county forums more than a dozen times in the past three months to urge the Board of Supervisors to schedule a hearing on withdrawing Strawberry from the zone. The county board, deferring to

See the story in the Marin IJ HERE