Strawberry senior-housing project enters 60-day fast-track review

Marin County planners deemed complete the application for a 106-unit senior-living facility on Strawberry’s North Knoll Road on Nov. 6, starting a 60-day timeline that could see the project approved by Jan. 4 despite fierce opposition from neighbors.

The finding by the county’s Community Development Agency triggered the ministerial-review period for the Spirit Living Group project, a streamlining process that requires the 150,655-square-foot facility to meet objective standards but does not allow for public hearings or subjective judgment.

The county must first complete a 30-day consistency analysis, due by Dec. 6, to determine whether the proposal conforms to local code requirements such as the number of stories, height and setback standards, Senior Planner Megan Alton said last week. The project is eligible for waivers to ensure it can be built to capacity, and the developer is seeking to exceed the allowed number of stories and maximum lot coverage.

Alton said the consistency analysis will be made public. If the code requirements are met, the county must approve the project by Jan. 4, allowing Spirit Living to apply for building permits. If there are any inconsistencies not covered by the waiver request, the developers can modify that request by the approval deadline or face denial.

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