Sites Inventory Information
Consultation has concluded
What is a Sites Inventory?
The purpose of the sites inventory is to identify and analyze specific sites that are available and suitable for residential development from 2023-2031 in order to accommodate Fairfax’s assigned 490 housing units. The Town doesn’t build the housing but creates the programs and policies to plan for where it should go and how many units could be on potential sites.
This page provides information on the current list of potential sites under consideration for determining how the Town will accommodate the State’s required minimum of 490 housing units. Please note that the site numbers listed here are added only as an additional way to reference the site and easily label it on a map. The site number is not any indication of preference or priority.
Potential Sites Inventory Map:
Sub Area Map:
Your turn to share feedback
Scroll down to see a short description of each site, the potential range of housing units there, rationale for why the site was added to the list and constraints of building there. Each section also offers a link to an interactive map where you can see a satellite and street views of each site.
Click the "Submit Feedback" button at the bottom of each site section to submit feedback.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: 101 Glen Dr
Potential Range of Housing Units: 50-80
Rationale: Creating housing opportunities for Marin’s 18 school districts’ 6,000 employees will help address the ongoing challenge of attracting and retaining school employees.
Constraints: The site is located at the end of Glen Drive, a one-way in-out road. There is school-related traffic.
Potential fire safety and egress issues related to the one-way-in and one-way out aspect of Glen Drive, but the level of service, immediate proximity to a community refuge area (White Hill School grounds) and Glenn Drive’s modern design as well as close proximity to other roads help alleviate these issues.
This site would not require re-zoning in order to accommodate housing units.
Click the image and select "view map" to see an interactive map of the site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: 2600 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Potential Range of Housing Units: 15-25
Rationale: Successful re-use for housing of a former religious worship site has already been demonstrated in Fairfax with the Victory Village development. While the Town has received no indication that the site’s use could be changing in the near future, it may be an under-utilized site with 1.3 acres that are potentially developable.
Constraints: This site would require re-zoning in order to accommodate housing units.
Click the image and select "view map" to view an interactive map of the site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: 2170 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Potential Range of Housing Units: 22-30
Rationale: There has been a long-standing vision for this site to become affordable housing and it has been listed as a potential site in previous housing element updates. This site would not require re-zoning in order to accommodate housing units.
Constraints: The site would need to meet updated requirements in order to be used again as a potential site in this 6th Cycle Housing Element. A portion of the property is located in a floodplain, so any potential housing units would need to comply with relevant local and federal flood regulations. The site contains a structure that may be a historic resource if designated , so any potential housing units may need to be designed with this potential resource.
Click the image and select "view map" to see an interactive map of the site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: 100 Marinda Dr
Potential Range of Housing Units: 40-60
Rationale: Successful reuse of a former religious worship site has already occurred in Fairfax with the Victory Village development. The Town has received no indication that the site’s current multiple uses could be changing in the near future, however a portion of the site may be under-utilized, with approximately 1.9 acres currently occupied by the church, rectory, and meeting hall that are flat and potentially re-developable. This site would not require re-zoning in order to accommodate housing units.
Constraints: The site contains two buildings that may have historic designation pending the approval of the Objective Design and Development Standards (ODDS), so any potential housing units may need to be designed around these portions of the site. The site is also currently used by an active Catholic church of long standing in the community.
Click the image and select "view map" to see an interactive map of this site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: Multiple properties fronting on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. from the parcel immediately adjacent to the St. Rita’s Church meeting hall to the former Ernst Automotive site.
Potential Range of Housing Units: 30-40
Rationale: This site does not include the northern parking lot portion of the Fairfax Market or the Marin County Bicycle Museum site. This site includes an already vacant parcel. There has been a long-standing vision for this site to become affordable housing and it has been listed as a potential site in previous housing element updates.
Constraints: Programs and/or policies would need to be implemented in order to avoid displacement of existing commercial tenants. The vacant parcel would need to overcome geological challenges in order to be developed. The site would need to meet updated requirements in order to be used again as a potential site in this 6th Cycle Housing Element. This site may require re-zoning in order to accommodate housing units on the ground floor.
Click the image and select "view map" to see an interactive map of the site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: 2040 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Potential Range of Housing Units: 20-40
Rationale: This portion of the larger overall site would not displace the existing Fairfax Market and commercial tenants. There has been a long-standing vision for this site to become affordable housing and it has been listed as a potential site in previous housing element updates. The site has received specific development interest in the past. The parking lot is somewhat under-utilized but portions would still be preserved for a shared parking arrangement.
Constraints: Programs and/or policies would need to be implemented in order to avoid displacing existing commercial tenants. The site would need to meet updated requirements in order to be used again as a potential site in this 6th Cycle Housing Element. This site may require re-zoning in order to accommodate housing units on the ground floor.
Click the image and select "view map" to see an interactive map of the site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: 6-12 School Street Dr
Potential Range of Housing Units: 100-140
Rationale: This site would have high access to existing transit and the downtown commercial area. The site would not require re-zoning in order to accommodate additional housing units. The property owner has expressed interest in adding affordable housing units. Programs and/or policies to avoid displacement of existing residential and live/work tenants could include required phased development.
