Body of News Release
San Rafael, CA –Staff at the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) are advising the Planning Commission to require a full environmental analysis of a proposed, 36-home subdivision in Lucas Valley. The change comes after the developer requested that CDA consider its request for new waivers in a letter submitted on the eve of a May 29 Planning Commission meeting.
At that hearing, the developer and planning staff agreed to a continuance, so County Counsel and CDA could fully evaluate the letter’s claims and the exceptions requested by the developer to development standards under County and State Law. CDA had initially recommended a summary denial of the project based on the applicant’s proposed grading plans, which were inconsistent with County requirements, as well as insufficient drainage and drainage access easement.
CDA Principal Planner Immanuel Bereket said that requiring an environmental review does not mean the subdivision application is approved or authorized.
“With the updated recommendation in place, the subdivision application will undergo environmental review, allowing for careful examination of its details and implications,” said Bereket. “Following this, the project will be presented to the Planning Commission for consideration during a future hearing date, where the public will have the opportunity to discuss its merits and address any concerns.”
CDA previously approved the housing portion of the developer’s application ministerially, because it complies objective standards imposed by applicable law. Typically, an application is exempt from environmental review if it is entitled to ministerial review and meets all of the applicable requirements. However, the developer’s subdivision application is not entitled to ministerial review, and did not meet applicable standards. So, staff initially recommended it be denied.
The housing application approval authorizes 36 detached residences, 15 of which would include optional junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs). Thirty-one dwelling units would be market-rate units, while five would be deed-restricted below-market-rate units (three for very low-income and two for lower-income households). However, the subdivision application, which proposes to divide the property into 36 separate lots, cannot be considered for approval until the environmental analysis is done on the application.
The property, roughly two miles west of Highway 101 between San Rafael and Novato, is 60 acres in area but only 7.5 acres on the east side of the property would be developed. The western section of the property would remain as open space managed by a new home-owners association. There is an existing abandoned home on the property as well as a barn, a well, and a septic system.
The CDA staff recommendation on the subdivision will be posted with the agenda and materials on or before June 18. The Planning Commission will continue the hearing on the item on June 23 at 1:30 p.m.
The Planning Commission meets in Suite 330 at the Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael. Community members are encouraged to email comments to Principal Planner Immanuel Bereket or submit them in-person during the meeting at the Civic Center in Suite 330. All meetings are livestreamed and archived on the County’s website.
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