Weekly Updates
Welcome to our new Weekly Updates page with information about land-use and urban planning activities underway or upcoming in Petaluma!
You can receive these updates via email by subscribing to Petaluma Urban Chat here.
If you like to share these updates with a friend, simply point them to this page at urbanchat.org/weekly-updates.
September 11, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of September 11, 2023.
Apparently a Know Before You Grow forum was never going to happen on September 13. Almost as soon as we announced a forum on the proposed Rovina Apartments as a replacement for an earlier speaker who had opted out, the Rovina Apartment speaker also opted out. With less than a week until the forum date, we decided to leave the evening open.
However, there is good scheduling news for KBYG. We’ve come up with a great speaker for October 11 for which information is provided below and we’re close to being able to announce a speaker for October 25. Meanwhile, we’re talking with the Rovina speaker about setting a new date and are talking to numerous other speakers that will carry us into 2024…
September 4, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of September 4, 2023.
As soon as we announced the topic of the September 13 KBYG forum, the speaker opted out. Such is the nature of public event planning.
However, a replacement speaker fell into our lap 24 hours later. Laura Alexander of The Armony Companies will speak about the proposed 32-unit deed-restricted affordable housing Rovina Lane Apartments at the corner of Jacqueline Lane and Rovina Lane. This project is proceeding under SB 330, another of the state legislative acts intended to expedite needed housing…
August 28, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of August 28, 2023.
Twenty-three days and counting until the first showing of the Better Cities Film Festival | Petaluma 2023. Much has been accomplished in recent weeks and much remains to be done.
As of the weekend, we had 24 sponsors in place with several more pending. Among the names many of you will recognize are the City of Petaluma, Generation Housing, the Eames Institute, Green Building Architects, Scannell Properties, LivXplore Realty, Safe Streets Petaluma, Jones Architecture, Foundry Wharf, and the Aqus Foundation. A complete list of the sponsors will be on full display on the nights of the showings and elsewhere. We’re thankful for the great support we’re receiving…
August 21, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of August 21, 2023.
I’ll start today with a reminder. If you haven’t yet reserved a spot for the Urban Chat Mixer this coming Friday, please RSVP to margot.rachel.thomas@gmail.com immediately. You don’t want to be left out.
For new readers, Urban Chat Mixers are an opportunity for a small group of Urban Chat members, including everyone reading this email, to meet in a small casual setting to become better acquainted and to exchange thoughts about land-use issues.
August 14, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of August 14, 2023.
Last week was as full and compelling as I’d expected. Although I departed early, which means after only four hours in the Council Chambers, I’m glad I didn’t miss the Planning Commission review of the proposed Overlay.
August 7, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of August 7, 2023.
Ahh, what a week this will be. As always, further details are below, but ponder this Monday through Thursday lineup: a City Council meeting that will include the proposed response to the Civil Grand Jury report, a Planning Commission workshop on the proposed Downtown Overlay District, a Know Before You Grow meeting on ADUs, and then a Transit Committee meeting conducted on a Petaluma Transit bus.
July 31, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of July 31, 2023
This week, only a Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting with wayfinding on the agenda is of urbanist interest. But buckle up for the weeks beyond.
Next week will begin with a Monday evening Council meeting that includes a response to a Civil Grand Jury report, a potentially controversial Police Department issue, and perhaps an Overlay item. The following night will be an Overlay workshop with the combined Planning Commission and Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee. And then we’ll conclude the packed three-day span with a KBYG forum on adding housing to future 15-minute neighborhoods. On the fourth day, we’ll rest.
July 24, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of July 24, 2023
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.
July 17, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of July 17, 2023
Wednesday evening was the best-attended Know Before You Grow forum in our seven-year history. With standing room only in the Petaluma Woman’s Club, 150 of us heard further information from City staff regarding the proposed Downtown Building Form Overlay District, with multiple opportunities to question the direction and to offer comments.
While there was enough content that we could have continued past midnight, the two-plus hours allowed a broad airing of concerns and points of concurrence, all of which will be considered by Planning as they prepare for the Tuesday, June 25 joint workshop of the Planning Commission and Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee.
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July 10, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of July 10, 2023
We have a plan in place for the July 12 KBYG forum on the proposed Downtown Overlay! Brian Oh, Petaluma Community Development Director will speak via video (he’s out of town), and Andrew Trippel, Planning Director with the City of Petaluma (through M-Group) will present additional details on the proposal. There will be multiple opportunities for the public to ask questions and provide inputs in facilitated breakout groups.
Also, we have a great venue. The Petaluma Woman’s Club has graciously agreed to host the forum in their hall at 518 B Street.
We’re thrilled to be able to bring this important conversation forward.
July 3, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of July 3, 2023
Good news. We’ve found someone to be Dan Lyke’s understudy so the ability of Know Before You Grow to conduct forums won’t be constrained when Dan is unavailable.
Better news. We have a plan in place for the July 12 KBYG forum on the proposed Downtown Overlay. The current speaker list is Community Development Director Brian Oh and Planning Manager Andrew Trippel, with the possibility of additional speakers being added.
There will be multiple opportunities for the public to ask questions of the speakers, including facilitated breakout groups.
