Council set to introduce near-total tobacco and nicotine sales ban

On Tuesday, the Town Council will consider introducing and giving first reading to an ordinance that repeals and replaces Title 6, Chapter 7 of the town code — the 'Tobacco Retailer License' chapter — and installs a near-total ban on tobacco and nicotine product sales in San Anselmo, with certain exceptions. Staff's recommendation is to introduce and adopt the first reading.

The proposal has drawn unusually heavy written input: nine separate public comment letters on file from named residents — Simenstad, Ziesing, Bruckner (who filed two), Daniels, Eisenberg, Hammond, Lerner and Shortino — plus a submission from the group CFCA. The agenda packet lists the letters as public comment on the record but does not say whether each supports or opposes the ban.

Even if the council introduces the ordinance Tuesday, it still needs a second reading before any ban could take effect, meaning this fight carries into November regardless of how the vote goes.

Planning Commission reviews two tight side-setback variance requests

Monday's Planning Commission hearing took up two unrelated variance requests, each asking the town to accept setbacks well short of the eight feet normally required in the R-1 zoning district.

At 231 San Francisco Blvd., the owner wants design review approval and a variance to add a second story to a house below 150 feet MSL, with the addition coming within four feet of the southwest interior side property line — about half the usual buffer.

At 195 The Alameda, the owner wants to demolish an existing detached garage and build an attached one in its place while keeping the same one-foot setback from the north interior side line that already exists, a replacement that preserves rather than worsens the nonconformity.

Neither item carried a staff recommendation or neighbor comment in the published agenda materials. Commissioners also held a CEQA 101 study session on how environmental review will work for the General Plan 2045 update.

Town preps for a severe El Niño winter on two fronts

With forecasters calling for a strong El Niño winter, San Anselmo is moving on two tracks the same day. Tuesday morning from 9 to 10:15 am in Council Chambers, town staff host a Business Forum to help local businesses get ready, walking through what the forecasted season could mean for operations.

That evening, the Town Council takes up a resolution proclaiming a local emergency related to winter storms, a measure staff say is exempt from environmental review because it concerns an emergency.

Neither notice spells out specific damage or flooding already underway, suggesting the declaration is meant to position the town to move quickly, and tap emergency resources, if the forecasted storms hit hard.