On Thursday April 2, 2020, the Coalition’s Marina Committee (Committee) met with the S.R. Community Development Department (CDD) and S.R. Dept. of Public Works (DPW) for our regular monthly review of the developments at The Village at Loch Lomond Marina (the residential portion is called “The Strand”) whose developer is Marina Village Associates (MVA). Also attending was a representative of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC).
The original meeting was scheduled for March 16, 2020 but was cancelled in light of the coronavirus restrictions. However, it was decided that a meeting was needed, so a Zoom video conference was set up for April 2 in which all attendees participated. This is a summary of the items discussed at that meeting.
Earlier that day, CDD had distributed a letter from MVA to CDD, dated March 9 2020, documenting some discussions and understandings that had been reached between these parties in advance of a formal presentation to the San Rafael City Council. The letter dealt with a number of items related to a Subdivision Improvement Agreement (SIA) amendment and a Below Market Rate (BMR) Agreement which MVA plans to submit for approval to the City Council.
The SIA amendment would clarify the work still needed to be completed the areas covered by the SIA and obtain final approval by San Rafael CDD. That would include the marina and all public access areas along the waterfront. The BMR Agreement would waive the requirement to offer the remaining below market rate units (6 of the original 17) in lieu of a sizable contribution to the City’s low-income housing fund. There are strong arguments in favor of this Agreement as the funds contributed would allow the construction of many more low-income housing units than the six BMR’s it would replace.
MVA revealed in that letter that they were in final negotiations with Safe Harbor Marinas (SHM) for the purchase of the marina and public access areas of this development. That would include everything except The Strand and the multi-purpose building (commercial first floor, residential second floor) that is planned at the location now occupied by the dry cleaner and dental offices. SHM (http://shmarinas.com) is one of the largest marina operators in the country and owns local marinas at Emeryville and Alameda. MVA would like the remaining work required by San Rafael to be clarified in the SIA amendment to facilitate the sale.
Another revelation in the letter was that negotiations are underway with a buyer for the residential portion of the development. That would be the undeveloped parcels of The Strand and the multi-purpose building. These negotiations are not as far along as the marina sale, but MVA would like the BMR Agreement in place prior to the conclusion of these negotiations.
The proposed SIA amendment and the BMR Agreement will be presented to the San Rafael City Council for consideration at their upcoming April 20th meeting. The Marina Committee agreed to submit a letter to CDD for inclusion in those proposals representing the Pt. San Pedro Road Coalition’s input to the City Council discussion and deliberation. When that letter is finalized and submitted, it will be posted here for public access. This letter will discuss some of the key issues and concerns related to both the SIA and BMR and the Coalition’s position regarding them.
The Marina Committee plans to attend this Council meeting and invites anyone in the community who is interested to do so as well. Of course, the Council will meet online as physical presence is not permitted due to the coronavirus restrictions. How to participate in the online Council meeting can be found on the City’s website Public Meeting Agendas, Minutes & Videos page.