Petaluma’s Next General Plan
A picture of the Ghirardelli Barn in 2005, shortly after it was moved from D Street.
You think the Downtown Overlay is Scary?
A major issue in the current Petaluma City Council election is the proposed 6-story luxury hotel and accompanying 6-story rezoning overlay over much of our historic downtown, but that is only the tip of the iceberg.
A bigger matter is the fact that council members will decide on a General Plan next year that will guide all development in Petaluma over the next 25 years.
There will be a range of options that council members will need to choose from, ranging from creating “15-Minute Activity Centers” in various parts of the city where there will be higher density, and determining where those activity centers should be.
They will also decide whether we build in the Corona wetlands and floodway, as well as how tall buildings should be in various parts of the city. If the city chooses badly, Petaluma may not be recognizable at the end of the 25 years. Some of the options in the “Land Use Policy Framework” for the General Plan are:
3 and 4-story buildings and a new shopping center in the Corona Reach floodway
6-story buildings throughout our historic downtown (covering more area than the current proposed overlay would)
8-story buildings near our downtown train station
5-story buildings where the Caulfield connector would run
5 and 6-story buildings along Petaluma Blvd North (such as at the current site of Lucky’s supermarket)
5 and 6-story buildings along Petaluma Blvd South (from downtown to the south of I Street)
4 to 6-story buildings along Washington Street (from Lakeville to the freeway)
5-story buildings at the site of the Bowling Alley, the site of the Petaluma Creamery, and next to Casa Grande High School, as well as other largely residential neighborhoods.
Anyway, this should give you an idea of what could happen; to read the entire draft land use framework for yourself, you can go to this link: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ea880f6d9a2075c7b7f54af/t/66c7e3a395624f73d25439cc/1724375979648/PGPU_PublicDraft_PolicyFramework_LandUse.pdf
A link to the overall general plan process is here https://www.planpetaluma.org
What do I think?
My position is to keep the historic downtown at its current 4-story limit, and make sure that any new buildings enhance and not detract from its historic character.
I think that any activity centers we create should be at 2 to 4 stories, not up to 6-stories as currently proposed. These “activity centers” would be in places I mentioned above like the site of the Bowling Alley, plus places I didn’t even mention. These high-density developments could even be in the Corona Reach if we allow it. This would not only destroy habitat for native species, but it will also almost guarantee additional flooding in the Payran neighborhood and downtown. I think the Corona Reach and other biologically important and/or flood-prone parcels should be made into parks and/or restored to their natural state.
At the downtown train station, I would be open to building up to 6-stories (if the public supported it).
What do you think?
Your Vote Matters!
Lance
A Recent Endorsement
“Lance Kuehne gives District 6 a chance to vote for someone who is not an incumbent, who knows that growth, density and economic opportunity can flourish within the current zoning of our historic downtown and who knows change and improvement does not need to come at the cost of Petaluma’s unique identity. Lance will fight to protect our green spaces and our riparian habitat. He will foster smart growth and true affordable housing to balance our community. Our town needs this kind of discerning leadership as we grow. I wholeheartedly support Lance Kuehne for Petaluma city council.”
Jane Hamilton
Former Council member
Co chair of the Petaluma River Enhancement Plan
Co-chair of the Central Petaluma Specific Plan
To help spread the message of this campaign, consider making a donation. I am running against two incumbents, and changing how our city is run isn’t easy.