Belvedere City Council hearing on Mallard Pointe appeal set for Jan. 22

Belvedere has set a Jan. 22 appeal hearing for the City Council to consider whether plans to redevelop Mallard Pointe must undergo further environmental review.

On Nov. 14, the Planning Commission unanimously ruled that the 40-unit project, located between the lagoon and City Hall, did not qualify for an “urban infill” exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act. Two weeks later, Mill Valley-based developer Thompson Dorfman Partners LCC filed its appeal.

Thompson Dorfman, an ownership partner as Mallard Pointe 1951 LLC, wants to demolish the existing 22 units of duplexes and replace them with 17 new units across duplexes, single-family homes and an accessory dwelling unit plus 23 more units in an apartment complex or with fourplexes and a triplex.

They say the project was specifically designed to meet state exemption requirements but that the city charged them $100,000 and took 1½ years to fully analyze environmental requirements to confirm that the project was exempt from further study.

Read the complete story in our e-edition, or SUBSCRIBE NOW for home delivery and access to the digital replica.