Howard Trust (CLAM) Emergency Coastal Development Permit (P6393)

The applicant, the Community Land Trust Association of West Marin (CLAM), on behalf of property owner Howard Trust ETAL, is requesting approval of an Emergency Coastal Development Permit (“Emergency CDP”) to convert and use the existing hotel located at 13275 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Inverness, California, as income-restricted dwelling units.

The property consists of 20 lodging units and a detached three-bedroom single-family residence that serves as the manager's unit, totaling 21 units. The lodging units include both studios and one-bedroom apartments, distributed across five separate buildings. Each unit features a bathroom and a kitchenette, making them self-sustaining. The proposed Emergency Community Development Permit (CDP) would allow for the conversion of existing lodging units into 10 affordable housing units, totaling 14 bedrooms. There are no plans for exterior or interior renovations associated with the Emergency CDP. No changes are proposed to the existing setbacks, building height, footprint, exterior massing, septic system, site circulation, and onsite parking.

Emergency Coastal Permit approval is required pursuant to Marin County Local Coastal Program, Implementation Section 22.68.030, because the project proposed a development in the Coastal Zone. 

Existing Conditions

The subject property measures approximately 14.97 acres (or approximately 652,093 square feet) and is developed with an existing collection of longstanding lodging and cottage structures historically operated as hotel and visitor-serving accommodations associated with the Inverness Valley Inn. Existing site improvements include cottage structures, parking and circulation areas, walkways, patios, tennis court hardscape, pool and deck areas, utility infrastructure, drainage systems, culverts, and an existing onsite wastewater treatment system and related developed site improvements. The existing hotel/cottage use includes approximately 21 lodging units with 23 bedrooms, and a manager’s unit (a three-bedroom detached single-family unit).

Scope of Emergency Coastal Development Permit

This Emergency CDP request is limited to the immediate change in use and occupancy of existing structures as income-restricted units for agricultural workers who face imminent displacement due to closures of ranches throughout West Marin. The Emergency CDP is not requesting new development, improvement, subdivision, septic expansion, drainage work, vegetation removal, or other physical alteration of the site that would otherwise qualify as “development” under the Coastal Act. 

Zoning: C-RCR (Resort and Commercial Recreation) 
Countywide Plan Designation: C-RC ( Recreational Commercial Coastal Zone)
Community Plan (if applicable): Inverness Ridge