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San Rafael, California

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Saint Raphael Church, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks

San Rafael (/'sɑn ,rə fɛl/ (current pronunciation pronunciation); /,sɑn rɑ fe 'ɛl/ (original pronunciation)) is the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2002 census, the city had a total population of 55,550.

Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded in what is now downtown San Rafael as the 20th Spanish mission in the colonial Mexican province of Alta California by four priests, Father Narciso Duran from San Jose, Father Abella from San Francisco, Father Gil y Taboada and Father Junipero Serra, the President of the Missions, on Dec. 14, 1817, four years before Mexico gained independence from Spain.

The mission and city are named for the Archangel Raphael, the Angel of Healing. The mission was originally planned as a hospital site for Central Valley American Indians who had become ill at the cold San Francisco Mission Dolores. Father Luis Gil, who spoke several native American languages, was put in charge of the facility. In part because of its ideal weather San Rafael was later upgraded to full mission status in 1822. The mission had 300 converts within its first year, and 1,140 converts by 1828. The Mexican government took over the California missions in 1834, and Mission San Rafael was abandoned in 1844, eventually falling into ruin. The current mission was built in the style of the original in 1949, but faces at right angles to the alignment of the original.

Notable landmarks include: the Mission San Rafael Arcángel, around which the city developed; the Marin County Civic Center building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch; and the Rafael Film Center. San Rafael is served by the privately-operated San Rafael Airport.

Geography

Location of San Rafael, California
Location of San Rafael, California

San Rafael is located at 37°58′60″N 122°31′25″W / 37.98333°N 122.52361°W / 37.98333; -122.52361 Coordinates: latitude seconds >= 60
Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (37.983256, -122.523694)Template:GR. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 58.1 km² (22.4 mi²). 43.0 km² (16.6 mi²) of it is land and 15.1 km² (5.8 mi²) of it (26.04%) is water.

Environmental features

The San Rafael shoreline has been historically filled to a considerable extent to accommodate land development, with underlying bay mud (saturated clayed silt) of up to 90 feet in thickness. At certain locations such as Murphys Point, the sandstone or shale rock outcrops through the mud.

San Rafael has a wide diversity of natural habitats from forests at the higher elevations to marshland and estuarine settings. Its marshes are home to the endangered species Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse. There are also riparian areas including the San Rafael Creek and Miller Creek corridors.

Using one of the city's guidelines for environmental noise of 55 CNEL, there are approximately 3500 residents exposed to sound levels greater than desirable.

San Rafael has a mediterranean climate, with mild winter lows rarely reaching the freezing mark. Average highs are between 11-15 C° (mid 50s F°) and lows between 5-10 C° (mid 40s F°). In the summer highs are between 25-34 C° (low 80s F°). Summer lows are around 13 C° (mid 50s F°). This makes it possible to live in this area without air conditioning. The rainy season is from November to March. Rain is rare outside of this period and it is normal to receive no rain in June, July, Aug, and September. The hottest month of the year is September, when temperatures regularly reach the low 30s C° (low 90s F°).

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 56,063 people, 22,371 households, and 12,773 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,304.8/km² (3,378.9/mi²). There were 22,948 housing units at an average density of 534.1/km² (1,383.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.76% White, 2.24% African American, 0.56% Native American, 5.59% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 11.16% from other races, and 4.53% from two or more races. 27.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 22,371 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18, 44.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% have someone living alone who is 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99. The age distribution is as follows: 19.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $60,994, and the median income for a family was $74,398. Males had a median income of $50,650 versus $39,912 for females. The per capita income for the city was $35,762. About 5.6% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Entertainment Industry

After the arrival of George Lucas in San Rafael in 1970 to film the movie THX1138, the city became a center for the entertainment industry, particularly the high-tech elements of the business. Lucasfilm was founded by George Lucas in 1971, and is best known for the global hit movie series Star Wars and also for Indiana Jones. Some of the company's operations were moved to San Francisco in 2005. Portions of the Universal movie production American Graffiti were filmed in downtown San Rafael under George Lucas's direction, and portions of THX 1138 were shot at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael. Much of the movie Gattaca, starring Ethan Hawke, was also shot in the Marin County Civic Center. Industrial Light & Magic was founded in 1975 by Lucas to do special effects for his films and those of other filmmakers.

