December 28, 2007

Marin Gets a Green Trophy

With Mt. Tam presiding in the background, whales gliding along the shores of Pt. Reyes and all around natural beauty - no surprise that Marin County has been acting green for decades.

More recently, the county put their attitudes to actions - by incorporating a Sustainability Team within the County’s Community Development Agency’s Planning Department.  In 1999, when dot com was more the catch phrase and long before “green” became mainstream, this group was created “… to work with others to develop policies and programs that will help make the County of Marin healthy, vibrant and sustainable for many generations into the future.

The MarinIJ reports that the efforts of the Sustainability Team have recently been given the approving nod by the American Planning Association.  Called to the podium, Marin is receiving their 2008 National Planning Excellence Award for Implementation.

With initiatives in place, such as encouraging more green buildings, developing a program to encourage local Marin businesses to go green, resources on local organic farms and developing strategies with an aim at becoming fossil free, the Sustainability Team has many programs and projects that promote and encourage a more ecological and sustainable Marin way of life.

While all good - one can’t help but notice - as one Marin resident pointed out in the MarinIJ article, that, “… the county’s new “green” plan drew criticism for eliminating or reducing the potential of proposed affordable housing sites in favor of protecting more open space from development.”  As we know that the Marin median price hovers around the million dollar mark, some local workers - such as school teachers and county employees - who can’t afford the nearly seven figure home will have to commute longer.  And thus, more pollution spewing out of the pipes.  Guess you can’t have your cake and eat it too.  Or can you?