San Rafael board approves apartment projects, including 13-story building

Downtown San Rafael is a step closer to getting two new apartment buildings, including one that will become the city’s tallest structure, at least for a while.

Monahan Pacific Corp., the developer, won the unanimous approval of the city Planning Commission for both projects on Tuesday. A 13-story, 130-foot building at 1230 Fifth Ave. is slated to have 188 apartments, while an eight-story building at 900 A St. is expected to have 131 apartments.

“We’ve been in a housing crisis for quite some time,” Tom Monahan, president of Monahan Pacific Corp., said during the hearing. “This is certainly an attempt to start to address that housing crisis.”

The approvals come as the city absorbs a flurry of construction applications spurred on by state laws and mandates to build more residences.

The city is reviewing a proposal by BioMarin Pharmaceuticals to construct a 17-story, 200-apartment complex at 700 Irwin St. on the east side of Highway 101. It would become the city’s tallest building.

The site is two blocks away from 930 Irwin St., where an eight-story, 210-apartment building was approved this year. Demolition is underway on the office buildings at the property.

The city’s tallest building now is the eight-story office center at 1000 Fourth St.

Collectively, the public hearings on Tuesday took about two hours and included comments from supporters and opponents of dense housing.

Supporters said downtown is the right place for this type of development.

“New residents will strengthen local businesses by increasing foot traffic, dining, shopping and everyday activities in the downtown core,” said Daryoush Davidi, a board member of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce. “Projects like this are essential to the long-term economic health of San Rafael.”

Opponents said the complexes are too big and don’t fit with the historic charm of downtown.

The 13-story building was the more controversial of the two. Residents worried about its proximity to historic structures, including the Carnegie library, the Falkirk Cultural Center, the Boyd Gate House and others.

“I’m appalled that this monstrosity would even be considered as a proposal,” said resident Susan Bradford, referring to the 13-story building. “I say no to ugly, dark high-rises that create wind tunnels, that pack people in, that create impossible parking problems.”

The proposal is at 1248 Fifth Ave. but the project will be addressed 1230 Fifth Ave. It is a 0.65-acre site and has a downtown mixed-use designation. An 11,000-square-foot building on the site is slated for demolition.

The project was submitted under Senate Bill 330, which limits the number of public hearings to no more than five, including appeals. City officials are also prohibited from denying a project based on subjective standards. Only objective standards can be used to deny or reduce the density.

Kristina Estudillo, a city planner, said the project proposes 15% of the residences at very-low-income rates, resulting in a density bonus of 50%, allowing the project to increase from a base of 125 apartments to the 188.

Of the 188 apartments, 19 would be offered at the affordable rate, while the others would be market rate. Some apartments will have balconies.

The complex would have a ground-floor lobby and 157 parking spaces. A fitness center and study area are planned for the third floor. The building also would have an indoor lounge area on the 13th floor, a roof deck with an elevated pool and open area.

Members of the Elks Lodge at 1312 Mission Ave. raised concerns about traffic on C Street from the new complex and said the structure would shadow their site and Boyd Park. They said construction would disturb Elks events, including weddings on weekends.

Residents of the Boyd Court condominium complex at 1115 B St. said their building abuts the project site. They said they have easements for parking and emergency access that they worry will be obstructed by the new building and construction activity.

“We certainly understand their sensitivity, but we’re trying to do our best to accommodate some of their needs,” Monahan said.

Planning commissioners were united in feeling hamstrung.

“I don’t like that this project is happening,” commissioner Jon Haveman said.

“The state gives us very little latitude to do anything about it,” he said referring to the restrictions of SB 330. “I wish it wasn’t 13 stories tall. It is going to be 13 stories tall. I’m sympathetic to Boyd Court. I’m sympathetic to the Elks Club.”

With that said, Haveman added, “We need more housing. Period. Full stop.”

The project at 900 A St. was also submitted under SB 330 and sought density bonus perks.

Estudillo said the project proposes proposes 11 apartments, or 10%, at low-income rates, making the project eligible for a 20% density bonus, allowing for 22 additional apartments. Of the 131 apartments, 120 would be market rate. The complex would have 106 parking spaces.

The project would include a 4,000-square-foot, ground-level commercial space and ground-level parking garage with access from A Street. It would have a courtyard on the second floor, a rooftop deck, recreational space and private patios.

Commissioners supported the A Street project.

“I like this one,” Haveman said, adding that it fits well with the “spirit of the downtown precise plan,” a document that outlines the city’s objective design standards and provides guidance for the scale of developments.

“I think it’s very attractive,” he said. “I like its location and I like the people that it’s going to bring to the downtown.”

Monahan Pacific Corp., which was involved in the 140-room hotel project at 1201 Fifth Ave., has four projects in the works within a mile of one another in the downtown area. The others include a preliminary application for an eight-story, 101-apartment building at 790 Mission Ave., which is under review, and an approved seniors complex with 155 independent and assisted-living dwellings, plus 28 memory-care rooms, at 1515 Fourth St.