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The Built Environment Element
The Built Environment Element includes all the activities related to use of land for buildings
and transportation facilities and all the related activities and impacts. Topics addressed in this element
are: community development; community design; energy; environmental hazards caused by seismic activity,
fire, and floods; housing; transportation; noise; and community facilities (water supply, sanitary waste
disposal, solid waste disposal, and disposal of hazardous waste and materials).
Community Development and Land Use
The community development component provides information on population,
housing projections, and economic characteristics and covers policy issues
related to countywide character, development patterns, and land use. Development
policies address both Marin County as a whole and specific planning areas,
with special detail provided for unincorporated areas under County jurisdiction.
This section links the natural environment, health and safety, and community
development concerns of the Countywide Plan in a series of land use policies
and designations. 
Community Design
Community design is a new section
in this update of the Countywide Plan. It addresses the need to make communities more compact,
walkable, and focused around transit nodes. Other policies will address the need to plan and
design development to harmonize with natural surroundings and to make new development compatible
with the historic character of existing communities.
Energy
Policies in this section address energy
conservation, alternative energy sources, recycling of waste and reuse of materials, and green
building.
Environmental Hazards
Environmental hazards-seismic,
fire, and flood-affect where buildings can be located and how they can be protected from
potentially hazardous conditions. Policies in this section establish requirements for development
or indicate where development is inappropriate based on environmental hazards.
Housing
The Housing Element component of the Countywide Plan Update is on an accelerated track from the rest of the elements because of State law requirements. All of the jurisdictions in the Bay Area are currently required to update their respective housing elements and to incorporate the means to provide for its ‘regional fair share’ of housing units, including units affordable to low and very low income households.
The housing crunch in Marin is not limited to one or two jurisdictions. The lack of affordable housing has implications on many aspects of our community as a whole. Thus, the concurrent update requirement for all jurisdictions has presented a unique opportunity for all jurisdictions in the county to work together on addressing the significant housing issues that we currently face.
Starting in fall of 2000 the County and all eleven cities and towns entered into a collaborative planning process on housing. The outcome of this effort has two components: the Marin County Housing Workbook and Housing Elements for each jurisdiction.
Marin County Housing Workbook
The Housing Workbook goes beyond meeting State law requirements for Housing Elements by providing a “Tool Kit” of housing information which can then be customized to meet each jurisdiction’s individual needs.
The Workbook examines countywide housing issues, provide more detailed and comprehensive background analysis, and contain “best practices” of model policies, programs, and implementing tools.
While each local government has its own special circumstances and responsibilities, all jurisdictions in the county are faced with the same Housing Element update requirements. By using this collaborative approach, it is envisioned that the following benefits will be derived:
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Provide Better Data – Through our combined resources, we can support a more detailed and comprehensive level of data collection and analysis of countywide and jurisdiction-specific housing issues.
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Provide a Coordinated Response – The State requires that each jurisdiction develop a legally adequate Housing Element. By working together, all jurisdictions can provide a coordinated response to this State mandate and gain ‘strength in numbers’.
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Build a Framework for Implementation – A valuable outcome of this coordinated strategy will be countywide housing terms and methodologies, allowing us to communicate more effectively on housing issues, coordinate our future efforts, and monitor success over time.
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Develop Real Solutions – The critical nature of the need for affordable housing in Marin requires that we find real solutions, not just respond to the State’s mandate. A coordinated housing element effort will not result in a one-size-fits-all solution, but will provide an innovative approach to the problem.
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The Complete Housing Element Workbook is available for download. Please be cautioned that this is a large file (9.6MB) and only those with broadband connections should download it. Please click on the links above to download the individual workbook chapters.
Marin County Draft Housing Element
As of April 22, the County has met the statutory requirements and has received approval from the Department of Housing and Community Development on its Housing Element. It incorporates many of the recommendations contained in the Housing Workbook and sets quantified objectives and targets that exceed the minimum requirements set forth in State law. You may download the Draft Housing Element by clicking on the link below, the final version will be posted soon. Printed copies of the draft are available for viewing at County libraries and can be purchased through the Marin County Community Development Agency for $5.00. The final version will be available soon.
The Draft Housing Element is now available for download.
The Planning Commission reviewed the Draft Housing Element on May 5.
Comments on the Draft Housing Element should be submitted in writing to Dan Dawson, Senior Planner, Marin County Community Development Agency, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 308, San Rafael, CA 94903 or ddawson@marincounty.org.
Transportation
The transportation section describes
factors that have led to present conditions and includes policies and programs to provide an
effective transportation in the future, incorporating public transit and bicycles as well as the
private automobile.
Noise
The principal source of noise in Marin County
is from automobile traffic. Policies in this section protect new development and existing
development from noise sources.
Community Facilities
This section addresses four major
community facilities and services: water supply, sewage treatment, waste disposal and recycling,
and disposal of hazardous waste and materials.
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