The beautiful San Geronimo Valley is not only the headwaters of the Lagunitas watershed that hosts the largest run of coho salmon in Northern California, but it is a vibrant community of four villages that honors these oldest of residents and defendsand actively protects its rural environment.
Here are some issues that don't get the press they should. . .


UPDATE: 10 MILLION GALLON TANK ON BLUEBERRY RIDGE.

When we see land as a community to which we belong we may begin to use it with love and respect.

Aldo Leopold

The San Geronimo Valley community was stunned to learn that MMWD staff was considering a proposal to bury a 10-million-gallon water tank in Blueberry Ridge above the village of Woodacre. The SGV Planning Group formed the Anti-Tank Committee and walked the site with our (then) water district

Representative, Jared Huffman. Subsequently, the Committee hosted a presentation attended by over 200 residents. Not only did the proposal violate ridgeline ordinances of the Marin Countywide Plan and the SGV Community Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 1977, but the construction and environmental impacts were enormous and inappropriate for our rural community.

Since then, over 1,400 outraged Valley residents have signed a petition against the Blueberry water tank proposal. Residents were particularly miffed that staff seemed to flaunt the district's condemnation powers to override the community's 30 year history of preserving and protecting its ridges from any intrusion or development. Huffman came out against it and subsequently, in the fall of '06, all candidates for his seat were also opposed. David Behar emerged as the top vote getter.

The Anti-Tank Committee became the Blueberry Ridge Alternatives Committee (BRAC) and resolved to more fully understand the needs that led MMWD staff to conceive this horrendous project. To that end, BRAC contracted with the firm of Olivia Chen Consultants to perform a study of Water District

operations and look for alternatives. At a meeting held in June, 2006, MMWD offered to fund the study if a "peer review" of the site selection criteria was performed, instead of investigating alternatives. BRAC proceeded with this option since it would be entirely funded by MMWD.

The review of District operations provided valuable information for understanding the District's needs. Not surprisingly though, given the narrow parameters, the "peer review" confirmed the logic behind a tank used to gravity feed water from a 600 foot elevation. BRAC also gained insight regarding the "actual need" for the tank, and for alternatives that may achieve similar goals with less impact on the environment. However, at this time, no professional study of alternatives to the proposed tank has taken place.

With this information in hand, BRAC will meet with the MMWD Board of Directors, District Staff and community to present our findings and reaffirm our position that the Community Plan forbids ridge line development and provides environmental protection that preserves and maintains the integrity of the rural character of the community.


ROBERTSON DEVELOPMENT.
Make me always the same as I am now
Havasupai chant
In the '70's not only did the residents of the Arroyo Road watershed in Lagunitas help in the effort to create the Community Plan, but soon after went one step further when inappropriate development threatened. They petitioned to down zone their properties to half what they were originally! Imagine their shock when a master developer recently purchased a 12.3 acre property and proposed a development that violates every aspect of the Community Plan that protects the neighborhood for what it is -- small homes close to local roads with steeply wooded hills as the backdrop below the broad shoulders of Mt. Barnabe. Here's the story. . .

Thomas Robertson submitted an application for a Lot Line line adjustment and Design Review to construct one 2 story and two 3 story houses averaging 2928 sq. ft., representing a 74% increase over existing average home sizes of 1679 sq. ft., plus two guest houses. It includes construction of two

domestic wells, a water tank, removal of over 45 trees, realignment of two existing intermittent drainage's and driveways including a 700' driveway slope up to 25% to serve the largest home at the top of the parcel 30' from an adjacent agricultural property. Grading and site disturbance of soil and trees would be excessive. Well water draw down would probably impact Arroyo Creek, home to spawning Coho salmon and steelhead trout. No one from the neighborhood supported the proposal.

On April 2, the Planning Commission denied the lot line adjustment application and design review in scathing detail. Key point's included: The proposal was inconsistent with the Marin Countywide Plan, the

Single-Famiy Residential Design Guidelines and the SGV Community Plan; the lot line adjustment would result in building locations that are not clustered; proposed homes sizes are incompatible with neighboring homes; the two upper homes are located in proximity to unstable soils on slopes upwards of 40% resulting in significant adverse change in topography due to grading; the 700' long driveway would result in excessive levels of site disturbance; grading for roads, driveway, and home sites have not been kept

to a minimum. They pointed out that grading and site disturbance could be minimized by exploring more compact clustering of the development on lower levels on the site as required by the Community Plan and evidenced by neighboring residences.

Robertson has appealed to the Board of Supervisors who will make a ruling on June 12. At a local meeting Supervisor Kinsey seemed to indicate that he would not support approval or denial of the application and has met with Robertson to encourage modification.

It's worth noting that typically supervisors follow the lead of the prevailing supervisor on development matters that don't impact their own district. At this writing, the pot is still being stirred.


SAN GERONIMO LIBRARY FACILITY
I have always imagined that Paradise would be a kind of library.

Jorge Luis Borges

Valley residents learned that the county was considering closing the SG Library, which is located in a school room leased from the Lagunitas School District. Distraught, they attended a meeting at the Fairfax library in large numbers. They learned that 80% of Valley residents used the Fairfax instead of he SG library, that school usage, despite its location, was low and there are unmet ADA requirements. Activists created Friends of the Library who are working to support changes that will increase library usage.

While short term, enthusiastic support is welcome and caused the county to reverse its direction, it will take long term usage commitments by community and school to justify tax dollars expenditures. The school board charged the Facilities Committee to review the county's ADA concerns and make a recommendation before lease expiration this fall..

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Lack of space prevents updating readers about Mease/Salah's willingness to allow public access on the Dickson fire road, Planning Group woes, Lahr's sacred oak, the community gym committees financial problems and the increase of jet night flights over the Valley. Next time. . .


Long live the San Geronimo Valley!

Jean Berensmeier discovered the Valley in 1953, is a founder of the

Community Center and Planning Group and served on the County Parks, Open

Space and Cultural Services Commission from 1977 - 1997.