San Rafael approves parking deck and variance for 15 McCoy Road

The City of San Rafael approved a design review and a variance to allow construction of a new parking deck, entry gate and associated access stairs at 15 McCoy Road, the zoning administrator announced at a Feb. 13 hearing.

Associate Planner Renee presented the project and said the portions of the parking deck located inside the property boundary meet the city’s development standards, including a permitted height of 24 feet. She said the portions of the structure outside the property were reviewed by the Department of Public Works. "The CEQA finding is that this is exempt from CEQA as the new construction or conversion of a small structure," Renee said, and staff determined there was "no other reasonable place on the property to have this type of parking deck."

Renee told the administrator that the proposal complies with lot coverage, setback and hillside standards and that conditions of approval are standard for this type of design review, with additional conditions recommended by the Department of Public Works. The staff report noted two letters of support had been received by the planning division before publication.

With public comment closed (no speakers in the room or on Zoom), Principal Planner Christina reviewed the staff findings and approved the project "subject to the findings and conditions of approval," the record shows. Christina also announced a five-business-day appeal period that ends the following Wednesday at 5 p.m.

The approval does not record a formal vote by an elected body; it was a zoning-administrator decision based on the staff report and recommended conditions. The project record identifies the Department of Public Works conditions as part of the approval package. Any party that wishes to appeal must file within the five-business-day window and pay the applicable fees.