This is not a cop. (But he does play one on Martha.)

This fellow has certainly made his mark. For the last several weeks he has been patrolling above Tiburon demanding that unsuspecting hikers stay away from Martha Property trails, the very trails that have been open to everyone.
 
Along with years of construction, miles of new roads and fences, large houses and unprecedented traffic congestion, it appears that we now have this type of greeting to look forward to if the proposed housing development moves forward.
 
Tiburon Open Space is working hard to avoid all of that. We believe in property rights, so our goal is simple: we want to purchase the property, and keep the open space open. No patrols required.
 
If this sounds like a good idea to you, we would appreciate your help. And a financial contribution. We are moving into complex new legal and environmental territory that will require new and expanded levels of expertise. And that takes resources.
 
If this matters to you, please get involved. Like us on Facebook…the link is below. Or send this note to some friends. Spread the word. Stop by our website. Give us a call.
 
Thank you for reading this. We hope to talk soon.

Tiburon Open Space

Let’s save Martha.

Facebook
Instagram
Website
415-435-9934

Construction has begun on Martha. (That is not a typo.)

Construction has begun on Martha. (That is not a typo.)

A few weeks ago they drilled into this ancient rock on the Martha Property. Old didn’t matter. Natural didn’t matter. Nothing mattered save the desire to keep people away. This unquestionably foreshadows the owner’s regard for this land, and is an ominous warning of the development that is to come. 

Make no mistake: construction has begun on Martha.

We are Tiburon Open Space and determined to do what we can to see that this will be the only construction that takes place on the Martha Property. 

In preparing for that future, we ask for your help.  The ongoing legal wrangling continues, and a most difficult and complex appraisal process is next. 

Please make a contribution to help us keep this magnificent space open to all and forever. 

Here’s another idea: like us on Facebook. Drop us a line. Give us a call.

Thank you for reading this. Let’s talk again soon.

Tiburon Open Space

Let’s save Martha.


Facebook
Instagram
Website
415-789-8945

“It’ll never happen” just happened.

TOS Nov Newsletter_edited.jpg

Read it and weep. The 110 acres of magnificent Martha Property open space above Tiburon are now closed. No more hikers. No more dogs. No nothing save the owner’s plan to build houses and miles of fences and roads. This is the very definition of irreparable loss.

We want the owners to sit down with us and agree on a price so that we can purchase Martha. Fair and square. We will then invite you to celebrate with us as we remove that sign…and all of the others like it.

We are Tiburon Open Space and we are preparing for that moment. First, we need your help. Legal arguments continue; difficult environmental and appraisal issues lie ahead. We need funds to keep it all going.  

One day we hope to say, “It’ll never happen,” and be certain that it won’t.

Thank you for reading this. We’ll speak again soon.

Tiburon Open Space

Let’s save Martha.

Facebook
Instagram
Website
415-789-8945

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November 2016 Update

private property large.jpg

Hello, again.

(A lot has happened since we last spoke.)

At Tiburon Open Space, we care about saving our remaining open space from development. You may remember our work to save the Old St. Hilary’s open space, right there next to the church in Tiburon.  

The Martha Property is 110 acres of the most beautiful, diverse urban area open space in the world. It sits atop Tiburon, and shares a property line with the Old St. Hilary’s open space.

Martha should not become a housing development. The photo above? The ominous first step in that process.

The owners have their rights. We would like to conduct a third-party appraisal, agree a fair market value for and then purchase Martha from them. We have work to do.

We ask for your help in raising awareness about what is at stake. We ask you to go to our website and make a financial contribution. There are complex legal and environmental issues ahead that demand subject matter expertise. We need your help.

We hope to speak with you again soon.
 
Tiburon Open Space

Let’s save Martha.

Facebook, Instagram, 415-789-8945, tiburonopenspace@gmail.com

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August 2016 Update

August 2016 Update

The Martha Company continues to explore how to solve its problems with providing sufficient water pressure to fight fires and how to mitigate for serious impacts to special status species. Read more...

Summer 2015 Update

Summer 2015 Update

The last official activity occurred in March 2014 when the Marin County Board of Supervisors refused to certify the Easton Point Environmental Impact Report.  There has been no significant news since then, however we believe the developers are actively working to address the Supervisors’ concerns. Read more...

September 2014 Update

September 2014 Update

Martha project enters the “merits” phase

The proposed Martha Property subdivision (officially known as Easton Point) has entered the merits phase. In this phase The Martha Company must create a detailed development proposal. It must address the County’s concerns from the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) plus quality of life and local impacts such as traffic and safety, number and size of houses, water pressure, landslides, visual impacts and endangered species.

At the conclusion of this phase, the specifics of the project and the conditions imposed by the County will be finalized in a Resolution of Approval. The Resolution will be presented in a single hearing before the County Planning Commission followed by one or more hearings before the Board of Supervisors.

The Supervisors, who make the final decisions, will consider the project merits as well as certification of the EIR – an action they deferred in March citing a need for more detail. 

The Tiburon Open Space Committee continues to work to understand the myriad issues raised by the possibility of building on this magnificent land. We completely agree that the owners have a right to develop and maximize the value of their property but we insist they take full responsibility for the risks and costs of doing so.

The Committee is hopeful that some or all of the Martha Property can be purchased and deeded to Marin County as permanent open space.  Your tax-deductible donation will assist our work and be most gratefully received. Click here to donate!

New Director at Romberg Tiburon Center
Our “Tiburon Ridge” vision is to purchase the Martha Property and combine it with adjacent open land including Old St. Hilary’s Open Space and potentially the Romberg Tiburon Center (RTC) to create a 292-acre regional park.  The size, beauty and resources of Tiburon Ridge will attract support from major donors.  In order to fully realize this vision, we need the support of San Francisco State University, which owns RTC. 

The University has just selected a dynamic new director for RTC, Dr. Karina Nielsen.  We have met with her and found her engaged and open to further discussion about Tiburon Ridge. We look forward to continuing the dialog!