Largely because of the presence of LucasFilm, San Rafael started to attract video game developers, with several major studios located in the city. However, because of poor city leadership and ineffective zoning laws in the Canal neighborhood, most of the companies, including Lucas Arts, have left San Rafael:

Parks

San Rafael contains a number of well conceived parks:

  • Community parks are Albert Park, Pickleweed Park and the Terra Linda Recreational Center.
  • There are a number of neighborhood parks and mini-parks such as Gerstle Park, Boyd Park, Sun Valley Park, Oleander Park, Victor Jones Park and Peacock Gap Park.

Educational institutions

San Rafael has one university, Dominican University (California), three high schools and two academies.

  • Terra Linda High School, opened in 1960, is a coeducational public secondary school located at 320 Nova Albion Way in Terra Linda, a northern area of San Rafael. It is a part of the San Rafael High School District. The school colors are blue and gold, and the school name is TL Trojans. Carole Ramsey is the principal. In the 2002–2003 school year, 84 percent of the students were enrolled in advanced mathematics courses, well above the state average of 55 percent. This is because 50% of the good students who would otherwise attend San Rafael High Scool are forced to go to Terra Linda because of gang violence and inferior student body at SRHS. The average combined SAT score at TL for 2002-2003 school year was 1126.
  • San Rafael High School is a coeducational public secondary school located at 185 Mission Avenue. Founded in 1888, with its current campus built in 1924, it is a part of the San Rafael High School District. It is a part of California's Class Size Reduction Program because 33% of its students are illegal immigrants, many of whom can't speak English. As a result, ninth-grade math and English classes are limited to 20 students per class, draining resources away from science curriculum and advanced mathematics. As of 2005, Judith B. Colton is the principal. San Rafael High School operates a 10-wattradio station, KSRH, broadcasting at 88.1 FM; reception covers San Rafael south of Terra Linda. The school mascot is the bulldog. San Rafael High School has been cited as the origin of the time and codeword 4:20 in marijuana culture.
  • Madrone Continuation High School is in the San Rafael High School District. It shares facilities with San Rafael High School, but is otherwise independent. Sue Gatlin is the head of the administration. There are about 50 students in grades 10 to 12. The average class size is 17. Madrone Continuation High School provides alternative secondary instruction, emphasizing individual attention for students with special needs. Students are on a pass/fail system of grading, and each student has an assigned school counselor. Students in the San Rafael High School District can enter Madrone with a recommendation from the District Referral Committee.
  • Phoenix Academy is a California Charter school where chemically dependent students can develop a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle, make academic progress, address emotional issues, and make sound career and vocational decisions. The school provides a highly structured and supervised program. The school is located at 160 B North San Pedro Road.

San Rafael runs three school districts: San Rafael Elementary School District, Dixie Elementary School District, and San Rafael High School District.

Notable Citizens

Neighborhoods

Although not every location in San Rafael is part of a neighborhood that has a widely-accepted and widely-recognized name, there are some neighborhoods that have names that are accepted and recognized by most locals. According to the City of San Rafael's 2020 General Plan, San Rafael has 30 distinct neighborhoods:


1. Bay Islands

2. Lucas Valley

3. Marinwood

4. Canal Waterfront

5. Terra Linda

6. Mont Marin/San Rafael Park

7. North San Rafael Commercial Center

8. Smith Ranch

9. Rafael Meadows/Los Ranchitos

10. Civic Center

11. Santa Venetia

12. China Camp

13. Sun Valley

14. Fair Hills

15. Lincoln/San Rafael Hill

16. Dominican/Black Canyon

17. Country Club

18. Loch Lomond

19. Bayside Acres

20. Glenwood

21. Peacock Gap

22. West End

23. Downtown

24. Montecito/Happy Valley

25. Gerstle Park

26. Picnic Valley

27. Francisco Boulevard West

28. Bret Harte

29. California Park

30. Canal


Bay Islands

V i s i o n o f M a r i n I s l a n d s

The East and West Marin Islands in the San Rafael Bay both have land use designations of Hillside Resource Residential but are uninhabited. The Islands are noted for their visually pleasing appeal, especially during the bird-breeding season. They are preserved for wildlife habitat as the Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge and State Ecological Reserve. Preservation of the Marin Islands is essential to the community of San Rafael and therefore will remain uninhabited.


