Friends of Mill Valley

The Meadow at Bayfront Park

The “Meadow” at Bayfront Park in Mill Valley was first envisioned in 2003 during a public review of the Master Plan for Bayfront Park. At that time, there was much competition for the limited waterfront land between active and passive recreational users. A short time later, Friends of Bayfront Meadow (FOBM) was founded by a group of local citizens for the purpose of preserving and enhancing this special five-acre piece of open space. It is intended for passive recreational use by nature-loving Mill Valley residents. The Meadow is located alongside Hamilton Drive, across the street from the Mill Valley Public Safety Buildings, adjacent to the 800-foot tidal shoreline of Upper Richardson Bay.

Dear Planning Commissioners:

I'm writing to comment on the proposal to build 20 units of multi‐family housing at 575 East Blithedale Avenue, near the intersection of Blithedale Avenue and Camino Alto, and to recommend against the re‐zoning of the property. I am regrettably unable to attend the Planning Commission meeting on the 10th of May.

I'll leave the details of the proposal's numerous flaws to others. But suffice it to say this project is more suited to being built next to a freeway in Pleasanton than in our small‐scaled community.

Mike,

As a native Mill Valley’ian of 34 years I have seen significant change to our town. Some of which I have supported (rec center and dog park) and several others I’ve opposed. I’m writing you today in regards to the 20 unit, multi-family development that Mr. Richardson has proposed. In short, this is a horrible idea. That section of town is already FAR too congested and this would only make it worse. Further, in my opinion (and I’m guessing in the opinion of many others) creating such a large structure at that location would be a serious eye sore. Finally, this would also be dangerous for motorists & cyclists in that we already have heavy east/west traffic on East Blithedale as well as the cars merging onto East Blithedale from Ryan & Nelson and now you want to add more? It simply doesn’t make sense.

Dear Mr Moore: I use the Locust Avenue exit from Sycamore Park to get onto E Blithedale around 8:15AM as I head for 101. It sometimes takes three red light traffic changes for me to get through Camino Alto. How many more red lights will it take if the Ricfhardson project is approved? One thing we do not need in Mill Valley is more traffic conjestion at places like Camino Alto and E Blithedale. Please keep this in mind while deciding whether or not to grant a re-zoning of the property involved. Mill Valley is a wonderful place to live; let's not spoil it.

Robert & Lee Skutch
110 Locust St

Dear Mr. Moore:

We have lived at our current address on Marion Avenue for twenty-three years. We are nicely situated for walking to downtown Mill Valley, along narrow roads lined with magnificent redwoods; and in the other direction, we may drive five minutes down Edgewood-Molino to Miller Avenue. Our house and its location in this beautiful city feels like a privilege! We take good care of our property, pay our taxes, and shop mostly in Mill Valley -- checking local merchants first (and, if time permits, allowing merchants to order things for us--especially books--rather than spend our money elsewhere). We are "Friends of the MV Library" and frequent patrons (at least the writer is). And this year, we're hoping to help plant daffodils along the main streets.

Dear Mr. Moore,

I am writing today to kindly ask that you reject the proposed 20-unit multi family development at 575 East Blithedale. The development itself is completely inappropriate and out-of-place for the area. It will be a true blight of the neighborhood if this passes through. There is already way too much traffic on East Blithedale and this development would just make an already bad situation even worse. Thanks for your understanding.

Sincerely,
Geoff Flint
Mill Valley resident, 424 West Blithedale Avenue

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Information

Dear Mr. Moore:

Citing a project as being ugly or out of place is rarely a deterrent to its coming to fruition. And certainly the concepts of what might qualify as tasteful or in keeping with "Mill Valley's character"--let alone its best interests--are often precariously balanced on a slippery slope. Such value judgements aside, the incongruity of the proposed development at the corner of East Blithedale and Camino Alto, in terms of esthetics and safety, is breathtaking. Words fail me. Please ..... no.

Benson L. Kaukonen, Ph.D.

This project is too big and at the wrong place....the most crowded intersection of the entire town.

NO MORE zoning variances.

David Block
Laverne Avenue, Mill Valley

(South Elevation of the project from the developer's draft EIR.)

Developer Phil Richardson has applied for approval to build 20 attached, three story (front elevation as high as 75'), multi-family units up on the hillside lot on East Blithedale Avenue, a few feet west of the Camino Alto intersection.

We believe the height, unit density and building masses are grossly inappropriate and out of character with the surrounding one story single family neighbors. This violates the City's Design Guidelines and the General Plan.