July 24, 2023
Greetings & Thoughts
Schedule changes, Spirit Living, KBYG, and Mixer #2
Looking at the coming week, tomorrow’s combined Planning Commission/HCPC workshop on the proposed Downtown Overlay District seemed to be the highlight of the week, followed closely by the KBYG speaker the following evening. Well, stuff happens.
The Planning Commission/HCPC Overlay workshop has been moved to August 8. And neither intended KBYG speaker was available. However, there’s still much to pay attention to this week.
Tomorrow evening with their shortened agenda, the Planning Commission will conduct a hearing on the proposed Spirit Living senior residential project. The Spirit Living project would face the roundabout in the River Front project between Lakeville Street and the river, west of 101.
River Front has a history with lessons to impart to Urban Chat. Ten years before the phrase “15-minute neighborhood” was coined, River Front was conceived as a 15-minute neighborhood. Small lot single-family homes, condos, apartments, a playing field, and street front commercial were to provide a walkable/bike community that would show the way to a better future.
Virtually none of that has happened. Only single-family homes and a hotel have been constructed. The condos have been entitled, but the ground hasn’t been broken. The resulting community is car-dependent. Effectively, the market is telling us that it doesn’t yet believe in 15-minute neighborhoods.
Spirit Living, in putting forth their third proposed configuration for the site, is proposing to add seniors, ranging from independent living to memory care, and two small commercial spaces to the mix. From one perspective, at least this is some activity. But from another, it’s using up a key parcel without moving sufficiently toward the walkable/bikeable future that was the goal.
I’ll be at the hearing, hopefully, joined by other Urban Chat members. I’m not yet sure what I’ll say, but it seems that commenting on the inadequate progress toward the future is essential.
Regarding KBYG, we’ll still meet on Wednesday but the plan for the evening will pivot to a discussion of how best to advocate for 15-minute neighborhoods and other Urban Chat initiatives. The KBYG team has exchanged many thoughts on the topic over the weekend. Look for additional details in a KBYG email later today.
Unchanged on the calendar is Urban Chat Mixer #2. A week ago, a dozen Urban Chat members gathered in my backyard to discuss many local land-use topics. It was a stimulating conversation we hope to repeat often. This second Mixer will be held, again in my backyard, this coming Friday at 5pm.
Anyone who receives this email or is otherwise interested in the best land-use practices for the future of Petaluma is welcome to attend, with those who have been less involved in Urban Chat particularly encouraged. As before, RSVPs are requested to ensure the gathering isn’t too big for comfortable conversation.
To RSVP, reply to this email. Everyone is asked to bring a small appetizer to share.
Lastly, Bjorn Griepenburg of Petaluma Public Works has asked us to share this link to the draft Active Transportation Map developed for the General Plan. Griepenburg is seeking comments on the map. His deadline is this coming weekend. Your assistance would be appreciated.
Questions or comments? Feel free to reach out. And please RSVP for Urban Chat Mixer #2. I look forward to chatting with more of you. – Dave Alden c: 707-338-8388
P.S. New folks can sign up for this email through the Urban Chat website.
Upcoming Meetings
All events are open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to participate in person or on-line. The link to the Urban Chat calendar, as frequently referenced below, is here.
Tuesday, July 25 (tomorrow) – Planning Commission
The previously scheduled workshop of the combined Planning Commission/Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee on the proposed Downtown Overlay District has been continued to Tuesday, August 8. Instead, the Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on the proposed Spirit Living senior living project facing the roundabout in the River Front project.
This is the third iteration of the Spirit Living project. The two earlier iterations were the subjects of previous Planning Commission workshops, which resulted in the applicant making configuration changes. Multiple Urban Chat members will attend the hearing to offer objections and suggestions.
The workshop will convene at 6:00pm. Further information, including the agenda, is on the Urban Chat calendar, link above.
Wednesday, July 26 (this week) – Know Before You Grow
Neither of the two speakers asked for this forum ended up being available, although one is now tentatively scheduled for August 9.
In their place, KBYG will continue to explore the question of how best to advocate for the 15-minute neighborhood concept and other KBYG initiatives. Thoughts from the attendees will be sought, followed by a group discussion. Look for a KBYG email later today with more details.
The forum will convene at 7:00pm in the Cavanagh Center, at 426 8th Street. This forum is also posted on the Urban Chat calendar, link above.
Thursday, July 27 (this week) – Petaluma Urban Chat
The monthly meeting of Urban Chat is almost always agenda-free, allowing an enjoyable and enlightening conversation to wander freely over the urbanist landscape.
The exchange of ideas will commence at noon. Arrive early if you plan to order lunch. Other information including location is provided on the Urban Chat calendar, link above.
Monday, August 7 – Petaluma City Council
Among other agenda items, the Council will receive a report from staff on the intended response to the recently issued Civil Grand Jury report on the City’s contract with the M-Group for planning services, including most of the staffing of the Planning Department.
For those who haven’t read the Grand Jury report, there are no allegations of misconduct by the City or the M-Group, only questions about whether the City contractual practices were adequate to ensure that the services received were sufficiently beneficial to the City.
Also, the Council may have an agenda item relating to the Downtown Overlay District, although the focus of that agenda item hasn’t yet been made public.
The meeting will convene at 6:30pm. More information will be provided on the Urban Chat calendar, link above, when available.
Tuesday, August 8 – Planning Commission/Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee
The Planning Commission and HCPC will conduct a joint workshop to continue assessing the proposed Downtown Building Form Overlay District.
The meeting is expected to convene at 6:00pm. Further information, including the agenda, will be provided when published by the City. This information will be posted on the Urban Chat calendar, link above.
Tuesday, August 9 – Know Before You Grow
KBYG will continue to dig into the future of 15-minute neighborhoods, with a look at how to add the housing units near new neighborhood retail to create an adequate customer base for financial viability.
There are two anticipated speakers. More information on both will be provided as soon as they’re confirmed.
The forum will convene at 7:00pm at the Cavanagh Center, at 426 8th Street. This forum is also posted on the Urban Chat calendar, link above.
Thursday, August 17 – Petaluma General Plan Advisory Committee
It is again anticipated that the upcoming GPAC meeting will be on sea level rise/flood risk. (I’m hopeful that someday Lucy won’t pull the football away.) And, as before, there is a possibility of this meeting being moved to a Saturday, presumably the following Saturday, and conducted in a hybrid format.
If the meeting remains on Thursday evening, it’s expected to convene at 6:30pm. Other meeting data, including the agenda and Zoom link, will be provided on the Urban Chat calendar, link above, when the City publishes the information.
Saturday, August 19 (possible) – Petaluma General Plan Advisory Committee
As noted above, the next GPAC meeting may be rescheduled to this Saturday. Watch the Urban Chat calendar for further information.
