Chamber Spurs Unanimous Planning Commission Approval of Northgate Walk Project

On Tuesday night, the Planning Commission unanimously supported the Northgate Walk project located at 1005-1010 Northgate Drive in San Rafael.  This project will transform an underutilized site that is zoned for multi-family by replacing an existing gas station and surface parking lot with a unique mix of 136 senior, affordable, and market-rate homes.  Several supporters spoke including Chamber Board Director, Diane Henderson. "We live in a county where more than 80% of land is preserved as open space. This is where we need housing", said Henderson.

Chamber President and CEO, Joanne Webster also reported on Tuesday night that "current national research reported from Kaiser states that 1/3 of Americans are grappling with stress tied to meeting their basic human needs such as stable housing and reliable transportation.The Northgate Walk project provides a housing type not otherwise available in San Rafael  and creates diversity of our home ownership. That is; housing for the missing middle; younger, first time home owners who want new, modern housing that meet their needs and who are currently working in our community and commuting long distances to their jobs adding to their anxiety".

We are not just in a housing crisis; we are in a labor crisis too. Employers are reporting huge difficulties with filling much needed positions. Companies are not going to continue to grow, and certainly not grow in a way that’s sustainable, unless we have a community and infrastructure that supports that growth — and that includes workforce housing.

Read full support letter

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