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Council introduces amendment to McPhail master plan to allow light-industrial uses
Summary
The council introduced an amendment to align the McPhail master plan (5400 Hannah Ranch Road) with the city's LIO zoning, saying the change would expand opportunities for light industrial and artisan tenants; Planning Commission had recommended approval.
Novato City Council introduced a proposed amendment on March 24 to the McPhail commercial master plan (5400 Hannah Ranch Road) that would expand permitted uses to match the city's light industrial/office (LIO) zoning.
Senior planner Caitlin Zatelli summarized the application and explained that the master plan currently limits tenant types; applicant representative Casey Baxter described the site's history (a former concrete-batching plant redeveloped into Class-A light-industrial office) and said vacancy constraints stemmed from master-plan restrictions. Baxter highlighted an interested local tenant, SnakeCraft, a custom cabinetmaker seeking space at the site.
"SnakeCraft represents exactly the type of skilled artisan manufacturing that creates quality jobs and serves the community without generating heavy traffic or industrial impacts," Baxter said.
The Novato Chamber of Commerce and a longtime local resident spoke in support during public comment, noting the amendment would help retain employers and create local job opportunities. On a roll-call vote the council unanimously agreed to introduce the draft resolution and ordinance and send the matter forward for the required environmental and formal adoption steps.
Staff will prepare the formal ordinance language and any associated environmental findings for a subsequent council hearing.
