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.
March 11, 2024
Calendar notes for the week of March 11, 2024.
I’ll keep it short this week. You must be at the Mystic Theatre on Wednesday evening for the Know Before You Grow forum with David Baker Architects. Period. No excuses.
Even if you’re not an urban planner or architect, you must be part of the conversation about how land uses should be conceived and implemented. Plus, lots of folks will be there with whom you’d like to rub shoulders and exchange thoughts.
A link for further information and to RSVP is here.
Continue reading the weekly update here.
March 4, 2024
Calendar notes for the week of March 4, 2024.
The David Baker Architects KBYG forum at the Mystic Theatre is now only nine days away. Reservations continue to accumulate. Seats remain available, but please make your reservations as soon as possible to ensure you’re not left out and to help us finalize our plans.
Meanwhile, the Oyster Cove City-mandated community meeting will be this coming Thursday. The project has been entitled but architectural and site design approval are still pending. The project has been the subject of a Planning Commission workshop and will later return to the Commission for final approval.
February 26, 2024
Calendar notes for the week of February 26, 2024.
The next few weeks will be great for Urban Chat and its Know Before You Grow committee!
This coming Wednesday, KBYG will gather at LivXplore Realty and on Zoom to learn the fundamentals of public transit from Jarrett Walker, the author of "Human Transit", the bible for many transit planners. In recent weeks, the role of transit in the climate-friendly future of Petaluma has become increasingly acknowledged.
Then, two weeks from Wednesday will be the David Baker Architects KBYG forum at the Mystic Theatre. We anticipate the largest crowd in the history of KBYG. The presentation by three DBA principals, including Baker, will hopefully trigger a conversation about housing and development practices in Petaluma. RSVP here!
An article in yesterday’s San Francisco Chronicle noted that David Baker Architects is designing two high-profile affordable housing projects in the Mission District of San Francisco. It was the Petaluma Mayor who emailed me about the article on page A-8, so City Hall is also looking forward to the forum.
February 19, 2024
Calendar notes for the week of February 19, 2024.
For the last few weeks, I’ve been writing about the March 13 Know Before You Grow forum with David Baker Architects of San Francisco. Three principals of the firm, including Baker, will visit Petaluma to talk about their book “9 Ways to Make Housing for People”. All credit goes to Veronica Olsen for her gentle persistence in working with DBA.
Thus far, we haven’t been able to announce a venue but that need has now been addressed. We’ve made final arrangements for the Mystic Theater. Seven years after KBYG was created and twelve years after Urban Chat was founded, this will be our first use of the Mystic. David Baker Architects is an appropriate first program and we hope to return to the Mystic often.
February 12, 2024
Calendar notes for the week of February 12, 2024.
The Oyster Cove project, northeast of the river and immediately downstream of the D Street bridge, has previously secured approvals for a tentative map, zone change, and more. On Tuesday evening, the project will return to the Planning Commission for a workshop on site planning and architecture.
As of now, it appears that Oyster Cove will be the first project to break ground within easy walking distance of the downtown SMART station and the Transit Mall, one of the most important Petaluma development areas for climate-friendly housing.
Urban Chat hasn’t yet officially taken a position on Oyster Cove, but most members and directors have expressed support.
Everyone is encouraged to attend the Tuesday evening workshop to learn more about the project and to make public comments on the proposed site planning and architecture…
February 5, 2024
Calendar notes for the week of February 5, 2024.
The first official annual meeting of Petaluma Urban Chat has now been conducted, twelve years after we began serving our community. As torrents of rain fell outside, twenty of us gathered, elected the first board and officers, and had extended conversations about the directions Urban Chat could take. I loved many of the ideas that were broached.
The first monthly Urban Chat board meeting will be Wednesday, February 28. Everyone is invited…
January 29, 2024
Calendar notes for the week of January 29, 2024.
Finally, nearly twelve years after the first meeting at the Aqus Café, after about 75 Know Before You Grow forums, after our first Better Cities Film Festival, after building a reputation for insightful comments on local land-use matters, and much more, Petaluma Urban Chat will have its first official annual meeting.
