San Rafael zoning administrator conditionally approves master permit to allow office and medical-office uses at 68 Mitchell Boulevard

The San Rafael zoning administrator conditionally approved a master conditional use permit on June 25 to allow general and medical office uses at 68 Mitchell Boulevard, the southeast corner of Mitchell Boulevard and Pell Drive.

Renee, an associate planner acting as zoning administrator, said staff found the proposal consistent with the general plan and zoning ordinance and that the proposed use "will not be detrimental to public health, safety, or welfare, or materially injurious to the properties or improvements in the vicinity." The staff presentation stated there are no proposed physical alterations to the building and that the site is supported by 53 on-site parking spaces, including three accessible spaces.

The applicant, identified in the hearing as Steve, told the administrator he had recently lost a tenant because the tenant — a physical therapist — was told the building was not zoned for that use. "I just lost a tenant … they said I can't be in this building. It wasn't zoned for that," the applicant said, summarizing why he sought the master permit. Staff and the administrator said the permit will allow businesses that fall under the office and medical-office land-use categories to occupy the existing space without a separate use permit, though they must still obtain a San Rafael business license.

Renee said she would request a minor correction to the staff report to make explicit in the record which office-use categories are covered and then conditionally approved the project based on the findings and conditions in the staff report. She announced appeal rights and deadlines: an appeal letter must be submitted to the City by 5:00 p.m. on July 2, 2025; the hearing record includes a stated appeal fee of $358 for a neighbor or resident of San Rafael and a $5,119 deposit for the applicant or a nonresident.

The administrator closed the public hearing after noting no members of the public were present in the room or online and said the hearing record will be published on the city website following the hearing. After the decision, the applicant asked for clarification about business licensing; staff confirmed businesses must obtain a business license but, if they fall within the approved office categories, they will not need an additional use permit.

The decision is administrative and may be appealed by the stated deadline and fees. The record includes the staff finding that the proposed uses comply with applicable provisions of the zoning ordinance and the general plan.