Supervisors direct appellant to fund environmental review for contested Lucas Valley housing subdivision

The Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to require the appellant in the Riley appeal to fund the environmental review for a proposed 36-unit subdivision at 1501 Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael. The motion, made by Supervisor Sackett and seconded by Supervisor Rodoni, passed by voice vote after staff and the appellant's counsel clashed over the appropriate scope and cost of CEQA review.

Community Development staff said the project, ministerially approved for 36 units in May 2025, proposes discretionary subdivision approvals and a tree-removal permit for more than 100 trees and therefore requires site-specific environmental review. Staff's environmental coordinator, Rachel Reid, told the board that the applicant submitted two very different grading plans: one involving multiple retaining walls with a cumulative exposure of roughly 52' 55 feet from Lucas…