Constraints: Additional programs and/or policies would need to be implemented in order to avoid displacement of existing residential and live/work tenants.
Click the image and select "view map" to see an interactive map of the site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: Marinda Drive and Upper Ridgeway Avenue
Potential Range of Housing Units: 10-30
Rationale: This site could accommodate 10 parcels with current zoning, with each parcel having a single-family home as well as potentially an Accessory Dwelling Unit and a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU and JADU). The property owner has submitted an application for development.
Constraints: An Environmental Impact Report would need to be conducted concurrent with any development application due to the geotechnical, fire, water availability and storm drainage challenges present on the site.
Here is a satellite map of the Marinda Heights site. An interactive map is not available because this site does not have substantial frontage on a street.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: 367 Bolinas Rd
Potential Range of Housing Units: 30-70
Rationale: This site is level, includes adequate egress access to a main arterial street, contains several undeveloped acres, and would not require re-zoning in order to accommodate housing units.
Constraints: The site is surrounded by existing residential zoning on two sides and egress is currently limited to one-way-in/one-way-out.
Click the image and select "view map" to see an interactive map of the site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: 1625 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Potential Range of Housing Units: 10
Rationale: It is a vacant, level, and under-utilized site with direct access to Francis Drake Blvd. It is within walking distance to community amenities and has a bus stop in front of the site. Developers have previously expressed interest and were confident in the feasibility of building 10 housing units on the site, pending updated zoning.
Constraints: This site is relatively small in size and will require re-zoning in order to accommodate ground floor housing units.
Click the image and select "view map" to see an interactive map of the site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: 1700 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Potential Range of Housing Units: 10-20
Rationale: It is a vacant and level site with direct access to Francis Drake Blvd. The property owner is willing to consider housing development on the site.
Constraints: This site is relatively small, in proximity to existing single-family residential properties, and will require re-zoning in order to accommodate ground-floor housing units. Traffic circulation needs will need to be analyzed and addressed.
Click the image and select "view map" to see an interactive map of the site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: Sir Frances Drake Blvd east from Pastori Ave
Potential Range of Housing Units: 20
Rationale: There has been a long-standing vision for this area to accommodate additional housing units and it has been listed as a potential site in previous housing element updates.
Constraints: The area would need to meet updated requirements in order to be used again as a potential site in this 6th Cycle Housing Element. Programs and/or policies would need to avoid displacement of existing residential and commercial tenants. This area will require re-zoning in order to accommodate ground-floor housing units.
Click the image and select "view map" to see an interactive map of the site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: 711 & 760 Center Blvd
Potential Range of Housing Units: 50-90
Rationale: This is a large and flat site with direct access to Sir Francis Drake Blvd and other characteristics that make accommodating housing units feasible. Developers have expressed interest in creating residential units on this site.
Constraints: Programs and/or policies would need to avoid displacement of existing commercial tenants. This site would require re-zoning in order to accommodate ground-floor housing units.
Click the image and select "view map" to see an interactive map of the site.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: Pastori Avenue
Potential Range of Housing Units: 100-450
Rationale: The Fairfax Town and Country site is the premier underdeveloped property in Fairfax, containing 25 acres of mostly level, mostly undeveloped property, located in close proximity to central Fairfax transit, services and amenities. It is currently occupied by dozens of rental units without the benefit of formal approval. The property owner has insisted that the property be considered as part of the Housing Element update. There is potential for a substantial number of housing units that occupy only a small portion of the site, leaving the remainder undeveloped or for other community purposes.
Constraints: Zoning on the property was established by Fairfax voter initiative. Rezoning to allow a substantial number of housing units would require voter approval, unless otherwise determined by legal proceeding. A portion of the site is the mainstem San Anselmo Creek and is within the 100-year floodplain. Vehicular access to the site is currently via a low-capacity bridge and should be supplemented by another access/egress point. A portion of the site may have historic resource value. A portion of the site may have environmental resource value. Prior proposals for reuse of the site have not been successful.
Here is a map of the Town and Country site. An interactive map is not available because this site does not have substantial frontage on a street.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: Open space adjacent to 53 Taylor Ave (Bennett House)
More Details: Jolly Hill is not currently being considered as a potential site to accommodate housing units due to its open space status and potential as a park. If there is strong public support, it could be added as a potential site.
Here is an image of that site. Please click, "Submit feedback" to tell us your thoughts on this site. An interactive map is not available because this site does not have substantial frontage on a street.
-
Consultation has concluded
Address: all sites zoned Central Commercial in the Downtown area
Potential Range of Housing Units: 10-30
Rationale: The Central Commercial (CC)-zoned area is the core Fairfax downtown area with an extensive range of services, amenities, and direct access to transit. Housing already occurs in this district, and there are a variety of sites with unrealized upstairs housing potential.
Constraints: Low availability of underutilized sites, small parcel sizes, lack of onsite parking, evening and late-night activity, need for careful design to successfully integrate into the downtown visual styles.
Click on the image and select "view maps" to view an interactive image of this site.
