Editorial: Redevelopment opportunities key for state housing goals in Corte Madera

Corte Madera is not alone in having to take a new approach, paving the way to build housing.

The days of local jurisdictions giving state housing quotas lip service are gone. Sacramento, citing a statewide housing crisis, is requiring local municipalities to promote housing construction, even though around here local political winds usually blow strongly in the opposite direction.

But local failure to meet the state’s new and higher housing quotas comes with a risk that the state will further erode local control over land-use decisions and requirements.

Corte Madera faces a state quota for building 725 new residences over the next eight years.

That amounts to an 18% increase in the town’s housing stock.

It wasn’t that long ago that Corte Madera town leaders were drawing flack for having approved the construction of a large apartment complex on the old WinCup plant site. The town was trying to comply with its state housing quota – one that was modest in comparison to the state’s current mandates.

Corte Madera is facing the same challenge as most of Marin’s small towns and cities – there aren’t many wide-open sites left for development.

Many towns and cities are hoping to meet their quotas by allowing the construction of more second units. That strategy raises understandable concerns about parking and traffic in neighborhoods served by narrow and winding streets.

Corte Madera town officials are taking a different approach, looking at redevelopment opportunities.

A primary possibility is the old Cinema I property. The big-screen movie house is shuttered and the property could be redeveloped into housing for about 63 units of affordable and, possibly, senior housing.

The town is also looking at other properties in the area, which houses commercial uses and apartment complexes.

It is even earmarking the Macy’s building at The Village shopping center as a possible future site for housing.

The option will depend on Macy’s future business decisions, but the location makes sense when it comes to building housing close to jobs, shopping and transportation services.

The town has outlined a number of possible sites and housing numbers and is asking for the public’s opinions.

Its outreach efforts will also include pop-up presentations at community events, leading up to an Aug. 8 deadline for public comment.

For many Corte Madera residents, the size and scope of the WinCup-site development was a surprise. Town leaders are making an effort to make sure local citizens know what’s coming.

The draft housing plan is a new way of looking at the town’s land-use and could bring some big changes seen in the local landscape. Certainly, some of the biggest seen in recent years.

Corte Madera’s approach of focusing on redevelopment opportunities and its diligence in reaching out to local residents is a strong and admirable start.