Strawberry neighbors still see red flags in seminary-site plan

A schematic of the proposed Seminary at Strawberry redevelopment shows residential units in red, a residential-care facility in orange, an academic campus in purple, ancillary buildings in green and existing buildings in gray. (Mark Cavagnero Associates Architects, adapted by Ascent Environmental)

Three environmental impacts from the proposed 336-unit redevelopment of the former Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Strawberry cannot be avoided, according to a final county review that neighbors say proves the project is too large — with one attorney calling it “an entire new city on a hill” and threatening legal action if changes aren’t made.

The 684-page environmental report, released by Marin County Dec. 12, identifies traffic, greenhouse-gas emissions and construction noise as significant impacts that cannot be fully mitigated. The document also cites nine additional significant impacts that county officials say can be reduced to less-than-significant levels if all proposed measures work as planned.

The county has opened a 45-day public comment period that ends at 4 p.m. Jan. 26.

Seminary Neighborhood Association attorney Riley Hurd said the identified impacts — 13 in total — should give county supervisors pause.

“At the end of the day, that’s 13 significant environmental impacts from this project,” Hurd said. “Environmental review is supposed to inform decision-makers about the environmental impacts of projects … so that they can make an educated vote. Here, the information is out. And it is telling the Board of Supervisors that if you were to proceed with this project as currently designed, it will be extremely impactful.”

The 127-acre project at 201 Seminary Drive would transform the site into a mixed-use development with 336 single- and multifamily residential units — including 70 affordable units — and a 150-unit senior residential-care facility. The project also includes a 17,000-square-foot fitness center and a 3,000-square-foot preschool, both open to the public. While more than 70% of the campus would remain as open space, athletic fields, paths and plazas, the project would add about 530 new residents and about 250 new workers at full build-out.

Developer North Coast Land Holdings LLC also proposes maintaining an academic campus for up to 1,000 students under an existing 1953 conditional use permit.

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