Lucas Valley

V i s i o n o f L u c a s V a l l e y

This 1,629 acre unincorporated neighborhood is developed with single-family homes on large lots and incidental retail. With more than 50 percent of the neighborhood located in an open space reserve, the population density is low at 1.22 persons per acre. The Lucas Valley Open Space Preserve is located above the developed portions of the neighborhood. Apart from the County’s approval of office space at the Lucasfilm properties, this area, located in an unincorporated area of the County is not expecting any major development projects during the San Rafael 2020 planning period.


Marinwood

V i s i o n o f M a r i n w o o d

Marinwood is in an unincorporated area of the County. The Daphne site, located west of Highway 101 next to the Lucas Valley offramp, is a property zoned for residential development. The City and County have entered into an agreement whereby the City will not seek to annex the property and proposed development will occur within the County. This agreement seeks dedication of the right-of-way for completion of the freeway off-ramp and maintenance of the City’s traffic standards.


Canal Waterfront

V i s i o n o f t h e C a n a l W a t e r f r o n t

Improved public access to and along the Canal, both visual and pedestrian, should be actively promoted through redevelopment of properties between Grand Avenue and Harbor Street. A public promenade on either side of the Canal is a high priority. Water dependent industry will continue to be encouraged, but other pedestrian-oriented services, such as restaurants and retail, will also be allowed on ground floors, and housing allowed above. Live-aboard boats will continue to provide additional affordable housing, while adding to the marine character of the area. Improved access to commercial businesses from the water for boaters will also be encouraged. Maintenance of the Canal as a navigable waterway is essential and will require a local funding source for periodic dredging.


Terra Linda

T e r r a L i n d a a n d V i s i o n N o r t h S a n R a f a e l

In November 1997, the City Council received Vision North San Rafael. The Vision is the result of a community-wide effort to describe the future of the northern half of San Rafael. In addition to goals and actions, the document includes a list of implementation strategies to make the vision a reality. Terra Linda is a neighborhood in north San Rafael, and covers much of the area of the Vision.

The Vision identifies needed improvements to the Terra Linda Shopping Center and encourages the construction of the North San Rafael Promenade, both located within the neighborhood boundary. The Vision establishes top priorities and goals for residential neighborhoods in the Design, Beautification and Maintenance, Homes for a Variety of People, Community Services, and Gathering Places sections of the document. Implementation of the Vision will continue to be a requirement for all new development projects in the North San Rafael neighborhoods.


Mont Marin/San Rafael Park

V i s i o n o f M o n t M a r i n / S a n R a f a e l P a r k

The Mont Marin/San Rafael Park Neighborhood is essentially built-out with little change expected. The Mont Marin/San Rafael Park Neighborhood is a suburban neighborhood located in North San Rafael. Most of the homes in this neighborhood are owner-occupied. A significant open space ridge is located along the eastern boundary of the neighborhood. Jerry Russom Memorial Park is located along the western boundary of the neighborhood, providing access to the Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Divide Open Space Preserve. The Mont Marin/San Rafael Park neighborhood experiences Highway 101 bypass traffic, which has decreased since Las Gallinas Avenue was narrowed to one lane each way to accommodate new bike lanes.


North San Rafael Commercial Center

V i s i o n o f N o r t h S a n R a f a e l C o m m e r c i a l C e n t e r

One of the key concepts in Vision North San Rafael is the development of a “town center” in the heart of the Northgate commercial area.

As described in the Vision:

A “town center” is a focal point where the values and history of the community are expressed and supported, where community identity is strengthened and neighborhood cohesion is fostered. It is a place where residents and workers can gather—formally and informally—to share community life. The Town Center will have public art, a wide variety of unique shops, many places to eat, and a number of entertainment options. Our town center will be a major destination point on the promenade, a place where everyone feels welcome, something is always happening, and strolling is a pleasure. It will also include one of North San Rafael’s principal gathering places—in the form of a town square! Over time, the Town Center would change, expand and evolve to become the heart of the North San Rafael community.

The priority actions for the Town Center are to create a sense of enclosure, pedestrian-scale and easy accessibility and to provide high quality retail stores for local residents as well as the broader community.


Smith Ranch

V i s i o n o f S m i t h R a n c h

Properties in this neighborhood are essentially built-out, including the San Rafael Airport, which is limited to additional plane hangar space construction and landscape improvements in the future. Plans for a skate park at John F. McInnis Park have been approved by the County of Marin. The habitat value of the wetlands adjacent to McInnis Park, Marin Ranch Airport, and the riparian corridors along branches of Gallinas Creek will be enhanced and protected, with public viewing areas located where feasible and appropriate.

