Pet hospitals, kennels and other animal care centers will soon be allowed to operate in commercial office spaces in San Rafael to meet the growing demand for such services and to fill office space as vacancies increase.
The City Council unanimously approved the measure Monday. The zoning amendment to make that happen was proposed by San Rafael attorneys Peter Sparle and Riley Hurd, who said they have several clients eager to bring animal care businesses to the city.
“I think it’s a really good fit,” Hurd told the council.
Janey Alsep, Contract City Planner, said animal care centers are permitted in other business districts in the city, except for the outdoor kennel and dog run.
The new ordinance extends to the city’s office district along the Highway 101 corridor and throughout the city’s north side, Alsep said.
Businesses are subject to a set of performance standards, such as providing on-site employee handbooks, conducting sound surveys and providing adequate waste facilities. A conditional permit to use requires the approval of the city’s zoning administrator.
Alsep approved the proposed ordinance at the Planning Commission’s June meeting.
Cindy Machado, director of animal services at Marin Humane, said while there is no way to count the number of pets in Marin, national trends indicate that more households have since the outbreak two years ago.
“Marin definitely has a higher number than other counties, the county averages about 17,000 licensed dogs every year,” Machado said.
While the county has about 40 veterinary clinics, Machado said, “There is a tremendous shortage of veterinarians and staff nationally, which has left many hospitals in Marin and outside the county behind in service capabilities.”
“This seems like a big step on the part of the city,” Machado said. “It reflects a view of how the pets involved in our lives are more like family members than animals.”
Overall in Marin County, business office vacancies in 2018 It increased from 8.7% to 17.1% in 2015.
San Rafael follows this trend, registering an office vacancy rate of 11.6% in 2015 and 17.3% today.
By comparison, the office vacancy rate in Sonoma County was more stable, falling from 12.8% in 2015 to 11.9%, according to the report.
“Property owners throughout Marin need to rethink how they use their existing office space,” Hurd said after the meeting. “While housing is the main evolution for these sites, there are thankfully other uses that are in high demand, such as veterinary services.”
Vice Mayor Rachel Kurtz said the ordinance provides more opportunities to expand commercial uses.
“We need to update our systems to keep up with the needs of our business community,” Kurtz said.
