Plans Approved For New Residential Care Facility In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A five-story residential care facility for older adults, proposed for the unincorporated Strawberry area, was approved by the County of Marin on Dec. 23.

The Marin County Community Development Agency completed its ministerial compliance review, an administrative step ensuring the development meets Marin County Code, including Form Based Code design standards. Designated under the County’s Housing Element, this review is administrative, requires no public hearings, and is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act.

The Nijjar Living Trust owns the 6.6-acre parcel, which is situated north of Tiburon Boulevard and east of Highway 101. It shares a border with the La Cresta Open Space to the north. The primary access point for the planned development will be 70 North Knoll Rd., where it meets Thomas Drive.

Spirit Residential Group LLC submitted an application and plans to CDA on February 6, 2024, for a five-story, assisted living and memory care facility. The 150,000 sq ft building, located on 3.7 acres, will include 71 apartments with kitchens, 35 assisted living/memory care suites, a central kitchen, common areas, and a 72-space subterranean parking garage.

The project leveraged the State Density Bonus Law. This legislation authorizes exemptions from standard requirements, such as height or setback restrictions, if adhering to them would render the project unworkable. Importantly, the law allows for exceeding established limits on unit count, size, or other typical zoning constraints.

The Strawberry property, listed as an infill housing site in the County's Housing Element, promotes new construction on underused land near existing infrastructure to limit sprawl. State law prohibits the County from denying or downsizing a Marin Countywide Plan-listed housing project if it meets requirements and presents no health or safety issues.

The approval is an attempt to address a critical countywide need for services for Marin's aging population. With one of California's oldest average ages and high housing costs, older adults face a crisis when seeking assisted living or managing fixed incomes against displacement. People over 60 constitute 30% of Marin's population, significantly higher than the statewide 21 percent, according to the Area Agency on Aging's 2025-26 Update.