McInnis Park is 450 acres in size, is developed with softball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, a canoe launch, a golf driving range, restaurant, 9-hole golf course, miniature golf, batting cages, and nature trails.

Joseph Shekou, the owner of the Airport, wants to convert it to additional recreational area at taxpayer expense to build humongous indoor soccer complexes on sensitive habitat adjacent to Gallinas Creek.


Rafael Meadows/Los Ranchitos

V i s i o n o f R a f a e l M e a d o w s / L o s R a n c h i t o s

Rafael Meadows is a residential area located behind and along the west side of Merrydale Road. This area is developed primarily with small older, one- and two-story single-family homes. Apartments and condominiums are located along Merrydale Road. Two churches are also located in the neighborhood.

The unincorporated Los Ranchitos area features single-family homes on larger lots. Most lots are over an acre in size and some residents house horses on their property. Some of the properties along Merrydale Road may redevelop in the future with more housing. The newest development is Redwood Village consisting of 133 townhomes and single-family residences.


Civic Center

V i s i o n o f t h e C i v i c C e n t e r

The Civic Center Master Plan identifies additional office space and more cultural and entertainment facilities, including a museum. A future transit station with parking is planned on the vacant property located adjacent to Highway 101, across from McInnis Parkway. The area also provides an excellent opportunity for the construction of approximately 200 affordable units. The salt marsh and riparian corridors along branches of Gallinas Creek should be protected, improved, and include public viewing areas where appropriate.


Santa Venetia

V i s i o n o f S a n t a V e n e t i a

The unincorporated Santa Venetia neighborhood is primarily developed with single family homes, condominiums and apartments, which are located near the China Camp neighborhood boundary. A neighborhood shopping center, Gallinas School, the Jewish Community Center and three small parks are also located within the boundary of this neighborhood. It includes Santa Margarita Island, Santa Venetia Marsh and San Pedro Ridge Open Space Preserves. The area is anticipated to remain essentially a residential area with a neighborhood school and other community institutions.


China Camp

V i s i o n o f C h i n a C a m p S t a t e P a r k

Future plans for the China Camp State Park, which is located in an unincorporated area of the County, are consistent with State and local priority needs:

the park plan calls for continued restoration of the fishing village and an addition of a Chinese Cultural Center, biking, hiking and equestrian trails, and a small boat launch facility.


Sun Valley

V i s i o n o f S u n V a l l e y

The primary land use in the neighborhood is single-family residential. The neighborhood also has some duplexes and small apartments. Commercial land uses are limited to the neighborhood shopping center at the corner of Fifth and California, the West End Nursery, and the monument sales office near the Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery at the end of Fifth Avenue. Sun Valley Park and Sun Valley School provide recreational opportunities to residents of the neighborhood.

The diverse character of neighborhood housing is significant because homes were developed with the changing architectural styles over the past century. The oldest area of the neighborhood was subdivided between 1882 and 1916, the Sun Valley subdivision was built after World War II, and the hillside homes were constructed in the 1960s and 1970s. Major topographic features such as the Sun Valley slope and the upper slopes of the Red Rock Quarry are significant parts of the neighborhood.

The 1980 Neighborhood Plan was adopted, in part, to establish development standards for eight undeveloped parcels, totaling 170 acres. The Camgros and Ducca properties are the only vacant parcels remaining in Sun Valley today for development.

The scale, diversity, and residential character of the neighborhood need to be maintained, including the existing affordable housing stock. Housing shall continue to be the dominant land use in the neighborhood. New commercial uses will only be allowed if they benefit the neighborhood and will not impair the dominant residential character. There is a desire for infrastructure improvements, including better storm drainage and sidewalks.


Fair Hills

V i s i o n o f F a i r h i l l s

This neighborhood, essentially built-out, may see the future development of single-family homes on the few vacant hillside lots. Marin Academy will continue to upgrade its facilities.


Lincoln/San Rafael Hill

V i s i o n o f L i n c o l n / S a n R a f a e l H i l l The future vision of the Lincoln-San Rafael Hill neighborhood is a balanced approach to addressing the area’s unique issues. The neighborhood is zoned as a mixed use area of single-family homes, apartments, condominiums, offices, rehabilitation facilities and businesses. The area has a variety of architectural styles and history with a relatively dense and diverse population. Perspectives reflecting the future of this Neighborhood have to include the hillside areas of San Rafael Hill with those along Lincoln Ave. This neighborhood may also experience limited infill development along Lincoln Avenue with the redevelopment of single-family home lots, a nursery and existing motels.


