Mill Valley Advances Controversial Housing Development

MILL VALLEY, CA — Mill Valley’s City Council advanced a controversial affordable housing development Monday, but the 1 Hamilton Drive project is not yet a done deal.

The five-member council voted unanimously in support of a proposal to move forward with plans to build a 100 percent affordable 40-unit development on city-owned land.

The proposal drew lengthy comments on both sides of the issue at Monday's meeting, with supporters arguing for the need for affordability and opponents expressing concerns of increased traffic and parking issues that would come with increased density.

The council moved ahead with support of the Request for Qualifications to solicit interest from non-profit mission driven institutions to partner with the city on developing the land near its Public Safety Building.

Councilmember Urban Carmel said opponents of the development will still have a have their voices heard, calling Monday night’s vote “very much the beginning of the process.”

“This is a discussion that we’re going to have with our community and with our development partners,” Carmel said.