Marin County Fire is shrinking its once‑ambitious vision for a new regional headquarters at San Geronimo Commons after sustained neighborhood pushback. Instead of a single massive headquarters complex and a tall training tower, officials say the department is now looking at lower‑profile training elements and a cluster of smaller buildings that blend more easily into the valley’s landscape. County leaders are in the process of narrowing design teams and lining up public workshops this summer before sending a final recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
Design changes after a community meeting
At a meeting last Monday, Fire Chief Jason Weber told the San Geronimo Valley Planning Group that administrative and dispatch functions have already been moved out of the valley to a county building in San Rafael, and that the traditional tower that people are thinking of will not be there. The department is now exploring ranch‑style clusters, lower‑profile training devices and other design adjustments to reduce massing and visual impact, according to Point Reyes Light.
Budget, procurement and schedule
The county’s RFQ for the project sets a not‑to‑exceed construction budget of about $71 million, lists a tentative notice‑to‑proceed in early July and targets final completion by December 2028. The procurement envisions short‑listing several design‑build teams and moving the top‑rated team into a progressive design‑build phase that includes community engagement and a negotiated GMP, per the Marin County RFQ…