Update: Novato City Council voted 5 – 0 to renew its urban growth boundary with a vote of the people in November 2017. Get the details on this decision here.
The city of Novato, California is ready to renew its urban growth boundary (UGB) before it expires at the end of 2017. With two SMART stations underway and Mt. Burdell rising on the edge of town, renewing the city’s UGB is critical. Greenbelt Alliance is now coordinating with local partners and the Novato City Council to develop and place a renewal measure on the November 2017 ballot.
The voters of Novato passed Measure G to adopt a UGB by 70% in November 1997. The UGB was endorsed by the entire City Council, county supervisors representing Novato, Greenbelt Alliance, and Marin Conservation League. This voter-approved UGB expires November 4, 2017.
Extending the UGB with a vote of the people will maintain the strength and intention of the UGB. If the voters approve the UGB, then only a vote of the people can change it.
Back in 2014, a previous Novato City Council voted 4 – 1 to renew the UGB without voter approval. Renewing the UGB with a City Council vote alone opens the door to changes in policies and the boundary without full support of the voters.
Given the strong voter support for the UGB and continued development pressure in Marin County and the North Bay, Greenbelt Alliance convinced the current Novato City Council to review its position and renew the UGB with a vote of the people in November 2017.
Renewing via a vote of the people:
- Results in a UGB supported by a majority of the residents of the City.
- Takes the City Council out of the position of adopting the measure who would later be subject to receiving pressure to amend the policy.
In Sonoma County, all nine cities have voter-approved UGBs. In 2016, the cities of Sebastopol and Cotati renewed UGBs with voter measures for 25 and 30 years, respectively. In the South Bay, the city of Gilroy adopted a new one. Thirty-eight cities across the Bay Area have voter-approved urban growth boundaries.
More Resources:
Novato Voters to Decide Fate of Green Belt by the Marin Independent Journal
Review of the Draft General Plan 2035
City of Novato General Plan Presentation
What’s a General Plan & How Can it Impact Our Climate?
For more information contact Regional Director Teri Shore.
