700 Irwin St | San Rafael

A mixed-use, 17 story project has been approved at 700 Irwin Street, a housing element site. The project provides 200 units of housing, including 30 affordable units (15 very low income and 15 moderate income). This project is strongly supported by the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and the Canal Alliance. The project used SB 130 CEQA Exemptions and is not subject to CEQA review.

The Project would demolish the existing 4-story vacant office building. The new building will be 180 feet tall and include 5,000 square feet of commercial space.The applicant will use the State Density Bonus Law to achieve the proposed height and density. The Project also includes an exterior boardwalk that allows the public pedestrian access from the intersection of Second and Irwin to and along San Rafael Canal.

The project is utilizing a number of concessions and waivers in its plans, including the following:

• Unit mix: San Rafael requires that affordable units are the same in size, type and are dispersed throughout the building. The developer required concessions for these requirements. The affordable units are smaller, skew towards studios and 1-bedrooms and are located on the lower floors. In addition, fewer affordable units would have private balconies.
• Bicycle parking: San Rafael requires 271 bicycle parking spots for a building's residents. The project will contain 60 bicycle parking spots.
• Car parking: San Rafael requires 311 parking spots. State law exempts this project from minimum parking requirements due to its proximity to transit. The project will provide 215 parking spaces in an automated mechanical parking system, plus five conventional spaces.
• Height limit.: The project requires a waiver of the 50' height limit in this zone.
• Step backs: The zoning code requires 10-foot stepbacks above 45 feet. The project does not include these step-backs, as it would reduce the building envelope, and the ability to achieve.