Marin County staff secured board approval on April 22 to enter an option agreement giving the county up to five months to complete due diligence on a 24,500-square-foot office building at 30 North San Pedro Road in San Rafael.

David Spear, Facilities Planning and Development Manager, presented the proposed option with Pacific Bay Ventures LLC. He said the property sits adjacent to county-owned 10 and 20 North San Pedro and that county departments already lease roughly 17,100 square feet in the building. Spear said the building is about 25 percent vacant and could be occupied quickly by county departments with only “minor modifications.”

Staff negotiated an option price of $8,800,000 for a five-month due-diligence period. If due diligence identifies no major unanticipated risks, staff will return to the board with a notice of intent to purchase and later, as required, a purchase agreement for final approval. The board moved and approved the option agreement.

Why it matters: The county emphasized potential efficiencies from consolidating nearby office space, supporting walkable access to the civic center and organizational coordination. Board members said owning strategically located property can be sound long-term stewardship if studies support acquisition.

Next steps: County staff will complete environmental, structural, and financial due diligence during the option period and return to the board with recommended next steps, including formal purchase documents if appropriate.