Also, we have a great venue. The Petaluma Woman’s Club has graciously agreed to host the forum in their hall at 518 B Street.
We’re thrilled to be able to bring this important conversation forward.
Read more
June 26, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of June 26, 2023.
I’ll open this week with a frank, and moderately desperate, ask for help.
During the pandemic, the recorded KBYG Zoom forums were well received, with the YouTube viewership often exceeding the initial on-line attendance. As KBYG returns to an in-person format, we want to continue recording the forums for those who became accustomed to them.
However, we need more hands to make those recordings as viewable as possible. To free up Dan Lyke to work his magic at the control board, we need folks to help with the mics during the Q&A portions of the evenings. If you’re willing to assist, beginning with the July 12 forum, please reply to me as soon as possible. Thanks.
June 19, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of June 19, 2023.
Ahh, it’s great to be back in Petaluma, at least for a couple of weeks. Much appreciation to Sharon Kirk for stepping into this role during the two weeks I was traveling. And I’ve asked her to jump back into the saddle when I take an unexpected trip in early July. I really appreciate people who can be so willing to help wherever needed.
There’s so much to say this week but not much time, so this will be a quick once-over. Hopefully, next Monday will allow me to dig in more deeply, including sharing insights from the two land-use conferences I attended while away.
While I was gone, the proposed Downtown Overlay District unexpectedly appeared. Like most people, I’m still learning the nuances of the proposal, including the aspects still to be refined. I’m sure this will be a continuing topic of community education and discussion.
June 12, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of June 12, 2023.
Happy June 12th! We’re nearly halfway through the month and still waiting for our summer weather. With all the smoke impacting the upper Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, I’m especially grateful for the clear air in Petaluma, despite the relative gloom. Dave is still traveling, so I’m reporting out again this week on upcoming events.
We’re excited to present the June 14th Know Before You Grow forum on 15-Minute Neighborhoods! And we’re thrilled to be back in person. While we’ll miss the convenience of logging in from a comfortable chair in our offices or living rooms, we’ve missed the free exchange of ideas that face-to-face meetings bring.
June 5, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of June 5, 2023.
As promised last week, there are a number of interesting activities in the hopper for June.
At the June 14 Know Before You Grow forum we’ll hear from the team that has been pushing the 15-minute neighborhood concept. With this event we’ll return to in-person forums!
EKN Development, the applicant for the Appellation Petaluma Hotel at the corner of Petaluma Boulevard South and B Street, has asked for a small meeting with Urban Chat members to discuss the project. The meeting is now confirmed for June 14. This will be an opportunity to reinforce the comments Urban Chat submitted for the Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee workshop in January.
May 29, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of May 29, 2023.
The coming seven days are a typically quiet end-of-the-month week, but other interesting and worthwhile opportunities are queuing up just beyond.
The subject of the June 14 Know Before You Grow forum has now been confirmed. The team that has been pushing the fifteen-minute neighborhood concept will make a presentation. It’s likely that fifteen-minute neighborhoods will be an essential element of a carbon neutral, financially sustainable future Petaluma, so this will be an opportunity to learn more about the opportunities and challenges. At the same time, we can be organizing to push the concept forward.
May 22, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of May 22, 2023.
I’ll again encourage Petaluma residents to apply for appointment to one of the many City commissions, committees, and boards. Serving productively on a CCB takes work and study but offers rewards commensurate with the effort. Plus, appointees have a chance to make positive changes in our community. The deadline for application is May 31. The link to the City application webpage is on the Urban Chat calendar…
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May 15, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of May 15, 2023.
There’s much happening in Petaluma, with a full City Council agenda this evening, a public presentation of the proposed Appellation Petaluma hotel and a session on parking at the western edge of downtown tomorrow, and a GPAC meeting on Thursday. And that’s only this week.
May 8, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of May 8, 2023.
After suggesting last week that readers consider applying for a Petaluma commission, committee, or board as a way of making a difference in our shared community (information repeated under May 31 below), I found that “making a difference” became the continuing theme of my week.
On Friday, I attended a gathering organized by Cool Cities to introduce the various groups active in local climate initiatives and to exchange ideas. Each table was encouraged to synthesize a theme about how their group viewed climate action.
My table settled on “EEI”, standing for Education, Engagement, and Implementation. Our shared concept was that the most effective climate action, or any community advocacy, comes from first understanding the issues, then becoming engaged in the process of change, and finally making a difference…
May 1, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of May 1, 2023.
There are so many things I could write about the meetings and events that have popped up on the Urban Chat calendar. But I specifically want to talk about the City commissions, committees, and boards, or CCBs, for which applications are due by the end of the month.
As a veteran of seven different City bodies, I’ve had many experiences with the system. I’ve seen it work well. And I’ve seen it work poorly.
My top lessons:
Appointment to a CCB doesn’t mean you’re an expert. It means you should now be motivated to become an expert. No one is appointed to a CCB with sufficient knowledge to be an effective participant. Instead, it’s an opportunity to become more aware of how the City works and to dig more deeply into the subject matter that will come before the CCB.
You can make a difference and make Petaluma the best possible place if you make yourself an expert and put yourself forward in meetings. Indeed, because the Council has so many City functions to oversee, you can make a greater difference than a Councilmember in your specific area of purview.