The MARA board reviews all projects proposed for the area to ensure that the present quality of life for every resident is maintained or enriched. When a proposal might affect the entire neighborhood, the board contacts as many members as possible for individual input—so please send us your e-mail address when you join or renew.
Senior and disabled residents of Aldersly and the San Rafael Commons, concerned with their safety when using the intersection at Third and Union, circulated a petition that we presented to the city council and also met with the city traffic engineer, seeking to arrive at a solution. MARA members have spoken at city council meetings to emphasize the danger that exists for not only hundreds of high school students and other pedestrians, but drivers as well.
When Whole Foods proposed expanding its parking area, the board met with the company’s representatives and planners to offer our views. We also met jointly with Whole Foods and the City traffic engineer.
Since any changes at San Rafael High School affect our neighborhood greatly, we have been attending the school’s Site Committee meetings to keep tabs on the progress of the ongoing construction.
Two of our board members, who worked on committees that helped formulate the 20/20 General Plan, spent innumerable hours attending those meetings so that the concept guidelines our residents established several years ago for the Montecito area would be upheld and not be invalidated. These concepts were so well thought out that they are now to be incorporated in the General Plan as citywide guidelines.
In addition to maintaining our first triangle beautification at Park and Jewell Streets, members have planted over 1,500 bulbs in a triangle at Irwin and Mission (see our "Blossoms for Irwin Street" article for photos and additional information).