Dominican/Black Canyon

V i s i o n o f D o m i n i c a n / B l a c k C a n y o n

Preserve and enhance the residential and historic character of the neighborhood and its natural habitats. Little change is expected in the neighborhood. While the neighborhood is virtually built-out, new residential development may occur primarily on the remaining vacant or subdivided lots. Long-standing priorities for the residents include developing a neighborhood park and playground opportunities; minimizing impacts of University facilities, activities and events on surrounding residential areas; and reducing the impact of the freeway on the neighborhood, including installation of landscaping and sound reduction material along the freeway sound wall.

The Dominican University Master Use Permit allows for the future construction of a chapel, a science and technology building, parking areas and a new soccer field. Additional student and staff housing may also be needed in the future.


Country Club

V i s i o n o f C o u n t r y C l u b

Country Club, located in an unincorporated area of the County, is one of San Rafael’s older neighborhoods, and is not expected to change much. Annexation of some properties into the City may occur consistent with LAFCO policies.


Loch Lomond

V i s i o n o f L o c h L o m o n d

The Loch Lomond neighborhood is primarily developed with single-family homes on hillside lots or lots along the Bay. The hills above the neighborhood provide hiking trails and access to Harry A. Barbier Memorial Park.

The Loch Lomond Shopping Center and Marina may be redeveloped to feature neighborhood-serving and marine-related retail and service uses including a market, neighborhood serving offices, residential units, and a restaurant. The marina should continue to feature boat slips, a yacht club and a public boat launching facility. Redevelopment of the site will protect the existing marsh and wetland areas and will be designed to be compatible with the surrounding residential uses.


Bayside Acres

V i s i o n o f B a y s i d e A c r e s

Bayside Acres, located in an unincorporated area of the County, is one of San Rafael’s less dense neighborhoods with large single-family homes on hillside lots. Homes located west of Point San Pedro and along the Bay are developed on smaller lots and is not expected to change. However, annexation of more properties into the City will remain a possibility.


Glenwood

V i s i o n o f G l e n w o o d This neighborhood is a built-out community, which will remain developed with single-family residences. Very little change is anticipated. The Glenwood neighborhood, located along the Point San Pedro Peninsula, is developed with single-family homes. The open space hills above the housing developments constitute about 50 percent of the neighborhood land area and are adjacent to China Camp State Park. Most of the homes are part of the same development so they share similar characteristics and architectural style. Centers within the neighborhood include Glenwood School and Victor Jones Park.


Peacock Gap

V i s i o n o f P e a c o c k G a p

This neighborhood is developed with single-family homes, condominiums, and the Peacock Gap Golf and Country Club. The private country club has an 18-hole golf course, driving range, clubhouse, and pro shop. Architectural styles vary depending on the age of the single-family home and condominium developments in the neighborhood. The hills located above the developed area of the neighborhood provide an important visual backdrop, as well as trails and access to the adjacent China Camp State Park. The San Rafael Rock Quarry and McNear Brickworks are located in the southern portion of the neighborhood, along the Point San Pedro Peninsula.

Little change is expected in the residential portion of the neighborhood. Should closure of the San Rafael Rock Quarry occur, the property may be annexed to the City as part of the land use entitlement process. A Reclamation Plan is under review by the County, with opportunities for involvement by area residents and the City.


West End

V i s i o n o f W e s t E n d

The West End neighborhood, located west of Downtown, is a mixed-use area consisting of single-family homes, apartments, and commercial uses. The “Miracle Mile,” a commercial corridor extending from the Downtown area, bisects the community and provides vehicular access to San Anselmo and beyond to West Marin.

Development of mixed-use projects on underutilized properties along the “Miracle Mile” is a possibility during the planning period of San Rafael 2020.


Downtown

O u r V i s i o n o f D o w n t o w n Our Vision of Downtown San Rafael was developed in the early 1990s through a broadbased collaborative community visioning process. Our Vision contains a narrative picture of what our community wants Downtown to feel and look like in 2020. The following is a brief summary of the most important images envisioned for Downtown San Rafael from Our Vision.

