The Marin County Planning Commission just cleared a major hurdle for the redevelopment of the old Golden Gate Baptist Seminary site in Strawberry. The project now heads for a final decision by the Board of Supervisors.
The plan would swap out the campus for 337 housing units, a big senior care facility, childcare, and recreation spaces, all on 127 acres. Large portions of open space and hillside views would stay untouched.
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This post digs into what’s actually on the table, what it could mean for folks from Mill Valley to San Rafael, and where it fits in Marin County’s housing and environmental landscape.
What the Strawberry project envisions
The main idea is to transform the Strawberry site into a mixed-use community. It’ll mix housing, care facilities, and public spaces, all set against Marin’s iconic hills.
People in Strawberry, Mill Valley, and Tiburon are watching closely. They’re curious about how open space preservation and dense housing policies will play out in a county that’s famous for its natural beauty.
The plan’s core? 337 new homes, a big senior care facility, plus facilities for childcare and recreation. The developers say they’ll keep the broad open-space feel of the property.
They’ve also agreed to stick to strict environmental standards. There’s a long-standing review process in place with the owner and local groups.
Key components of the plan
- 337 new residential units, with a focus on affordable housing opportunities
- Significant open space, with roughly 70% of the site remaining undeveloped
- Two new public parks to serve Strawberry, Mill Valley, and surrounding communities
- A major senior care facility and on-site childcare/recreation amenities
- Preservation of a treeless hilltop view to maintain the landscape’s characteristic character
Affordability and housing implications in Marin
Housing affordability and the risk of displacing current residents have sparked a lot of debate. The project’s backers promise that replacement affordable units will be set aside for households making up to 80% of the area median income (AMI).
That matches Marin’s evolving housing rules, but plenty of community members worry it won’t do enough for people already living there. For context, the AMI for a two-person household is $148,000 countywide, so 80% of that comes out to about $123,800 in 2025.
Right now, more than 300 people live in over 139 low-cost rentals on the site. If the project moves ahead without strong replacement housing, those folks could be out of luck.
Planning officials keep pointing out that state law ties the county’s hands. If a housing proposal checks all the legal boxes, it’s tough for local leaders to push back or make big changes.
Housing units, income targets, and what could change
- Current residents on the site: over 300 people in 139 units
- Proposed new housing: 337 units on a 127-acre site
- Affordability targets: replacement units aligned to 80% AMI, with a potential path to deeper affordability via density bonuses
- Potential density bonus scenario: up to 606 units if higher affordability metrics are achieved
Open space, design, and environmental commitments
Preserving Marin’s landscape is another big promise here. The proposal would keep about 70% of the property as open space, including two new public parks for people from Corte Madera, Larkspur, and beyond.
Planners say they’ll protect a treeless hilltop view—something neighbors really care about, especially those near Fairfax and Sausalito. The environmental review (EIR) process played a big role in talks between the developer, North Coast Land Holdings LLC, and the Seminary Neighborhood Association.
After 12 years of back-and-forth, they agreed to require a college or research program on-site, capped at 325 commuting students. There’s also a 15-year limit on further development requests, and most buildings can’t go above three stories—unless state density bonus laws kick in, which could push the total unit count past 600 if affordability goes up.
Environmental oversight and community safeguards
- On-site college or research program capped at 325 commuting students
- 15-year development cap for additional requests
- Most buildings limited to three stories, with potential expansion under density bonuses
- Commitment to maintain a treeless hilltop view and substantial open space
Community response and governance
County commissioners say they’re trying to strike a balance between housing needs and keeping existing communities intact. Commissioner Margot Biehle cast the only vote against the EIR recommendation, raising alarms about displaced residents and a possible net loss of affordable housing for current tenants.
Critics argue that many low-income renters haven’t really had a say, and replacement units might still be too pricey for those hit hardest. County staff keep reminding everyone that state laws seriously limit what local officials can do to shrink or reshape housing projects that meet the rules, making it tough to tailor things to the needs of neighborhoods like Mill Valley and San Rafael’s outskirts.
What this means for Marin towns as the process moves forward
The Board of Supervisors is getting ready to consider the plan. Residents from San Anselmo to Sausalito will probably want to keep a close eye on how these talks handle open space, the pace of new housing, and whether replacement units stay affordable in the long run.
If the Strawberry redevelopment goes through, it could set a real precedent. Marin County might start handling density, design, and displacement differently in towns like Corte Madera, Tiburon, and Novato—places where the cost of housing is honestly a huge issue.
Right now, folks in Marin should pay attention to how the Board weighs the EIR, the on-site college requirement, and the promise to keep 70% of the land as protected open space. There’s also that constant push for more attainable housing in communities from Fairfax to Larkspur.
Whatever happens next, it’s going to shape not just Strawberry, but the bigger picture of life in Marin County for a long time. That’s something worth watching, don’t you think?
Here is the source article for this story: Marin Co.: County Planning Commission Advances Strawberry Development To Supervisors
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