Singer Songwriter Jesse Colin Young Speaks Out Against North Marin Water District Project
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --We are writing you to share our concern for the North Marin Water District (NMWD) PRE Tank 4A Replacement Project (P1927). The NMWD has proposed to build a 34' wide, 20' high concrete water tank only 5 feet from our property on the Inverness Ridge, which is downhill from the tank site. Our property is the "Ridgetop" made famous in song by Jesse Colin Young, a pioneer of the California sound of the 1970's. Our home there was lost to the Mount Vision fire 1995. It was a painful loss.
The NMWD is proposing to replace 2 smaller aesthetically pleasing redwood tanks (one that burned in the 1995 Mount Vision fire and one that still exists) that were 16' tall and 10' around with this enormous concrete structure that better belongs along HWY 101 in an enormous field in East Marin not in the last ridge of mountains before you come to the Pacific Ocean. The Project will have environmental impacts and is inconsistent with the Marin Interim Zoning Ordinance that applies to this outstanding coastal area. If this goes through they will have a created a template for other rustic, pristine and carefully developed single home properties that will scar the area and devalue homes and properties. That is if they succeed.
The NMWD never discussed the project with us as a neighboring property, but only discussed with our neighbor, Wynne Furth who got them to push the tank 25 feet from her and towards our line. The Deputy Zoning Administrator approved a Coastal Permit for this project, even though it does not comply with the criteria for a Coastal Permit - including height restrictions and the requirement that development be compatible with the existing environment. The NMWD has claimed they don't need to comply with the Code's height limits. The proposed tank will be covering our entire Western view on top of the tallest point on a rural hill with few houses, pine trees and the National seashore off to the west and south. As we must comply with Fire codes there is no way to cover up this monstrosity.
We appealed the permit for this project to the Planning Commission - they agreed that the tank did not comply with applicable height limitations and required the tank to be reduced in height. The Planning Commission recognized that the tank would have serious impacts on our property. However, NMWD has now appealed against the Planning Commission's decision to the Board of Supervisors.
We have attempted to find room for compromise on this project - such as burying the tank further or moving it toward the center of the NMWD property (we previously asked them to replace the existing 2 tanks with similar sized tanks, but they said it was too costly). But NMWD has not been open to other options. All in all, they will not even speak to us.
We feel this is an important story for folks to hear about. "When utilities are above the law" is a great start to this conversation.
Thank you for your interest. The Supervisor hearing is set on Dec 18.
Sincerely,
Connie & Jesse Colin Young
SOURCE Jesse Colin Young
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