Three years after Novato Unified hired a staffer to build housing for its employees, the public has seen the first drawings. Staff housing director Derek Knell presented nine development options for two district properties at a trustees' study session on Oct. 20.
"This is a major milestone," Knell said, according to the Marin Independent Journal.
The two sites
San Andreas is a 26-acre property off San Marin Drive and would likely be built first, mostly as houses for sale. Trustees preferred "option two," which keeps a wetland and park area and includes 104 houses and 26 "duets": smaller side-by-side homes that would rent at 20% below market. Trustee Julie Jacobson suggested splitting some single-family homes into duets to add more units.
Meadow Park Annex is 3.7 acres on Nave Drive in Hamilton. It would have rental apartments and townhomes paid for with proceeds from the San Andreas sales, with 20% below market. Trustees asked for a hybrid of two three-story options with covered parking and a childcare center.
The district would create a public benefit corporation to manage the rentals. Most of the 13 public speakers favored keeping the San Andreas wetlands.
Why the district is doing this
On its housing page, the district cites unreliable state funding, teacher shortages and long commutes from unaffordable Marin housing. It says no construction plans have been finalized.
"This is not about housing — it's never been about housing," Knell said. "It's about public education and our ability to deliver high quality, consistent education right here in Novato."
What's next
The district's advisory committee meets Nov. 9 to review the options. Trustees are scheduled to act on one plan per site on Jan. 26, 2027, after which the district would apply to the city for entitlements. Knell said the studies have been paid from the restricted facilities fund, which would be mostly reimbursed once rent starts coming in.
The district is also working through budget cuts: Novato Unified's $6.5 million deficit plan.