September 14, 2008
Hon. Gary Wilmot, Mayor
Members of the City Council
City of Marina
5211 Hillcrest Avenue
Marina, CA 93933

Re: Senior Residential Community

Dear Mayor Wilmot and Council Members,

The League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula would like to commend you for your recent direction to set new guidelines for development of the property previously approved for the Cypress Knolls project.

You have noted the great need for senior housing facilities throughout our area, and recommended that a portion of the former Fort Ord should be used for this purpose which will serve the region as well as the City. You have also recognized that many people who are making the decision to move to a senior community hope to find the "continuum of care" features, so that as their needs change they will not have to face a series of moves.

The Cypress Knolls project clearly can be improved upon in terms of efficient land use. The old-style subdivision layout with many small individual homesites, and characteristic street patterns was wasteful and unimaginative. Most prospective residents looking for independent-living units are comfortable with housing which is more compact than the homes they own and offers freedom from maintenance. Well-constructed and designed units, with common walls and individual garden patios or decks, can still provide privacy and outdoor living areas. More community open space can be maintained for everyone's enjoyment, or additional visitor parking if needed.

Including a range of housing choices and services will allow more creative use of the site, clustering of buildings, some multi-story, and centralizing the activity centers.

Prospective developers should commit to a mixed-income project, preferably exceeding Marina's inclusionary requirement for serving low and moderate-income residents. The assisted living and skilled nursing components should be designed as part of the project plan, with a clear timetable for their construction.

While a new project has the potential to be an environmentally superior alternative to Cypress Knolls, it may have different impacts. When one has been selected for your consideration, we urge you to prepare a thorough Initital Study as the basis for determing the type of environmental document that is needed to withstand any possible legal challenges.

Thank you for considering our comments.

Sincerely,
     Janet Brennan, President