The San Rafael City Council has named the Northgate and Canal neighborhoods “priority development areas” in a new Bay Area land-use plan.
The designation, which needs approval from the coordinators of Plan Bay Area 2050, could give San Rafael access to grant funding that pays for cities to create development plans in areas that are within a half-mile of public transit. The funding also pays for infrastructure projects in those areas, including new sidewalks and bike lanes and improved transit access.
Mayor Gary Phillips said the two neighborhoods “need some significant planning,” but the city doesn’t have the money to pay for that.
“This will give us the opportunity,” he said.
Priority development areas are nominated by cities, towns and counties for consideration by the Association of Bay Area Governments. The organization called for nominations this year as part of its 30-year regional land-use plan, which it is updating with an extended timeline through 2050.
If the designations are approved for the Canal and Northgate neighborhoods, San Rafael will not be obligated to change its zoning laws or approve development in those areas, said city analyst Ethan Guy. The city would only be required to create a land-use plan for the areas, he said.
“We need to be looking to the future of what we want to do in both of those areas,” said Vice Mayor Kate Colin.
Council members voted unanimously this month in favor of asking the Association of Bay Area Governments to accept the city’s nomination of the two neighborhoods.
The Association of Bay Area Governments already recognizes Downtown San Rafael as a priority development area, and has given the city $600,000 to pay for a land-use planning project there.
The proposed Northgate development area includes the Northgate mall, the Northgate I and III shopping centers and the Las Gallinas office and gas station areas. The Canal area includes the majority of San Rafael’s southeast city boundaries, but excludes the Spinnaker and Baypoint neighborhoods.
The city asked for feedback from residents before nominating the two neighborhoods, and reactions were mixed.
Richard Hall of San Rafael wrote in a letter to city officials that residents are focused on the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, and “cannot pay the necessary attention to this important local issue.” Hall said the city should delay its application for designating Northgate as a priority area.
But Ann Wakeley, president of the League of Women Voters of Marin County, wrote to city officials in support of the application.
“Critical issues that still must be addressed are sea-level rise, compact development and effective and efficient public transportation,” Wakeley wrote. The benefit of a priority area designation, she added, “is in access to funding for planning for the future and for key infrastructure improvements.”
City officials said San Rafael can rescind its designations for priority development areas at any time.
“At this point there is no risk to this, and we need to be moving forward for our community,” Colin said.
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