Dear RGM Supporters,

Thank you to all who attended the in-person October 29th Planning Commission meeting on Northgate and to those who submitted emails and letters.

Community participation was excellent; it was a full house at City Hall!

OCT. 29th PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING RECAP

Over 25 people commented in person and 1 via zoom. The overwhelming majority were concerned about traffic impacts and safety and were not against housing. A few people, including four of the five Commissioners, touted the much-needed affordable housing for favoring approval of the project despite their other concerns.

• This was extremely frustrating because this project will only add 10% affordable housing.

  • i.e., 87 low-income household units and 777 market rate units in the developers 2025 Master Plan or Phase I.

  • 87 affordable housing units is better than nothing but is not going to solve Marin’s affordable and workforce housing issues.

Commissioner Jon Prevatali, who represents the Terra Linda district, discussed the dangerous Del Presidio, Northgate Drive, Las Gallinas intersections and the Freitas Parkway 101 entrance and clearly reiterated the community’s traffic concerns. He voted against certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report and the Entitlements. However, he was the only one and the resolutions passed 4-1.

We strongly recommend that those who were unable to attend in person or via zoom view the meeting video, click here.

SAVE THE DATES!

NOVEMBER 18th NORTHGATE TOWN SQUARE CITY COUNCIL MEETING CHANGED TO DECEMBER 2nd & DECEMBER 16th

The original City Council meeting which was scheduled for November 18th has been cancelled and rescheduled for December 2nd followed by December 16th.

• The first meeting will take place on Monday, Dec 2nd @ 6:00 PM at the San Rafael City Hall, 1400 Fifth Ave

• The City Council will review the Northgate Town Square Plan and provide a final decision on the Project Entitlements.

• The City Council will then meet again on Monday, December 16th at the same time and same place, to review and finalize all the documents for this complex project.

• Please note, if you can only attend one meeting, please try to attend the Monday, December 2nd City Council meeting.

• SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS by email to City.clerk@Cityofsanrafael.org no later than 4:00PM

  the day of the meeting, making sure you put ‘For Public Comment’ in the subject line.

CRITICAL TRAFFIC CONCERNS

• It’s important for Mayor Colin and the Council Members to hear from you about our overwhelming concerns regarding traffic. Below is the suggested verbiage:

The increase in traffic from the Northgate Redevelopment Project will exacerbate the already dangerous congested traffic conditions. I request that follow-up traffic studies be required at the completion of each phase of the Northgate Project. The updated traffic studies must be based on actual traffic counts prepared by a licensed traffic engineer, approved by the City and funded by the project sponsor. This must be ‘included as a condition in the Project Entitlements’**. Thank you for keeping Terra Linda residents safe and for your consideration to this important community concern.

**This precise language is important as we don’t want the City to water-down this requirement.

THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF NORTHGATE!

We can’t over emphasize how critical it is for the community to once again pack City Hall. Please get your friends and neighbors to attend with you and of course to write letters.

LET’S PACK THE HOUSE WITH STANDING ROOM ONLY AND MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD

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

With gratitude,

RGM