North Coast submits application to study new plan for the Seminary at Strawberry
North Coast, owner of the Seminary at Strawberry, has submitted a new master plan for the property and an application for environmental review.
The new plan was developed after 18 months of dialogue with Strawberry neighbors, who identified a number of priorities and community benefits. Those include a Residential Care Facility, a fitness center that will be available to Strawberry residents, access to Seminary playing fields and the preservation of open space. North Coast has also committed to a dynamic Traffic Demand Management plan.
The environmental review of the project, conducted by Marin County, will examine a host of details and alternatives. North Coast has requested that three housing scenarios be analyzed, including a “Maximum Density” scenario as outlined in the project submittal. Over the past few years, North Coast has heard from a variety of Marin County stakeholders concerned about an ongoing housing crisis and a clear need for affordable housing.
Following the expiration of the 1984 Master Plan in December 2017, the site reverted to its base zoning of RMP 2.47 with a 1953 Conditional Use Permit allowing for the academic use. The Marin Countywide Plan designation of the site is MF2 (1-4 units/acre). Expiration of the 1984 Master Plan decoupled the residential component from the academic use, allowing housing and the academic use to operate independently as confirmed by the Marin County Code Enforcement letter dated May 14, 2019:
“The zoning for the property is Residential, Multiple Family Planned (RMP), with various uses designated as principally permitted, conditionally permitted, or prohibited. Renting onsite housing to the general public is a principally permitted use under the RMP zoning. Because the 1984 Master Plan has expired, there is no longer a restriction of renting the housing specifically for the purpose of providing housing for the students, staff and faculty of the Seminar(y).”
For more information on the proposal to revitalize the Seminary, please click here.