Community Survey 

Archives: FAQs

I heard that Measure P was a citizen-led initiative, what does that mean?

A citizen-led initiative is a measure that was placed on the ballot through the initiative process, as opposed to being placed on the ballot through City Council or legislative action. Citizen-led initiatives require a simple majority to pass. Measure P was drafted and proposed by the San Rafael Public Library Foundation, as well as the … Continued

If the Library will be moving, why is the City renovating the Carnegie now?

The current renovations at the Carnegie Library are critical to ensuring that the building remains operational in the coming years. The project is addressing some of the most pressing infrastructure and safety issues, including fixing the roof, upgrading plumbing and electrical to meet code, installing a fire alarm system, ADA improvements, repairing the HVAC system, … Continued

If the library moves to Albert Park, what will happen to the Carnegie?

The City is still evaluating the future use of the site. Measure P requires that within two years, the City Council will initiate a public planning process related to the preservation of the historic Carnegie Library building for ongoing civic, community or community-serving commercial uses. The City has not yet started the planning process nor … Continued

When will the new library and community center be built?

Building a new library and community center at Albert Park is a major undertaking that will involve substantial community engagement, design and feasibility studies, permitting and review, and construction. While staff have not yet developed a project timeline, it is likely that the process will take five or more years to complete.

What is Measure P? What will it fund?

Measure P establishes a non-ad valorem parcel tax for the purpose of building a new library and community center at Albert Park. In addition to a downtown library and community center, the proceeds from Measure P can also be used for improvements and expansion at San Rafael’s branch libraries. These funds will greatly improve community … Continued

What if my property isn’t zoned residential but I have a residence on it?

The ADU rules apply to any property that is in a zoning district that allows residential use and has either existing or proposed dwelling units. For example, the Commercial/Office zoning district (C/O) is a commercial district that allows multifamily use under certain circumstances so the rules would apply to an existing or proposed residential use … Continued

Is there a minimum size for the unit?

There is a minimum size of 150 square feet for ADUs and JADUs. ADUs must include kitchen, sleeping, and bathroom facilities; a JADU may share eating and bathroom facilities with the primary dwelling provided there is an internal connection. 

What is the maximum size for the unit?

If you are adding square footage onto an existing structure to create an attached ADU, the square footage of the ADU cannot exceed 50% of the square footage of the main residence or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less; however, an ADU of up to 800 square feet is always allowed.   Examples:   2,200 square-foot main … Continued

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