UPDATES ON NORTHGATE
and RELATED TOPICS

Dear RGM Supporters,

RGM remains committed to updating and informing the community on the Northgate Redevelopment Plan. Although the information might not be readily accessible and the community might feel that nothing is happening, RGM communicates regularly with our attorney and subject matter experts, who conduct research and submit updated reports regarding the DEIR to the City. Much of this ongoing work is based on documents still being produced by the City in response to public document requests filed by RGM months ago.

In addition to research and advocacy, we also conduct outreach to other like-minded organizations, make presentations to a variety of community organizations and proactively prepare for what’s next in the process regarding the Northgate Redevelopment Plan.

As reported in our March 25th, 2024 email, Merlone Geier (MG) (the Northgate developer) submitted an Alternative SB330 Pre-Application Plan for the redevelopment of Northgate. For details, please view RGM’s email here and/or the City’s website.

Since the above announcement there has been minimal communication to the community from the City regarding the Northgate Redevelopment Plan. However, recently RGM met with senior San Rafael City staff to discuss various important topics, including the status of the Plan.

Below are highlights from our meeting:

NORTHGATE

• To date, the City does not know whether MG will proceed with the Original Plan which was the subject of the DEIR (Draft Environmental Impact Report), or the Alternative SB330 Plan which was submitted on March 4th, 2024. However, we understand that both MG and the City believe that the SB330 preliminary application qualifies as an “alternative” to the Original Plan, and as such will not require an amended DEIR (Draft Environmental Impact Report).

• MG has 180 days from March 4th to submit a formal application for the SB330 option or it will expire.

  • By that time MG must decide which plan to proceed with as the City will not proceed with dual applications

DEIR COMMENTS

• Thanks to the outstanding response from the community, the City received approximately 300 public comments on the DEIR. All of these will be addressed and included in the FEIR (Final Environmental Impact Report). We do not yet know when the FEIR will be finalized or released to the public.

CITY HIRES LEGAL EXPERTS

• The City has hired outside legal counsel and consultants to work with MG and its consultants regarding the DEIR and CEQA process.

DRB (Design Review Board) UPDATE

• On September 6, 2023 the DRB conducted a public meeting to discuss the Northgate Redevelopment Plan.

  • After more than five hours of presentations and public comments the DRB voted to recommend to the Planning Commission the approval of the project’s Environmental and Design Review Permit though with additional requirements.

  • MG has not yet submitted revised plans that include changes responding to the DRB recommendations.

• On December 18th, 2024, the City Council proposed to disband the DRB and incorporate its function into the Planning Commission.

  • Community members and RGM submitted letters   to the City opposing the dissolution of the DRB.

  • To date, the DRB has not been disbanded and its recommendations from the September 6, 2023 meeting were recently posted in the meeting minutes on the City’s website.

  • The future of the DRB remains in question and there have not been any DRB meetings since September 6, 2023.

WILL ONLINE COMMENTS DURING PUBLIC MEETINGS RESUME?

• To date, public comments are not permitted remotely (i.e., from ZOOM) during public meetings.

• Only comments received in writing prior to the meeting or in person are allowed.

• The Mayor and City Council are continuing to enforce this policy change despite many community members expressing concerns about inequity of public access for elderly, immune compromised and family caregivers.

• RGM has also expressed its concern regarding this policy to senior City staff.

RGM will continue to update the community with important information regarding these important and transformative proposals.

Please look for future RGM emails and share them with your friends and neighbors. For those who are not on our mailing list, please encourage them to sign up here.

YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK

Your generous donations enabled RGM to retain a CEQA attorney to assist us with the DEIR/FEIR process as well as experts who continue to analyze and comment on the documents and process.

Letters submitted to the City on RGM’s behalf by our attorney can be viewed here under ‘Letters’.

Included in the letters are content prepared by our subject matter experts.

Your continued support is vital to our ability to make this Project the best it can be for our community. Please donate any amount to help support our efforts.

You can also send checks to: RGM, PO Box #6147, San Rafael, CA 94903

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

With gratitude for your support,

RGM