Dear RGM Supporters,

RGM sends heartfelt wishes to our entire community for much peace and happiness in the coming New Year.

As we look back, RGM is so grateful that since our humble beginning in 2019 when about 60 community members gathered to explore how we could work together to help create a vibrant and sustainable Town Center at Northgate, so much has happened. 

With your steadfast support, we continue to move closer to creating a more welcoming and beautiful heart for our North San Rafael community.

Below we take this opportunity to provide a quick review of the latest on the Northgate Town Square Project.

Northgate Redevelopment Plans

In May, Merlone Geier, the developer, submitted updated PLANS.

Below are highlights of the major changes from the earlier plans.

1. Terminology has changed. Phase I and Phase II are now 2025 Master Plan and Vision 2040 respectively. The project plans now show all 1,422 housing units.

2. The library will stay where it is today, and the community center will be next door providing the library a space to hold special events.  The library restrooms will be open to the public even when the library is closed.

3. The townhomes shown on Residential 2, previously 85, now gain 15 additional townhomes which include 5 affordable, for a total of 100.

4. Vision 2040 depends on Kohl’s and Macy’s leaving, which is undetermined. However, the revised plan shows Residential 5 is reduced by 15 units, by “stepping down” on the edge at the entrance opposite Merrydale. Residential 6 gains 100 units, and the height is increased to six stories in partial areas and seven stories in other areas.

5. Bike and pedestrian connectivity have improved within the site.  All roads now have multi-modal paths. 

6. There will be bike racks and lockers near the bus stop adjacent to Rite Aid but no new safe transit center.

7. The big outdoor screen for the movie theater will now be on the side of the pavilion instead of the side of the cinema building.  The cinema building will be given a facelift using better materials.  

8. Pads 1 and 2 at the north end of the site have been switched.  Pad 1 will be a full-service, sit-down restaurant and pad 2 will be a drive-through.

9. Merlone Geier will contribute money towards the building of the promenade extension to the SMART train but the City will build it.

San Rafael Design Review Board (DRB)

The DRB which serves as an advisory body to the city to review and formulate recommendations on all major physical improvements requiring environmental and design review permits, held 2 meetings in 2023 (which the community was invited to attend and comment on) to review the Northgate Redevelopment Plans and make recommendations to the San Rafael Planning Commission.

RGM sent emails summarizing the meetings. If you missed them, please click the recaps below:

• Design Review Board 7.18.23: RECAP

• Design Review Board 9.6.23: RECAP

-Of considerable importance to note, Merlone Geier did not make any changes to the size of the Town Square in the 2025 Master Plan.  However, the DRB unanimously recommended a significant increase to the size of the Town Square at this meeting.

• *Fall 2023: A Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) will be released which includes all of the relevant technical studies addressing topics such as traffic, utilities, water supply, noise, air quality, and biological resources. There will be a minimum 45-day public review period for the public (that’s all of us) to submit written comments to the City, followed by a public meeting with the Planning Commission to discuss the DEIR and hear public input.

• *Fall/Winter 2024: Target Planning Commission Hearing(s) will be scheduled to consider the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and all of the requested entitlements for the project (e.g. design review, tentative subdivision map, zoning amendments and development agreement) and to provide a recommendation to the City Council regarding these entitlements which could include recommended changes to the project. Prior to this hearing the public will be provided a minimum 45 days to submit written comments to the City.

• *Winter 2024: Target City Council Hearing(s) will consider the Final EIR document and all of the requested entitlements for the project along with the recommendations from the Planning Commission and the Design Review Board. The City Council will be the final authority for making a determination on all of the requested entitlements as well as on the Final EIR.

*Note: This is the timeline posted on the City’s website. RGM has requested but has not received definite dates from the City. As soon as we hear back, we will send an E blast, informing all RGM supporters.

It’s critical that the city hear from the community and that as many of us as possible actively participate in helping to shape this important development which is the largest residential and commercial project in Marin!  Your voice does matter and together we can make a difference. So please…

• Attend City meetings 

• Write emails or send letters to the City

• Be on the lookout for RGM emails with details 

• Share this info with neighbors; it’s amazing how many people still don’t know what’s happening in their neighborhood and particularly with regard to the Northgate Town Square Project

• Encourage them to sign up HERE on RGM’s website, to receive our Emails and Newsletters 

To those generous supporters who donated on Giving Tuesday, thank you so much!

For those still considering a donation, please note that 2024 will be a critical year as we will need to hire subject matter and legal experts once the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is completed.

Many thanks to our volunteers, donors, and the entire RGM support network for your ongoing generosity and commitment.

Send us an EMAIL, sign up to VOLUNTEER, or DONATE. We look forward to hearing from you and continuing our mission to serve our community. 

Best regards,

RGM

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