MARCH 5th IS THE DEADLINE FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THE NORTHGATE TOWN SQUARE PROJECT DEIR

Dear RGM Supporters,

THANK YOU to our Supporters who have donated money to help us hire experts to help analyze the DEIR; and also to those who attended the Planning Commission Meeting on February 13th.

The City of San Rafael has released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Northgate Town Square Project. This draft is an important first step in producing the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) which is required before the project is approved. The DEIR identifies and analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the proposed Northgate project and the mitigation measures, if any, that are needed to address significant impacts.

Public Comments Are Urgently Needed to Help Determine the Future of Northgate

Once the FEIR is completed the Project will move forward. Send your Comments and Have your Voice Heard! (more info below). The deadline is March 5th.

Issues RGM is focusing on:

• Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases

  • Impacts on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions are underestimated because the DEIR’s studies rely on an incorrect baseline of a fully functioning mall (we all know that has not been the case for many years)

  • Propose to decrease traffic by decreasing the number of residences, which would decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality

  • Propose to require an onsite construction manager who is responsible for all mitigation measures and who is available to respond to public complaints

• Pollution and Health

  • DEIR underestimates health risks because it relies on incorrect meteorological data not representative for San Rafael (inhalation of construction and operational emissions may result in cancer risks and other adverse health effects)

  • Residents of adjacent and nearby senior facilities are at particular risk from emissions

• Noise

  • DEIR noise studies use inaccurate measurements of existing ambient noise

  • DEIR underestimates the need for construction noise to be regulated under the City’s Noise Ordinance

  • Even with proposed mitigation measures, noise levels in surrounding neighborhoods will exceed City standards

  • Decreasing future traffic would decrease ongoing operational noise

  • Police are responsible for noise enforcement and need training and noise measuring equipment

• Traffic

  • DEIR traffic studies use a wrong baseline of a fully functional mall, so it looks like the traffic effects are not significant

  • Residents of nearby senior facilities and clients of Guide Dogs for the Blind are particularly at risk from increased traffic

  • DEIR traffic studies need to include the three roundabouts planned on Freitas Parkway

  • Eliminating the drive-through restaurants would decrease traffic

  • Including a supermarket and other services onsite would decrease traffic

  • Reducing the number of apartments (Residence 4) would decrease traffic

• Evacuation Routes and Safety

  • DEIR does not consider the risks of urban wildfires

  • Terra Linda’s only two evacuation routes go past the mall

  • Eucalyptus trees along Los Ranchitos Rd. across from the proposed 7-story building are an evacuation hazard in case of urban wildfire

  • Evacuation procedures and training need to be included in the EIR

• Insufficient Public Open Space

  • The project does not provide an additional 4 acres of park per 1000 new residents as required by the City’s General Plan

  • Propose to enlarge Town Square by relocating center parking

  • Propose to move toddler playground to Town Square

  • Propose to keep public park space near Kohl’s in Phase 2

  • Propose to apply in-lieu parkland dedication fees to local recreation facilities rather than city-wide

• Building Height

  • The project contains 5, 6, and 7-story buildings

  • Propose to reduce the height of 7-story Residence 4 to 6 stories (which could be a variant of DEIR’s proposed Reduced Residential Alternative)

• North San Rafael Promenade

  • Propose that mall owner contribute financially to completing the path from Northgate Mall to the SMART train station

For more information:

• A copy of the DEIR is available on the City Website

• Physical Copies are available to review in person at:

  • City Hall, Community Development Department—3rd Floor, 1400 Fifth Street, San Rafael

  • Downtown Public Library, 1100 E Street

  • Northgate Library, 5800 Northgate Drive, Suite 083

• View the Marin IJ article on the Feb.13th Planning Commission meeting “Critics of housing project rap environmental study”

Write a Letter or Email to the City by March 5th, 2024 at 5 pm

• Email to: April.Talley@cityofsanrafael.org

• Mail to: City of San Rafael, Community Development Department - 3rd Floor, 1400 Fifth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901

• Emails and Letters must have “For Public Comment re: the Northgate DEIR” in the Subject line

• Online: Fill out the form at the bottom of the City Website page

Letter Examples

Write about a concern(s) that you have or see RGM’s concerns above.

Below are links to examples of letters that can be used as guidelines. The examples are ranked (1-3) based on complexity. We encourage you to express your own ideas as everyone has different knowledge and ideas on each topic.  It’s best not to copy our examples verbatim – your letter has more impact if it’s in your words. Letters should only address the Environmental Impacts of the project. Other subjects will be covered later in the process.

• #1 Letter Example: Simply state in paragraph or bullet form what your major concern(s) are. Choose some of RGM’s concerns and/or your own.

• #2 Letter Example: These letters are more complex with references to specific details in the DEIR, related research and/or City plans (ex: General Plan 2040).  Again, choose some of RGM’s concerns or discuss your own concerns.

• #3 Letter Example: RGM has submitted detailed technical letters which you can view individually.  Here are a few examples:

  • Northgate DEIR Reduced Residential Alternative 2-7-24

  • Northgate DEIR Recreation 2-7-24

  • Northgate DEIR Pedestrian Impacts Comments 2-7-24

Seeking Donations for Expert Analysis

RGM has recently hired subject matter experts to analyze, and if appropriate, challenge the assumptions in the DEIR documents (traffic, air quality). 

We have also retained an experienced CEQA attorney to assist us with the DEIR/FEIR process and with the retention of experts.

We urgently ask for your donation to help us fund these efforts. Please donate what you can to help us effectively, fully, and professionally respond with the community’s priorities in mind. 

Thank you for your engagement with this significant development project that
will affect our community
for many years to come.

Best,

RGM