Proposed San Rafael Development Stirs Controversy

SAN RAFAEL, CA — A developer who plans to topple mature nine redwood trees on the site of a proposed San Rafael housing project is facing fierce opposition.

CKD Enterprises Inc. wants to build one new single-family home, remodel another, and add an accessory dwelling unit on a parcel at 52 and 54 Fremont Road where a grove of 12 redwoods now stands.

The city’s Planning Commission approved the proposal in September but still needs approval from the City Council, and local activists are gearing up for a fight.

They’ve launched an online petition drive to have the proposal modified.

The proposal is expected to go before the City Council in January for a public hearing.

"This project is decimating an old grove of Redwood Trees, the largest being over 37" in diameter!” local resident Victoria Dewitt said.

Opposition to the plan have the gotten the attention of prominent environmentalists, with some backing the effort, The Marin Independent Journal reports.

Marin Audubon President Barbara Salzman, Sustainable San Rafael President Bill Carney along with members of the Sierra Club are among those who have publicly opposed the plan.

“The applicant has NOT shown a ‘diligent effort’ has been made to retain these trees nor the necessity to remove these trees to prevent ‘extreme economic hardship’ as required by tree preservation policies in the City's Hillside Design Guidelines.

Design Review Board member Sharon Kovalsky, who wants to send the proposal back to the developer for a redesign, at a recent meeting calls plan to topple redwood trees “insane.”

She said the trees are a key part of the ecosystem that help stabilize a hill and prevent flooding.

"I think it’s insane to take them out,” Kovalsky said.

“I would not like to be part of approving this project…It’s hubris to take them out."

The developer has proposed planting new trees to replace the redwoods, but that’s a no-go according to Kovalsky.

“I don’t think you should add redwoods, you should keep redwoods that you have,” she said.

An architect who represents CKD Enterprises said the developer understands the concerns about the fate of the trees, but Millard Arterberry said the proposed development is important, too, The IJ reports.

“They’re just as important in many ways,” Arterberry told the news outlet.