Downtown, with its sense of nurturing community, remains the place where a person can rediscover one's roots and sense of history. Downtown San Rafael is our hometown. While safe, friendly, warm, welcoming, and a comfortable mix of old and new, Downtown is alive with the excitement of an urban community and multidimensional city. Downtown generates a climate of good cheer and companionship where people want to socialize, reside, or conduct business.

Downtown is a healthy economic center. Thriving and profitable retail is a barometer of the health and vitality of Downtown. Shops provide that personal touch where customers are treated as neighbors and friends whether they are visitors, entrepreneurs who work in Downtown's new class "A" office buildings and in the restored and refurbished Victorians, or those who are attracted to the ambiance of local, personalized retailing. Downtown is a wonderful place to live. Downtown provides a plethora of housing opportunities at both affordable and market rates for those who choose the amenities and advantages of an urban community lifestyle. A young professional beginning a career, a single parent in need of nearby shopping, services, and transit, a senior couple wishing to downsize their suburban home, or a Downtown worker, can find the right living arrangement in one of the condominiums, apartments, duplexes, townhouses, single family homes, or single resident rooms in Downtown San Rafael.

Downtown flourishes as our social, cultural, recreational and entertainment center. Many activities are concentrated here, from Falkirk Cultural Center to live theater at Belrose, to movies at the Rafael Film Center, forming the most interesting entertainment venue in the Northern Bay Area. City residents, visitors from neighboring towns, and tourists enjoy our cultural riches: the bookstores, the library, the Mission, art galleries, theater, museums, displays and performances at the community center, as well as street fairs and outdoor entertainment.

Downtown puts the spotlight on life. Parades, festivals, fiestas, events, gatherings all happen Downtown: Italian Street Painting, Film Festival, Classic Cars Parade, Halloween Trick or Treat, Winter Lights, Easter Egg Roll, and the Downtown Farmers’ Market Festival. The sidewalks are bustling with people meeting friends for coffee at one of the outdoor cafes or restaurants, browsing at the popular farmers’ market and shopping in our specialty stores. Downtown celebrates diversity, accepting and valuing differences, creating new relationships among groups, peoples, and individuals of all cultures, economic status and interests. Children, teens, adults, seniors all feel welcome and find something to do.

Families especially feel comfortable here and enjoy their Downtown outings. Downtown grows multicolored with the splendor of flowers in boxes and planting areas and streets lined with trees. Downtown is a beautiful place to stroll among a blend of buildings that reflect the area’s history and our dynamic times. Downtown is a park-like setting where the urban landscape is softened by the workings of nature and adorned with public art.

D o w n t o w n D i s t r i c t s Downtown San Rafael is a mosaic of six districts, each of which has a unique character. The individual character of each district is well defined; the districts are interconnected and together make up our whole Downtown. The Districts are: • Fourth Street Retail Core • Hetherton Office District • Lindaro Office District • Second/Third Mixed-Use District • West End Village • Fifth/Mission Residential/Office District


Montecito/Happy Valley

V i s i o n o f M o n t e c i t o / H a p p y V a l l e y

In the year 2020, our distinct neighborhood is a beautiful and desirable place with a diversity of architecture and a variety of uses within easy walking distance. There are central gathering places where people meet each other to visit and hold events. Our pleasant, tree shaded, narrow streets are safe to walk and drive along and we see fewer cars. We are a community which works together to keep our neighborhood secure, clean and attractive, and to celebrate our diversity (From Montecito/Happy Valley Neighborhood Plan)


Future land uses should be stabilized to keep the existing mix of uses, with zoning to protect the existing uses and to minimize additional development. There is satisfaction with the mix of retail, service, office and other uses in the commercial areas. The High School's bus and maintenance yard site on Union Street may become housing, also meeting the neighborhood's goals for a new outdoor gathering place and improving the appearance of Union Street while minimizing adverse impacts to the neighborhood. There are several opportunities for adding and improving gathering places and for better recreational opportunities, particularly at the High School.


Gerstle Park

V i s i o n o f G e r s t l e P a r k

Gerstle Park is a unique, historic and walkable neighborhood in close proximity to Downtown. It is essentially built-out and will remain a very diverse and active residential neighborhood with relatively little change. Opportunities should be taken to visually upgrade or replace apartment buildings to be more compatible with the historic neighborhood design character, preserve historic structures and architectural character, reduce impacts of through-traffic on neighborhood streets, and restore adequate parking on neighborhood streets.


