From: ANN KRINITSKY
Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2024 4:44 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: For Public Comment
The increase in traffic from the Northgate Redevelopment Project will exacerbate the already dangerous congested traffic conditions. I request that follow-up traffic studies be required at the completion of each phase of the Northgate Project. The updated traffic Astudies must be based on actual traffic counts prepared by a licensed traffic engineer, approved by the City and funded by the project sponsor.
This must be ‘included as a condition in the Project Entitlements’**. Thank you for keeping Terra Linda residents safe and for your consideration to this important community concern.
Ann Krinitsky
San Rafael 94903
From:
Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2024 2:38 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Cc: 'beverlyagoodwin'
Subject: FOR PUBLIC COMMENT-NORTHGATE
To San Rafael City Council.
This is my 2nd email to the City regarding the Northgate project. It is WAY TOO MASSIVE for the area. I am not against new buildings, but the area CANNOT handle the size of this project. Why can’t it be 2 or 3 stories high? The developer is only trying to put in as many units as the City Council allows and to get as much money as possible. I also feel that the City Council is allowing this because all you are looking at is money and not the scope of the project or listening to the residents in the area.
I understand that the Governor has said that we all have to build affordable housing. I am not against that, but it needs to be done correctly and the existing residents opinions need to be taken into consideration. We did not move here to live in a city. We moved here to live in the suburbs. This is not a NIMBY thing. What you want to put in will completely change our area and not in a good way.
What about building affordable housing over at the closed Smith Ranch Theatre site. That is closer to Mary Silvera for the kids to go to school. Unfortunately there is no grocery store, but maybe the developer can add one in. It is close to McGinnis where there is enough room to play and things to do.
There are multiple reasons not to build such a MASSIVE project at Northgate.
Traffic. The increase in traffic from the Northgate Redevelopment Project will exacerbate the already dangerous congested traffic conditions. I request that followup traffic studies be required at the completion of each phase of the Northgate Project. The updated traffic studies must be based on actual traffic counts prepared by a licensed traffic engineer, approved by the City and funded by the project sponsor.
This must be ‘included as a condition in the Project Entitlements’**. Thank you for keeping Terra Linda residents safe and for your consideration to this important community concern.
Schools. There is not enough room in our local schools for the added children. Currently children from Woodbine Dr towards the freeway have to go to Mary Silveria. When I moved here, it was not like that at all. The kids were able to attend their local schools. They did not have to be bused or driven to school. They could ride their bikes, walk or be driven, but we had a choice.
Shopping. We need another grocery store. Northgate 1 is already crowded with cars and people. Maybe now that the theater is closed, they can put in a grocery store, at the builders cost.
Entertainment. Now that the Northgate theater closed, what type of entertainment will be in the area?
Can we put this out to the voters? What if we got a petition requiring a vote by the residents here in San Rafael.
As the City Counsel, it is your responsibility to LISTEN to the people, the ones who pay property taxes that fund the City. Please do not just ram this down our throats. LISTEN to what the people are saying.
Thank you for your consideration regarding this MASSIVE project.
Beverly Goodwin
San Rafael, CA 94903
-----Original Message-----
From: Claire McAuliffe
Sent: Monday, December 2, 2024 8:13 AM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: Public Comment: Support for the Northgate Mall Redevelopment Project Dear City Council members,
I am writing to you today in support of the Northgate Mall housing project. I urge you to vote to approve the project at the December 2nd meeting.
Marin needs to be more accessible for moderate to low income families and individuals. This project directly addresses the housing crisis by providing affordable units, with some home ownership opportunities in addition to rentals. Additionally, the plans include accessible units that are compliant with updated ADA guidelines, which will provide housing options for those with disabilities.
This project will add community vibrancy. The plans include retail, a community green space, and restaurants. The mall as it is now, is an underutilized building with few open stores and an excess of empty parking. This project would immensely improve it to create a true utilized community space.
There are also positive environmental components to developing mixed use buildings. The Northgate Mall is already developed land, and urban infill is the most environmentally friendly option for new developments. This project is in a transit dense area, it will improve bike infrastructure - which will lead to decreased car dependency, and all the housing units are 100% electric. As we continue to combat climate change and environmental concerns, it is imperative to build housing that mitigates these issues.
This project will do so.
This project is much needed for the community and Marin County as a whole. I encourage your vote of approval.
Sincerely,
Claire McAuliffe
From: Cynda Vyas
Sent: Monday, December 2, 2024 8:12 AM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: For Public Comment
Dear Mayor Colin and Council Members,
I've lived in Terra Linda for 38 years. My awareness
of disasters such as earthquakes and fires which may
necessitate hasty evacuation has grown and made me
fearful of the few exit options available to residents.