As further noted below under Upcoming Meetings, we’ll meet Wednesday evening at the LivXplore Realty office, next door to the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum. As of now, the anticipated agenda will have a review of where we’ve been, a summary of who we are today, thoughts about where we go next, election of a board of directors, and initial actions by the newly elected board…
January 22, 2024
Calendar notes for the week of January 22, 2024.
I have much to share this week.
First, with the first Urban Chat annual meeting only nine days away, this is a reminder that to participate in the meeting, perhaps to be nominated for the board, to have your voice heard, and much more, you must be an Urban Chat member. Annual membership comes with a $50 donation or $5 per month. You can sign up on our website or bring a check to the January 31 meeting.
Second, we have a growing nucleus of a book club to read “9 Ways to Make Housing for People” by David Baker Architects. The goal is to have two or three meetings prior to the March 13 Know Before You Grow forum at which David Baker and two other members of the firm will speak about the lessons in the book. I received my copy late last week and have now read more than half of it…
January 15, 2024
Calendar notes for the week of January 15, 2024.
I have two big themes to touch upon this week. The first is the draft Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality, a document being developed as part of the General Plan update. The Tree Advisory Committee and Recreation, Music, and Parks Commission will both have meetings this week to offer comments on the draft document. Also, the Transit Advisory Committee will have a similar meeting in early February.
I’m both intrigued and confounded by this document, unsure when it will be finalized, puzzled whether Petaluma has the wherewithal to implement the long list of tasks, and unconvinced if complete implementation would be sufficient to achieve the goal. I had a short chat this past week with someone who should have known more on these questions than me. He was equally unsure…
January 8, 2024
Calendar notes for the week of January 8, 2024.
With the holidays vanishing into the rearview mirror, urban planning activities at City Hall and elsewhere are ramping up.
Starting with City Hall, this evening the Council, among other agenda items, will conduct a workshop on the flooding risks from sea level rise and increased riverine flooding.
Thursday afternoon and evening, the Transit Committee and Climate Commission will hold back-to-back meetings. Transit will talk about the upcoming Free-Fare and Micro-Transit programs, both of which were included in the 2023-24 City budget for the first time. Following that meeting, the Climate Commission will receive comments on the Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality.
I’ll spend much of my week at City Hall…
January 1, 2024
Calendar notes for the week of January 1, 2024.
We’ve begun a new year. Let’s make 2024 a year of great advancement for Petaluma and for walkable urbanism.
Obviously, last week was mostly quiet for public meeting information. The only new content is the agenda for the PBAC meeting this coming Wednesday, which is further described below.
However, I should correct an omission from last week’s email. I failed to mention Friends of SMART (FoS) as a possible local participation opportunity. FoS promotes SMART and SMART’s goal to provide affordable, reliable rail transit between North Bay cities. I’ve been involved with FoS for several years and put a check in the mail to them earlier today…
December 25, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of December 25, 2023.
The calendar email is a day early this week. It didn’t seem appropriate to email it on Christmas Day. Also, I had suggestions for Christmas gifting to yourself and to others. Lastly, I failed to include a Happy Holidays wish last week, an omission I correct below.
But first, I’ll introduce two Urban Chat events now scheduled for early 2024. On January 10, KBYG will talk about the possibility of youth-driven tactical urbanism. On January 18, we’ll listen to author Henry Grabar talk about his recent book on parking, about which more information is provided immediately below. Details on these events and more are in Upcoming Meetings further below.
For last-minute gifting to others, I propose the Grabar book “Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World”. After a comprehensive history of how parking regulation came to be, followed by a digression into parking lot corruption, Grabar finishes strongly with a review of parking reform ideas, including the theory and the real-world application. Parking guru Donald Shoup recommends the book highly.
December 18, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of December 18, 2023.
As the holidays draw closer, we’re beginning a largely quiet two to three weeks. But there are still meetings of interest.
I’ll specifically note the Planning Commission meeting Tuesday evening. The Commission will conduct a hearing on the Spirit Living project, 106 units of senior living, on Caulfield Lane inside the River Front project.
When Spirit Lake was first brought forth, I was skeptical. I was uncertain that senior living would be sufficient to activate the Caulfield Lane roundabout that was planned as the River Front community core. Activating those community cores is an essential element of 15-minute neighborhoods, which is an Urban Chat focus.
