Latest Updates
November 15, 2024 - Community Email
November 8, 2024 - SDV Letter to Robert Epstein
November 1, 2024 - Community Email
October 29, 2024 - Denial of Appeal Letter from City
October 18, 2024 - Community Email
October 18, 2024 - Incompleteness Response
October 14, 2024 - Community Email
October 7, 2024 - Community Email
September 23, 2024 - Community Email
September 6, 2024 - Community Email
August 29, 2024 - Notice of Appeal - Dominican
August 23, 2024 - City of San Rafael Letter of Incompleteness
August 23, 2024: Community email
August 2, 2024: Dominican Letter to SR City Council
July 25, 2024: Developer Submitted Revised Application
SAVE DOMINICAN VALLEY's letter to the community on May 6, 2024 is available here.
The new proposed development is shown on the attached map here.
On April 26, 2024 the City of San Rafael issued another letter of Incompleteness to the developer. A copy of that Letter is available here.
On March 29, 2024 the Dominican Valley, LLC developer submitted a revised application to the City of San Rafael. A copy of that application is available here.
On January 4, 2024, the city sent the developer a 28-page letter informing them that their development application was incomplete and setting forth the issues that needed to be addressed before the application could move forward.
On January 24, 2024, SDV sent the City a response to their Letter of Incompleteness detailing why the Builder's Remedy does not apply and requesting that the City formally inform the Developer of such. Click here to see the letter sent to the City.
See the Development Plans
Formal Application:
As of December 6, 2023, Dominican Valley LLC has submitted a formal application to the City of San Rafael Planning Division for 50 homes, which includes 27 single family homes, 17 townhomes (14 with junior ADUs) and 6 duplexes:
On January 4, 2024, the city sent the developer a 28-page letter informing them that their development application was incomplete and setting forth the issues that needed to be addressed before the application could move forward.
The city has also updated the project page for the Dominican Valley project, which can be found here: https://www.cityofsanrafael.
Preliminary Application:
As of June 22, 2023, the developer has submitted 5 different pre-applications to the City of San Rafael Planning Division, 4 of which claim eligibility for what is known as the "Builder's Remedy". The proposals range from:
Each pre-application is accompanied by Exhibits. The exhibits are the same for each application, click the links to view.
The developer's pre-applications were submitted to benefit from Senate Bill (SB) 330, known as “Builder's Remedy”. A statewide law, SB 330 expedites building permits by eliminating the need for developers to be compliant with local development standards. It also greatly reduces the number of public meetings required for any project.
Learn about SB 330 and its impact on our communities. Also OurNeighborhoodVoices.com
Developers may apply for SB 330 permits only when a municipality has not adopted a Housing Element Plan that is in substantial compliance with state law.
The city of San Rafael adopted its 2023-2031 Housing Element Plan, which included state-requested revisions, on June 7, 2023. The city received formal state certification of the plan on June 22, 2023.
Click here to see San Rafael's state-certified 2023-2031 Housing Element Plan.
Status of the Development Plans
On July 28, 2023, the San Rafael Planning Division responded to the development plans with preliminary application letters that grant the applicant “vested rights” to continue with the application process.
Click here to see the city’s response to the plans, located under Preliminary Application Letter or click the links below.
Based on the May 15, 2023, date on which the city adopted its state-compliant 2023-2031 Housing Element Plan, we do not believe the developer's plans qualify for SB 330. Marin County non-profit Community Venture Partners supported this position in a letter sent to the city on August 8, 2023.
In a September 8, 2023 letter to the city, coalition members outlined their concerns about inaccuracies in the submitted pre-applications and provided a detailed analysis explaining why the applications do not follow city code, were erroneously approved and should be retracted.
All Documents, Letters and Press
November 15, 2024 - Community Email
November 8, 2024 - SDV Letter to Robert Epstein
November 1, 2024 - Community Email
October 29, 2024 - Denial of Appeal Letter from City
October 18, 2024 - Community Email
October 18, 2024 - Incompleteness Response
October 14, 2024 - Community Email
October 7, 2024 - Community Email
September 23, 2024: Community email
September 6, 2024: Community email
August 29, 2024 - Notice of Appeal - Dominican
August 23, 2024: City of San Rafael Letter of Incompleteness
August 23, 2024: Community email
August 2, 2024: Dominican Letter to SR City Council
May 31, 2024: Community email
May 30, 2024: SDV Letter to City Council
May 6, 2024: Community email
April 10, 2024: Community email
March 20, 2024: City of San Rafael Response to PRA Request
March 6, 2024: DBCNA Letter to SR City Council
January 24, 2024: SDV Letter to SR City Council
January 23, 2024: Community email
January 20, 2024: Letter to Mark Brown from Ready Country Club
January 9, 2024: Community email
January 4, 2024: City of San Rafael Letter of Incompleteness
December 16, 2023: Community email
November 30, 2023: Community email
October 30, 2023: Community email
October 3, 2023: SDV Letter to City Re: Builder's Remedy
September 12, 2023: Community email
September 9, 2023: SDV Letter to City re: deficiencies in the pre-applications
August 8, 2023: Freedom of Information Act Letter
August 8, 2023: Pre-Application Timeline Letter
August 25, 2024, Marin IJ cartoon: Cartoonist's Take
August 19, 2024, Marin IJ article: San Rafael housing plan size rattles Dominican University
October 4, 2023, Marin Post article: Save Dominican Valley explains the "Builder's Remedy"
September 17, 2023, Marin IJ article: San Rafael group challenges ‘builder’s remedy’ housing plan
September 8, 2023, Marin Post article: A Community Effort to Save Dominican Valley
August 4, 2023, Marin IJ article: San Rafael Analysis Favors Dominican Housing Developer
June 24, 2023, Marin IJ article: San Rafael Builders Remedy Housing Plans Rile Dominican Neighbors
June 3, 2023, Marin IJ article: Dominican University Sells San Rafael Parcels to Residential Developer