Take Action:

Show Your Support for the PDA

On June 15, 2020 at 7pm the City of San Rafael City Council will meet to discuss a resolution to designate the Northgate Area of North San Rafael as a Priority Development Area (PDA). If they vote to adopt the PDA designation, the city would receive significant state funding to develop a plan to shape Northgate Mall into a vibrant mixed-use Town Center—without Costco. After careful consideration, RGM supports the PDA.

We urge you to express your support of the PDA in the following ways:

#1: TAKE ACTION VIA EMAIL

Email the mayor and the city council members and let them know that you support designating North San Rafael/Northgate as a Priority Development Area (PDA) and why.

It is important to include in the email Subject: For Inclusion in Public Record

You may include one of the points below or any of your own reasons. If you’d like more information visit the City of San Rafael website for PDA FAQs

#2: ATTEND THE VIRTUAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

On June 15, 2020 at 7pm, the San Rafael City Council will be meeting to discuss and vote on the resolution to designate the PDA for North San Rafael/Northgate Mall. Please attend virtually and lend your voice of support!

REASONS FOR SUPPORTING THE PDA:

  • The PDA requirements have significantly changed since 2013, and PDA designation does not affect the City’s control over new development review, zoning, and land use.

  • RGM has been influential in getting a program included in San Rafael’s General Plan 2040 to create and fund a specific plan for this “town center” area, which Terra Linda residents have sought since 1997. By designating a PDA for the North San Rafael/ Northgate area (NSR), the City can obtain the funding needed to create an integrated plan for Northgate I and III shopping centers, working with the community and the property owner.

  • This community-based planning process, funded through the PDA, will determine how much, how high, and how dense housing and other development will be in this area.

  • The boundaries of the areas designated in a PDA can change based on the community-driven plan and the City can withdraw without penalty and without returning funds used, provided the funds were used to create the plan.

  • Based on the success of the San Rafael Downtown 2009 PDA, which developed the Downtown Precise Plan through a community-driven process without pressure from or intervention by regional agencies, RGM is confident that a PDA for NSR would be a valuable asset in helping to shape the future of this area to include the vision for a Northgate Town Center.