San Rafael planning commission approves 17‑story, 200‑unit project at 700 Erwin Street over traffic and safety objections

The San Rafael Planning Commission voted 4–1 on Jan. 13 to approve an environmental and design review permit for a 17‑story, 200‑unit mixed‑use project at 700 Erwin Street, determining the proposal is statutorily exempt from CEQA under AB 130 and Public Resources Code §21080.66.

City Community and Economic Development Director Micah Hinkle said staff and outside consultants conducted a lengthy review of the application. “This has probably been, in my career, probably one of the most complex projects that I’ve ever actually had to evaluate or review,” Hinkle said, noting internal and consultant reviews on planning, public works and building safety.

The developer’s plan, presented by Chris Collins of 700 Erwin Street Partners and Urban Pacific, proposes roughly 201,700 square feet of new construction with up to 4,000 square feet of ground‑floor commercial space, 200 residential units of which 30 are deed‑restricted below‑market units, about 215 parking spaces largely served by mechanized lifts, and 60 bicycle parking spaces. David Krizier, the project developer, said the proposal would “transform [a] boarded up site into a timber‑built gateway” and triple…