This article digs into a big redevelopment plan for the old Golden Gate Theological Seminary property on Marin County’s Strawberry Peninsula. North Coast Land Holdings LLC wants to transform about 101 of the site’s 127 acres into a mixed-use community that combines housing and senior care.
The proposal has triggered a full environmental review and kicked off a series of Planning Commission hearings in unincorporated Marin County, not far from Mill Valley, Tiburon, and San Rafael.
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What’s Proposed for the Strawberry Peninsula
The plan lays out a nine-parcel development that would swap out most of the existing homes for a new mix of residences and a senior care facility. If it moves forward, the project would bring in 336 new single- and multi-family housing units.
There’s a dedicated senior care element too, with up to 100 independent living apartments and 50 assisted or memory-care units. The land use shift would stretch across 101 of the 127 acres, aiming for a denser, walkable neighborhood just inland from Sausalito and close to Corte Madera.
The master plan tries to blend housing with a campus-style senior facility. It also keeps some hillside and natural areas along the strait between Mill Valley and Tiburon.
In the middle of this Marin corridor, the project’s design and open space could change local traffic patterns and public amenities for nearby communities.
Residential, Senior Care, and Affordability
The housing component would add 336 new units, and a good chunk would be affordable. Specifically, 70 units are set aside as below-market-rate to help chip away at Marin’s housing shortage.
The senior facility would offer a continuum of care, featuring 100 independent apartments plus 50 assisted or memory care units. It’s meant to serve aging folks from all over the county and towns like San Rafael, Novato, and Corte Madera.
Approvals Sought
To get things rolling, the applicant submitted a full package of requests, including:
- Community Plan Amendment
- Master Plan
- Design Review
- Vesting Tentative Map
- Master Use Permit
- Tree Removal Permit
Changing land use on this undeveloped edge of unincorporated Marin isn’t simple. State environmental rules and public hearings usually set the pace for approvals, much more than the faster, ministerial actions you’d see in places like San Rafael or Mill Valley.
Environmental Review and Impacts
Marin County’s planning process includes a formal environmental review. The project’s environmental impact report (EIR) is front and center in the discussion.
The final EIR, completed in July 2024, points out significant, unavoidable impacts tied to greenhouse gas emissions, temporary construction noise, and increased vehicle miles traveled. Because the site sits in unincorporated Marin, it needs a state-mandated environmental review and public hearings instead of a quick city council sign-off.
Locals in towns along the Tiburon Peninsula—Tiburon, Belvedere, Corte Madera—are watching closely. They’re especially interested in how these environmental issues could affect traffic, air quality, and neighborhood feel.
Planning Process and Timeline
Two Planning Commission meetings are on the calendar. The Commission got an overview on March 2, and they’ll meet again on March 30 to decide whether to certify the final EIR and send the project to the Board of Supervisors.
The Board of Supervisors will hold hearings and make a final call later in the summer. Their decision could ripple out to neighborhoods from San Rafael to Novato and down to Sausalito and Fairfax.
The project’s size and its spot on the Strawberry Peninsula, just east of Larkspur and near Mill Valley and Tiburon, shape the approval process. Residents from Greenbrae, Ross, San Anselmo, and even folks from Bolinas might show up to public hearings as part of the environmental review.
What This Could Mean for Marin Communities
- Housing and affordability gains could come with 336 new units. Of those, 70 would be below market, which might help ease some housing pressures in Sausalito and San Rafael.
- Senior services expansion would add up to 150 assisted living and memory-care beds. That could attract clients and staff from all over Marin, maybe even from Corte Madera and Fairfax.
- Traffic, noise, and emissions considerations will likely increase as VMT and construction pick up. Mitigations could impact drivers in Mill Valley, Belvedere, and beyond.
- Open space and hillside treatment aims to keep natural views intact for Blackie’s Pasture neighbors. This also matters to folks along the Canal and Corte Madera Creek watershed.
- Deliberative process means public hearings in Marin’s unincorporated areas. Residents from San Geronimo to San Rafael will get a chance to speak up.
Here is the source article for this story: Strawberry Development In Line For Planning Commission Review In Marin County
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