City kicks off Southeast San Rafael specific plan with MTC OBAG 3 funding and consultant team
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Summary
Planning staff reported the March 17 kickoff for the Southeast San Rafael specific plan, funded in part by MTC OBAG 3 grants ($797,000 each for two PDAs), with consultant WRT and Canal Alliance subcontracting; outreach will include listening sessions and tours to address heat, sea-level and infrastructure concerns.
Margaret Seminole, planning manager, updated the subcommittee on the Southeast San Rafael specific plan kickoff and related work on March 24. She said the Metropolitan Transportation Commission awarded OBAG 3 planning grants and staff secured MTC approval to move forward.
"In January 2026, we were finally able to bring our preferred firm to the council for their approval, and that was WRT," Margaret said. She said the March 17 kickoff included a two-part session (an in-room discussion and a community tour) and that outreach will feature listening sessions in April and May.
Staff explained the plan will cover a 20-year horizon and include CEQA documentation and zoning-ordinance update language intended to make the area more competitive for grants and private investment. The presentation highlighted climate concerns raised during the tour (heat exposure and tidal flooding at low-lying access roads) and said the city is coordinating with Canal Promise and the regional shoreline adaptation planning team.
Margaret said each PDA (Southeast and Northgate) received about $797,000 in OBAG 3 grant funding, and staff are seeking additional grants and letters of support to augment the planning budget. She said WRT will hold weekly consultant check-ins and is working to ensure the plan connects to other active efforts rather than duplicating them.
Councilmembers welcomed the kickoff and urged continued coordination with neighborhood stakeholders; staff said the first public community meeting is slated for August and that updates will be posted to the project website.
