✿Larkspur Daily
Friday, September 18, 2026 · Issue No. 98
City Council · hearing Tuesday, Sept 16

Council Denies Appeal, Clears Mount Tam Racket Club Teardown-and-Rebuild

At One Larkspur Plaza Drive, the Larkspur City Council denied an appeal Tuesday night that sought to block applicant Mark Harris's plan to demolish the existing Mount Tam Racket Club and rebuild it from scratch, upholding the Planning Commission's earlier unanimous approval.

“We are the community of Mount Tam Racket Club and we are currently 900 strong... this plan is not inclusive of our community... we feel like we've been thrown under the bus.”— Jillian Catsel, Mount Tam Racket Club member

The approved plan calls for 14 new structures totaling 10,750 square feet, eight clay tennis courts, a reduced-size swimming pool, and 77 parking spaces, and required design review, a height exception, a fence height exception, heritage tree removal, and a grading permit. Staff recommended denying the appeal and adopting Resolution 70-26 upholding the Planning Commission's findings under CEQA exemptions.

Appellant Dr. Howard Orman and dozens of club members argued the project should instead require an amended conditional use permit and that it fails to serve the existing membership — no indoor or covered courts, no larger pool, no gym equipment — while inadequately addressing sea level rise. Member Jillian Catsel told the council, "We are the community of Mount Tam Racket Club and we are currently 900 strong... this plan is not inclusive of our community... we feel like we've been thrown under the bus." Others, including Brian Baker and a member identified only as Sean or Sam, said the redesign serves the developer's vision rather than the club's longtime members and complained about the tenor of council questioning. Not every voice backed the appeal: resident and business owner Tommy Lehman called it "an abuse of the process" to relitigate programming and pricing questions the Planning Commission had already resolved unanimously.

City staff and the City Attorney reminded the council it was free to review the record fresh and reach its own conclusion, and senior planner Alex Oon noted a private club isn't obligated to serve the public. After hearing both sides, Council Member Wee acknowledged "there is loss" for longtime members but also gain for others, and Mayor Andre said the project was not detrimental to the surrounding area before joining a unanimous vote to deny the appeal and let the rebuild proceed.

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City Council · presentation Sept 16; staff to report back Oct 7 and around Oct 21

Marina and Riviera Circle Residents Warn City Isn't Ready for This Winter's King Tides

Public Works Director Julian Skinner walked the council through the city's preparations for an anticipated El Niño winter, flagging Larkspur Marina/Riviera Circle, Larkspur Plaza Drive, and the Redwood Highway/101 corridor as the top flood hotspots. Plans include pump station upgrades, purchasing additional 6-inch pumps and a generator, coordinating with the county on temporary Tiger/Gator flood barriers, staging sandbag stations, and pushing public alerts through Alert Marin, Nixle, and the city newsletter.

“Telling us we're about to flood is not flood protection. One pump for 160 homes is not flood protection. Might buy barriers is not a plan. It's a hope.”— Gabby Pavish, Riviera Circle resident

Residents of Larkspur Marina and Riviera Circle, still recovering from flooding in January, weren't reassured. They pressed the city to clean storm drains, repair the lagoon's inlet and outlet gates, deploy larger pumps, install barriers, and commission further flood studies before the November King Tide. Cory Burken described "about a foot of water in the garage" and damage under his house, adding that the presentation itself "got me really scared." Lewis Tan of the Larkspur Marina Property Association warned that pumping alone won't help once Corte Madera Creek overtops its banks — "we need those drains cleaned."

City officials didn't sugarcoat the limits of what's achievable this season. Skinner explained that without proper berms or walls, pumping from flooded streets back into the creek just moves water in a circle, and City Manager Schwarz said the real fix is "a big expensive long-term solution" that isn't coming this winter. A Central Marin police captain urged residents to self-prepare rather than count on first responders during a widespread event.

No vote was taken. The mayor said staff will report back on the five specific resident requests, the Ross Valley Sanitary District will present October 7, and the item may return to the council around October 21 — leaving Marina and Riviera Circle residents watching the calendar toward November's King Tide.

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