San Rafael planning commission approves Del Presidio gas station rebuild with lighting and landscaping conditions

The San Rafael Planning Commission approved an environmental and design review allowing demolition of a 2,200‑square‑foot convenience store and gas station at 930 Del Presidio Boulevard and construction of a new 2,800‑square‑foot convenience store, four fuel pumps under a 20‑foot canopy, and an automobile repair bay, with conditions on lighting and landscaping.

Commission staff told the commission the project site is a 21,500‑square‑foot parcel in the Terralinda neighborhood, adjacent to the Northgate Shopping Center, and that the proposal would reduce site curb cuts from four to three and provide 17 off‑street parking spaces. "Staff recommends the planning commission approve the application as presented subject to the conditions of approval," Principal Planner Jose Herrera said during the staff presentation.

The nut graf: commissioners and the applicant focused discussion on canopy lighting levels, landscape species, and public‑works pavement‑restoration conditions — issues the commission said should be settled before building permits are finalized because they affect neighborhood lighting, fire safety, and right‑of‑way impacts.

In their review, city planners and the applicant described design and site changes intended to reduce intensity compared with the existing layout: the project would remove existing single‑wall underground storage tanks and replace them with double‑wall tanks and modern dispensers, shrink three on‑site smog bays to one, and reconfigure fueling positions. "We have been determined to be CEQA exempt," civil engineer Casey Held, representing the owner and developer Arash Salki, told the commission, saying the proposal is consistent with the existing use and environmental standards.

Commissioners sought specifics. Commissioner Summers asked about the photometric plan under the canopy and quoted commonly used safety guidance: "Doing my own research on it today, typically, what's considered adequate for safety ... is 20, which is actually a of what you've shown on those plans. You guys are up at a 100." The applicant and staff agreed the applicant would reduce canopy illumination and work with staff to match levels used for other recently approved San Rafael stations; the commission made that coordination a condition of approval.

The fire department raised concern about four juniper plants shown in the landscape plan; one commissioner noted that junipers are not permitted for fire‑safety reasons and asked that the plants be replaced. The motion the commission approved added a requirement that the applicant "revise the landscape plan to replace the juniper plants shown" and that lighting lumens be revised to conform with the planning code and applicable safety needs.

The commission also discussed a Department of Public Works condition (condition 30) that would require sidewalk, curb and gutter upgrades and possibly pavement grinding and overlay in the right‑of‑way. Staff advised the commission that they would follow up with DPW to clarify whether recently replaced curb ramps would be exempt from replacement and suggested photo documentation and a construction management plan to allow DPW to determine postconstruction obligations. "We could always follow‑up with DPW for the intention of that comment and report back to the applicant or the commission," Jose Herrera said.

Formal action: Commissioner Haven moved to approve the project "as presented by staff in the draft resolution, with the condition that the applicant work with staff on the photometrics" and to change out the junipers; Commissioner Haven formally made the motion and the commission voted; Commissioners Haven, Summers, Kent and Chair Mercado voted yes and the motion passed. The commission directed staff and the applicant to finalize photometric levels and the revised landscape plan as conditions of approval prior to final permits.

The approval permits demolition and the site rebuild under the planning commission's resolution; the applicant will proceed to finalize construction plans, coordinate with DPW on any pavement or curb‑ramp requirements, and submit the revised photometric and landscape plans for staff review and verification.

Less critical details: staff noted the storefront design includes a 10‑foot aluminum storefront and parapet heights ranging from 17 to 21 feet to reduce perceived bulk. The commission's minutes will capture the precise condition language and any follow‑up with DPW before the project moves to the building‑permit stage.