Neighbors press San Rafael to reconsider interim shelter location at 350 Merrydale Road

Dozens of San Rafael residents used the city council meeting on Oct. 20 to press the city for more community engagement on a proposed interim shelter program at 350 Merrydale Road, a site the city and Marin County announced earlier this month as the planned location for 65 individual cabins and on-site services.

Residents who said they live in San Rafael Meadows and surrounding blocks described the neighborhood as family-oriented and said they were surprised to learn about the project through media reports or neighbors rather than direct outreach. “We felt pretty blindsided by this project,” said Brent McLean, who identified himself as a San Rafael Meadows resident. Multiple neighbors said children frequently play outside in the area near the proposed site and voiced concerns about safety, noise and potential impacts to property values.

City briefed the public, council stressed decision timeline City Manager Christine Lillovich (City Manager referenced in remarks) told the meeting the city would host both a virtual community meeting on Oct. 28 and an in-person open house in early November with city staff, police, the SAFE team and the county operator FS Global to share program details and gather input. City staff said the council will consider acceptance of an $8 million county grant for purchasing the site on Nov. 17, followed by a Board of Supervisors review on Nov. 18. The council repeatedly emphasized that no decision was being made that evening — the remarks and the public comment reflected community concern rather than a formal council vote.

Community concerns and requests Speakers asked for a pause in decision-making, greater transparency about the site's ownership and unit design, information about local crime and calls for service comparisons with the previous encampment at Mahone Creek, and clear mitigation plans addressing safety, sanitation, overflow and impacts on childcare centers and senior housing. One resident asked whether alternative locations had been considered and whether vacant buildings might be repurposed. Several speakers requested recorded or in-person public meetings to allow ample time for questions and answers, citing Zoom time limits.

City response and next steps Mayor Kate and the city manager reiterated that the Oct. 28 virtual meeting would be recorded, that an in-person meeting would follow, and that formal decisions would come to the council on Nov. 17 and the Marin County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 18. The city said it will post project FAQs and signups for email updates at the project webpage (staff gave the web address in meeting remarks). Staff also noted there have been a series of closed-session discussions and that staff would continue outreach and community engagement before any council action.

Context and clarifications City staff said the interim shelter will include on-site social services, daily maintenance, a participant code of conduct, and “good neighbor” policies. The county is contributing an $8,000,000 investment to assist in the city’s purchase and operation plans; public-safety staffing (SAFE team, police) and program operator FS Global were listed among partners that would help manage the site. Council members said they want thoughtful development of the program and reiterated that additional community input opportunities would be provided before any formal approval.

What residents are asking for next Residents requested in-person town halls, expanded disclosure of site plans and timelines, crime and calls-for-service data comparisons, and explicit mitigation measures for safety, childcare proximity and sanitation. Several speakers asked the council to postpone the Nov. 17 vote to allow more meaningful neighborhood engagement.