Marin OKs 106-unit senior facility off North Knoll Road

Marin County has approved a controversial five-story senior care facility off Strawberry’s North Knoll Road, ending more than a year of neighborhood opposition to a project that will tower over single-family homes.

The 106-unit, 150,655-square-foot residential care facility will stand 63 feet, 6 inches tall on a 6.6-acre hillside site now addressed as 100 Thomas Place. The county’s approval through a state-mandated ministerial review process on Dec. 23 leaves opponents with no avenue for appeal.

Ali Shabahangi of San Anselmo-based Spirit Living Group LLC confirmed the developers intend to apply for building permits but said it’s too early to announce a construction timeline.

“While project approval is an important milestone, in many ways our work is just beginning,” he said. “The next phase involves complying with each of the county’s conditions of approval through the permitting process, which is rigorous and requires detailed technical analysis, including pedestrian and roadway improvements. Only after that work is complete will we be able to establish a construction timeline.”

Senior Planner Megan Alton estimated the building-permit process could take six months — double the typical three months for a single-family home.

The facility will include 71 apartments with kitchens for independent living — 39 studios or one-bedrooms and 32 two-bedrooms or larger — and 35 assisted-living and memory-care suites without cooking facilities. A subterranean garage will provide 72 parking spaces. Common areas will include dining rooms, activity spaces, a theater, salon, library and fitness facilities. Other amenities include walking trails, a pool, bocce court and fire-truck turnaround.

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