HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRB 2023-07-18 Minutes
Design Review Board
Special Meeting
Tuesday July 18, 2023 6:00 P.M.
MINUTES
Participate In-Person:
San Rafael City Council Chambers
1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
Or
Participate Virtually:
Watch on Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/drb-2023
Telephone: 1 (669) 444-9171
Meeting ID: 885 6816 1418
This meeting will be held in-person. The public may attend in-person or participate
virtually using Zoom.
How to participate in the meeting virtually:
· Submit public comment in writing before 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting to
PlanningPublicComment@cityofsanrafael.org
· Join the Zoom webinar and use the 'raise hand' feature to provide verbal public
comment.
· Dial-in to Zoom's telephone number using the meeting ID and press *9 to raise your
hand, and *6 to unmute yourself, then provide verbal public comment.
If you experience technical difficulties during the meeting, please contact
PlanningPublicComment@cityofsanrafael.org
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kovalsky called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Chair Kovalsky then invited Staff &
Senior Planner Jeff Ballantine to call roll.
RECORDING OF MEMBERS PRESENT AND ABSENT
Present: Chair Sharon Kovalsky
Board Member Michael Alexin
Board Member Stewart Summers
Alternate Board Member Donald Blayney
Absent: Vice Chair Jeff Kent
Board Member Sarah Rege
Also Present: Jeff Ballantine, Staff, Senior Planner & DRB Secretary
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF MEETING PROCEDURES
Chair Kovalsky invited Staff & Senior Planner, Jeff Ballantine, to inform the public that
members they can provide public comment either in person in the Council Chambers, by
telephone or via zoom with the raise hand feature. Written comments submitted prior to the
meeting time would be read aloud into the record during the public comment portion of each
item.
Chair Kovalsky reviewed the procedures for the meeting.
URGENT ORAL/EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Chair Kovalsky called for any comments from the public on items NOT on the agenda. Two
members of the Carpenter’s Union provided public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Chair Kovalsky invited public comment on the Consent Calendar. There was no comment
on the Consent Calendar.
1. Approval of the Design Review Board Meeting Minutes of April 18, 2023
Member Summers moved and Member Alexin seconded to approve the Minutes as
submitted.
AYES: Members: Alexin, Blayney, Kovalsky, Summers
NOES: Members: None
ABSENT: Members: Kent, Rege
ABSTAIN: Members: None
Motion passes.
ACTION CALENDAR
Chair Kovalsky introduced the Action Calendar and invited staff to present the Staff Report.
2. 5800 Northgate Drive – Northgate Town Square
Request for Planning Commission recommendation for an Environmental and Design
Review Permit to allow the comprehensive redevelopment of the existing Northgate
Mall into a new, phased mixed-use development with retail and 1,422 residential units
on a 44.76-acre site. APNs: 175-060-12, -40, -59, -61, -66 & -67; General Commercial
(GC) District; Permit # PLAN21-039, ZC21-001, UP21-007, ED21-024, TS21-002.
Project Planner: Heather Hines (hhines@m-group.us)
Recommended Action – Review and provide input on items discussed in staff report
Consultant Planner, Heather Hines, provided a staff presentation on the project.
Applicant Team gave a presentation on the project.
Applicant Team and Staff responded to questions from the Board Members.
Chair Kovalsky asked for public comments. Public comment was provided by 28 members of
the public. A number of the comments expressed the following concerns: use of artificial
landscaping materials; safety concerns with shared bicycle/pedestrian paths; desire for a
larger town square; desire for no drive-thru restaurants; inclusion of universal design;
improved connection to the SMART train station; and inclusion of public space for use during
extreme weather events.
Board Members provided comments.
Member Summers moves, Member Alexin seconds motion to recommend that this item be
continued to a date certain of August 22, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
AYES: Members: Alexin, Blayney, Kovalsky, Summers
NOES: Members: None
ABSENT: Members: Kent, Rege
ABSTAIN: Members: None
Motion passes.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
No Director’s report was provided.
BOARD COMMUNICATION
No Board Communication was provided.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Kovalsky adjourned the meeting at 9:36 p.m.
___________________
JEFF BALLANTINE, Senior Planner