Hello Friends of Hauke Park,

We need your help now.  On Monday, February 7th, the Mill Valley City Council plans to take a significant step toward development of high-density housing at Hauke Park.  We need to demonstrate our continued commitment to pursue down-sizing the massive 4-story, 40+ unit building planned by the current City Council, and we ask that you join us by emailing your comments to the City before 4pm on Monday, February 7th.  Feel free to use the points below, or write your own, and send your emails to:  cityclerk@cityofmillvalley.org.  If you previously sent comments to the City, please re-send your comments to be logged in connection with the February 7th meeting. Register for the Zoom meeting here

What is happening on February 7th?  The City plans to enter into a binding contract for development of the 1 Hamilton site (the Agreement).  Although the City takes pains to describe this as nothing more than a negotiation agreement, the Agreement commits the City to make an interest-free loan of $150,000 to affordable housing developer EAH Housing to fund costs for site planning, design and community outreach.  If the City declines to proceed to a final agreement, EAH does not need to repay the $150,000.  Most important, the Agreement shifts from the City to the developer all responsibility for:  site analysis and design elements, including the number of units, the building height and footprint, the location of the building(s) within the site, the relocation of existing public parking spaces to the surrounding area, the relocation of the restrooms and electric charging to an undetermined location, and all community outreach and engagement.  Read the Staff Report and Proposed Agreement here

FOHP believes it is inappropriate for the City to enter into the Agreement for the following reasons:

• City Unresponsive to Concern of Neighbors.  The City continues to ignore all of the concerns raised by residents about the safety of park users, neighborhood overflow parking, traffic, protection of our open space and sensitive wetlands, or the fact that the City plans to far exceed the density of the surrounding neighborhood and the density allowed under existing zoning.  The City should address these issues before committing public funds to development.

• City Attempts to Relinquish Responsibility.  The Agreement will shift to EAH Housing 100% of the responsibility for site design and community outreach.  It is inappropriate for employees of EAH Housing, rather than our elected representatives, to be charged with addressing our concerns on these important issues.  Mill Valley residents and voters should not be relegated to voicing their concerns at Coffee Klatches hosted by a company that is not aligned with their interests.  Like any developer, EAH Housing has every motivation to maximize density at the lowest cost.  And the City will have every motivation to rubber stamp any design proposed by EAH Housing – or forfeit the $150,000 payment.

• City Not Transparent About Developer Selection.  The City maintains that it selected EAH Housing based on its qualifications and the recommendations of a selection committee.  We do not question the qualifications of EAH Housing.  However, the City fails to mention the critical fact that EAH Housing is the only developer that responded to the City’s Request for Qualifications.  Instead of questioning why no other developers are interested in building on 100% free land that comes with valuable tax breaks, the City is doubling down on the 1 Hamilton site.  In this context, the “loan” appears to be a payment to keep EAH Housing interested in the Hamilton site.  

• City Used Flawed Site Selection Process.  The City maintains that the Hamilton site was selected after an analysis of over 70 city-owned sites, but the selection process has been shown to be deeply flawed.  Much of the ‘analysis’ was verbal with no record, and the City’s conclusions have already been shown to be incorrect on features such as slope, walkability, and access to public transit.   The City’s own expert stated that another site was preferable, but Mayor McCauley publicly refused the request of another City Council member to consider the preferable site.  Until the City is prepared to be more transparent and explain the site selection, there should be no further action with respect to 1 Hamilton.

• City Again Plans to Avoid Environmental Review.  The City continues to try and avoid environmental review by arguing that it has not yet committed to a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  The City’s position lacked credibility before this, but with the addition of a legally binding development contract it is unbelievable that the City clings to this position.  There is no longer any question that the City has committed to development of the Hamilton site as indicated by the following actions:  the City has no other sites under consideration, the City declared no other sites “surplus” except the Hamilton site, the City has already selected a developer for the Hamilton site, and the City now intends to enter into a binding contract for development of the site! 

Click on FAQ to read more about FOHP’s mission and its position on the 1 Hamilton project.  Your continued support is critical!

Warmly,

Friends of Hauke Park Advisory Committee