December 11, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of December 11, 2023.
After a decade of providing effective education and advocacy on the land-use practices of Petaluma, last Wednesday, Petaluma Urban Chat moved beyond its casual organization and adopted bylaws. Following that step, Wednesday, January 31 was picked as the date of the first annual meeting. More information about this meeting will be provided as soon as possible.
Also after bylaw adoption, the attendees had a spirited conversation about the many creative and important directions that Urban Chat might go. Anyone who wants to be part of this new momentum should put January 31 on their calendar now.
Turning toward City Hall, this will be a busy pre-holiday week with discussions about a proposed Fairgrounds Overlay, Objective Design Standards, transit bus acquisition, the Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality, and more. See Upcoming Meetings below for more details.
December 4, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of December 4, 2023.
The big event of this week was going to be the first hearing by the City Council on the ordinance to implement the proposed Downtown Overlay. However, that hearing has been postponed to an unknown date. Obviously, Urban Chat will share all new information as soon as it becomes known.
Otherwise, the Urban Chat event of the week will be consideration of proposed bylaws. Adding an organizational structure will better position Urban Chat to continue our role of helping to lead Petaluma into the best possible future. As noted last week, draft bylaws are available for advance review by anyone on this email list. If you’d like to receive a copy, please email me.
Lastly, I’ll again note that Petaluma Planning is rebooting the Working Groups organized under the General Plan Advisory Committee. The cores of the Working Groups are GPAC members, but all Petalumans are invited to offer their expertise and effort to help the Working Groups provide effective input into the General Plan update.
November 27, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of November 27, 2023.
I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving. Although you’re receiving this email on the Monday after Thanksgiving, I’m writing it on Thanksgiving morning, about the time turkeys are going into the oven. I’m freeing up my schedule to be out of town for several days. (If a local urbanism story breaks over the weekend, I’ll pick it up next week.)
I expect to return refreshed and ready for the organizational tasks that will make for a productive 2024.
November 20, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of November 20, 2023.
After an unusually full calendar last week, a three-day week will be a welcome relief. The City Council will have a meeting this evening that will include consideration of a long-term Fire/Police/Emergency Operations Center master plan. After tonight, we can all coast toward Thanksgiving.
Last week featured the more than seven-hour hearing in front of the combined Planning Commission and Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee on the proposed Downtown Overlay. Although the HCPC voted against recommending City Council approval, the Planning Commission voted 7-0 in favor of the Overlay. As further noted below under Upcoming Meetings, the City Council will take up the matter at their December 4 meeting.
November 13, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of November 13, 2023.
The big event of the week will be the Tuesday joint meeting of the Planning Commission and Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee to consider the proposed Downtown Overlay. This won’t be the culminating meeting, with the Overlay likely proceeding to the December 4 City Council agenda, but it will move us closer to a conclusion. Further information is provided below under Upcoming Meetings.
Late yesterday, Urban Chat finalized its recommendations regarding the proposed Overlay. While we endorsed the Overlay, we also raised concerns about the Overlay public process and the further steps that should be followed if the Overlay is adopted. You can access the Urban Chat Downtown Overlay recommendations here…
November 6, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of November 6, 2023.
The contentious downtown decisions are soon to be decided. This evening, the City Council will consider imposing a story pole requirement on the Appellation Petaluma hotel applicant.
A week from tomorrow, the combined Planning Commission and Historical and Cultural Preservation Committee will consider their recommendation on the Downtown Overlay. And then, at a date not yet scheduled, the City Council will make their decision on the Overlay. After all those steps, the hotel applicant may be positioned for their project to move forward into the entitlement steps. It could be a busy end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 at City Hall…
October 30, 2023
Calendar notes for the week of October 30, 2023.
In response to my request of last week, several folks have raised their hands to be part of an Urban Chat team to establish a position on the Overlay. I expect us to work toward a nuanced stance with thoughts on the proposal itself, how the process has been handled, and what the next steps might be.
There’s still time to add another person or two to the policy group. Reach out to me today if you’d like to be included.