With most residents trying to exit toward the freeway
on Freitas Pkwy, I fear total calamity. Once hundreds
of more people live at Northgate, exiting onto 101 will create backups in every direction and prohibit timely
evacuations.
Traffic studies prepared by licensed traffic engineers
should be required for each phase of Northgate
development. They should be approved by the City,
funded by the project sponsor and included as a
condition in the Project Entitlements.
Please keep Terra Linda residents safe and avoid a
community calamity where many residents are "stuck"
while trying to flee.
Thank you,
Cynda and Chandu Vyas
From: Carol Zamberlin
Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2024 11:14 AM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: For Public Comment
Northgate Town Square Plan Dec 2 6pm
The plans I am asking and opposed to traffic increase and nimber of residents will not be appropriate for this small space.
What is yhe traffic and roaf improvements for this project? The number of units will increase oeople and cars to this small Northgate location. Terra Linda has houses and a schools that will he impacted and need to be considered.
If this property and project has multiple floors the occupancy will exceed the existing atea capacity. These are multiple units with multi tenants. The property and plan is not good for the existing community that id alreadat capacity.
Carol Zamberlin
San Rafael, CA 94903
From: Donna Fraser
Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2024 6:43 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: 5800 Northgate Drive, Northgate Town Square project - community comment Dear City Clerk,
I am a resident of Terra Linda and reside at 708 Las Ovejas Ave, San Rafael.
I am emailing to express my thoughts about the Northgate project as I will not be able to attend the meeting on Monday evening, December 2nd. I am in support of more housing being built in Marin and welcome more housing in our area. My two concerns are the height of the buildings and parking. Considering the size of the community in Terra Linda, and the housing that already exists here, I think buildings of more than 4 stories will potentially overwhelm the area.
Also, the project appears to lack adequate parking for the number of units being built, and I am concerned that this will contribute to more street parking and congestion. An assumption I’ve heard put forth is that the building occupants will use public transit and, therefore not need as much parking. I believe this is unrealistic, given that the transit system in Marin is not robust and, given that San Rafael, and Marin in general, are "bedroom communities" with many folks who live here commuting to the city or working in other towns.
I would appreciate it if you would please submit my comments for consideration by the decisionmakers at the December 2nd meeting.
Thank you!
*****************************
Donna Fraser, LMFT
From: Dave Rhoads
Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2024 8:41 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: Public Comment: Support for the Northgate Mall Redevelopment Project Dear City Council members,
I am writing to you today in support of the Northgate Mall housing project. I urge you to vote to approve the project at the December 2nd meeting.
Marin needs to be more accessible for moderate to low income families and individuals.
This project directly addresses the housing crisis by providing affordable units, with some home ownership opportunities in addition to rentals. Additionally, the plans include accessible units that are compliant with updated ADA guidelines, which will provide housing options for those with disabilities.
This project will add community vibrancy. The plans include retail, a community green space, and restaurants. The mall as it is now, is an underutilized building with few open stores and an excess of empty parking. This project would immensely improve it to create a true utilized community space.
There are also positive environmental components to developing mixed use buildings. The Northgate Mall is already developed land, and urban infill is the most environmentally friendly option for new developments. This project is in a transit dense area, it will improve bike infrastructure - which will lead to decreased car dependency, and all the housing units are 100% electric. As we continue to combat climate change and environmental concerns, it is imperative to build housing that mitigates these issues. This project will do so.
This project is much needed for the community and Marin County as a whole. I encourage your vote of approval.
Sincerely,
Dave Rhoads
-----Original Message-----
From: Rosemarie Folk
Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2024 4:14 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: North Gate Mall plans
Re: December 2 Meeting
After following the progress of the bid by owners of the property , Merlone Geier LLC, for the past 2 years, I have been very conscious of both the need for San Rafael to create more housing, especially affordable housing, and to also rethink
how commercial hubs can be made more appealing when people have largely changed their buying habits, thanks to the internet. I see this old, failing Mall with its 45+ acres of flat land as an amazing opportunity to fuse these two needs
In a way that will be an asset to San Rafael, a model of good design with use of environmentally forwardlooking construction and a place where people will want to live and gather socially. The design as submitted has made some changes
To the original offer, but still is based on outdated multiple unit big blocks with too much space sacrificed to car traffic and parking and too little to natural landscaping throughout. I would urge the Planning Commission to address the questions
brought up repeatedly by those of us who have attended the public meetings: emergency access, traffic bottlenecks, projected school overcrowding, lack of social and recreational space along with height and density of buildings that limit
rather than open space. It seems to me that the needs of the builder to have a project that is financially viable and profitable and also satisfy the state, county and local regulations can be achieved only if the city commissioners can look beyond
the drawings and time constraints to reach a better outcome. And NOW IS THE TIME to do that.
Sincerely,
Rosemarie Folk
Villa Marin
Environment Committee Chair