Body of News Release
Marin City, CA – A smaller affordable housing project in Marin City is closer to reality, pending a Board of Supervisors review of an agreement with the developer set for February 11 at its regularly scheduled board meeting.
The Board will review a staff recommendation to approve an alternate project agreement between the County and the project developer, The Pacific Companies (TPC), that sets out a pathway for the development of 42 units of housing at the Drake Avenue property instead of the originally approved 74. The smaller project was conceived in response to concerns expressed by the Marin City community.
The Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) has negotiated a detailed solution with the developer that calls for 42 units of affordable housing at 825 Drake Avenue in Marin City with the remaining 32 units to be constructed at 150 Shoreline Avenue in unincorporated Mill Valley.
“The community spoke clearly about their concerns and the County and the developer listened,” said District 3 Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, who represents Marin City. “Reducing the Marin City project to 42 instead of 74 is a significant concession, and I appreciate the work of the community, the developer, and CDA staff.”
The Marin City project is expected to include 45 parking spaces, the maximum possible on the site without adding a parking structure, and a modified design for the five-story building. If the development at 150 Shoreline Avenue moves forward, the building at Drake Avenue will occupy less of the site than the previous version, preserving more views for seniors at the adjacent Village Oduduwa and easing circulation.
In 2020, the County approved a proposal five-story, 74-unit affordable housing project. The project is being developed under the provisions of Senate Bill 35, a 2017 state law that allows certain projects to bypass normally required environmental review, move faster through the review process, and restricts local agencies from rejecting projects if they have minimum affordable housing guarantees.
“It’s important to acknowledge that this solution isn’t all the change that Marin City hoped for with this project,” said CDA Director Sarah Jones, “but it does directly respond to some very substantive concerns that the community has. The approach ensures that badly needed new affordable housing is built in the county yet reduces the impact on Marin City. What the agreement going to the Board would accomplish is a shared commitment from both TPC and the County to do our part on seeing this change through.”
The Board will also be asked to approve the hiring of Sicular Consulting, an environmental consulting firm to prepare an addendum to an existing environmental impact report related to the Shoreline Highway site. That project is expected to be reviewed by the Tam Valley Design Review Board in early March.
The February 11 meeting of the Board of Supervisors will start at 9 AM in the Board chamber, Suite 330, Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael. This item is expected to be heard before the lunch-hour recess. The public is invited to address the Board regarding this matter in person, virtually or via written comment. Anyone may watch the livestream and participate remotely through the County website.
Interested community members can review all updates and information about the projects on the 825 Drake webpage or 150 Shoreline webpage.
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