Picnic Valley

V i s i o n o f P i c n i c V a l l e y

The Picnic Valley Neighborhood, one of the older neighborhoods in San Rafael, is located east of Gerstle Park. The neighborhood is developed with a mix of residential uses, featuring apartments and condominiums in the area near Davidson School, and single-family homes and some duplex units in the hillside areas. Access to the hillside homes is provided by very narrow streets, alleyways or pedestrian-only “walks.” This is a unique feature within this neighborhood.

The hillside area of the neighborhood, Southern Heights, was formerly farmland. This area experiences “through” traffic as motorists use Wolfe Grade to access the adjacent industrial area and downtown.

New residential development will be limited to a few vacant hillside lots within the neighborhood boundary. In-fill redevelopment projects are also possible in the area near Davidson School.


Francisco Boulevard West

V i s i o n o f F r a n c i s c o B l v d . W e s t

Improving the appearance of the area as an attractive entryway to the City and from surrounding neighborhoods will continue to be a City priority in this area.

The Highway 101 widening project has resulted in acquiring and consolidating private properties along Francisco Boulevard, eliminating older buildings, and will offer opportunities for a sidewalk and consistent landscape treatment along Francisco Boulevard.

Encourage preservation of existing industrial (including light industrial) uses, except along the Highway 101 frontage, where redevelopment of sites with high tax generating, specialty retail uses need highway visibility. Retention of the auto and building related services will continue to be important because they are found primarily in the City’s Francisco Boulevard West and the Canal neighborhoods. This industrial area is unique because the properties are medium sized, and are typically occupied with a single tenant in a building that cannot be duplicated under current development standards. Street tree programs and project design review address the need to improve the appearance of industrial uses near neighborhoods and along major transportation corridors.


Bret Harte

V i s i o n o f B r e t H a r t e

Formerly a dairy farm, Bret Harte is a historical district developed after World War II. Land use in this neighborhood is primarily residential with single-family homes and high-density apartments along Woodland Avenue. Residents of Bret Harte travel through an adjacent industrial area to access their neighborhood, thus upgrades to Francisco Boulevard West and Woodland Avenue are of great interest. Due to the smaller size of many of the homes, Bret Harte is considered a more affordable housing area and attracts many young couples and families. The Bret Harte Park is a central fixture of the neighborhood and is the setting for many community events and activities.

New development in this neighborhood is expected to be minimal, with development limited to a few single-family homes on hillside lots. This area also needs to be protected from the potential impacts of nearby industrial businesses.


California Park

V i s i o n o f C a l i f o r n i a P a r k

This neighborhood, located in an unincorporated area of the County, has some development potential remaining on the Scheutzen parcels. Any development of these parcels will need to protect the on-site wetlands.


Canal Neighborhood

V i s i o n o f t h e C a n a l

There will not be much more development in the area. Marin Square is the Southern Gateway to San Rafael. Potential land uses include a hotel (Gary Place site), and mixed-use (neighborhood and region serving), with retail on the ground level and residential above or behind the street frontage. The Medway/Vivian Way area is the heart of the Canal neighborhood, and should be redeveloped with neighborhood serving mixed-uses. Gathering places with pedestrian connections through the Medway-Vivian block should also be encouraged. The corridor from Francisco Boulevard East along Medway Road to Canal Street is the major entryway into the Canal neighborhood, a true gateway for residents, business owners, students, and shoppers. Sidewalks will be widened, lighting and landscaping installed and amenities such as benches and signage will be added. All of this will make the corridor more inviting and safer by striking a balance between pedestrians and bicyclists and the numerous cars, buses and trucks that drive through the corridor every day.

General commercial should be allowed along Francisco Boulevard East, with neighborhood retail and services uses such as a health center, police station, and childcare. With the exodus of Lucas Arts, the is an opportunity to attract service-oriented businesses to the region to attract high-paying and environmentally-friendly jobs such as internet, clean tech and biotechnology. "Homeless advocates" are against job creation and economic development, though. They want to turn the property into tax-payer subsidized free housing and medical centers for illegal immigrants. This is in addition to the newly-renovated multimillion dollar taxpayer-funded Community Center and Daycare facilities at Pickleweed Park and Bahia Vista Elementary School. Obviously, the "Homeless Advocates" and self-interested parties to the [Canal Alliance]] have more political clout at City Hall than the citizens who drafted the 2020 General Plan.

Bibliography

  • San Rafael Recreation Element of the General Plan, June, 1984

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