Deer Creek Plaza Community Meeting
Thurs Nov 20 6-8pm Luchessi Community Center

Deer Creek Plaza-A new 412,000 square foot mixed-use retail development to be constructed in 2009 Petaluma, CA SWC McDowell Boulevard and Rainer Avenue
Link

Backround: Large lots eyed for shopping October 2, 2008 C Young Argus-Courier
Most recently, a revised site plan for a 36-acre site on North McDowell Boulevard, across from Petaluma Valley Hospital, was the subject of a preliminary review by the Site Plan and Architectural Review Committee. Deer Creek Plaza The project: Formerly known as “the DSL site” under owner Downey Savings and Loan, the hay field between McDowell and Highway 101 was purchased about a month ago by Merlone Geier Partners of San Francisco. MGP specializes in commercial retail shopping centers and acquired all of Downey’s real estate portfolio, said Greg Geertsen, managing director. Geertsen and his colleagues presented the city’s Site Plan and Architectural review Committee with a plan showing a large home improvement and garden store — possibly Lowe’s, which was previously announced for the site — along with other unnamed retailers, a health club, a pharmacy and medical offices. The owners would restore Deer Creek through the site and create public plazas and open space along the waterway, MGP officials said.

The latest: SPARC and members of the public who attended the Sept. 25 meeting weren’t sold on the plan.

“I don’t see anything but a bunch of boxes scattered on this site,” said SPARC member Jack Rittenhouse.

“I don’t think it fits here in Petaluma,” SPARC member Dennis Elias said. “It’s still an automobile-centric site.”

Critics said the site plan lacked imagination and was disappointing, noting that the medical offices were shown in the northeast corner instead of closer to the hospital, where patients and doctors could walk back and forth. Several speakers said the wide-open parcel could give the east side of Petaluma a downtown-like urban center instead of a traditional shopping center.

“There’s an opportunity here for a significant and important community-serving center for the east side,” former council member David Keller said.

“I think you have an unbelievable opportunity to take this 40-acre site and make it spctacular,” SPARC Chair John Mills said.

What’s next: MGP officials said they will hold a community meeting with neighbors before making revisions to their plan. Whatever comes out of that process will likely be the subject of a second preliminary SPARC review, not yet scheduled. “We certainly will go through a community-input process,” MGP Managing Director David Geiser said. “We know we’re going to make revisions to our plan.”............

another 2-story 40,000 s.f health club...really??

either Petaluma will be the most fit City in the country, or there will be a pretty empty gym.

I agree with you 123GO, with 24 hour club, the old Gold's Gym, the Redwood Club, 24 fitness, Club One, and a few other small fitness centers. Another one is a mistake. I want an electronic store such as Best Buy, or a furniture store such as IKEA. The places that most Petaluman's currently leave town for.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Regency needs to be put in and examined BEFORE Deer Creek is even thought of. We have a brand new Jr. High School that was paid for from the proceeds of that land. Regency has been sitting patiently on the side trying to get the plan even looked at by the Planning Commission and City Council. It think its unfair for another entity to come in and try to blast ahead. If our town can sustain another shopping center, fine but lets see if that works FIRST.

Target stores are discounting some really nice items and are in heavy competition with some other retailers....that's a win win for consumers.

Deer Creek seems to be a little smarter than Regency. They know that trying to please the anti-business no growth whackos on the Council majority will get them nowhere.

Regency made one mistake; they trusted the Council. They trusted Mayor Glass when he welcomed them here years ago. They trusted Mayor Torliatt when she said the project would get fair consideration. All the while both monkeyed with the process and backdoored approvals to delay the project.

Deer Creek seems to have watched this and is willing to try the process, then take it to court when the Council try to do the same thing to them. It might not be fair if they get approval prior to Regency, but I wouldn't blame Deer Creek. I would blame this Council majority for creating such an unfair situation.

Michael: You are right that it is not fair, but Regency should have learned by now that they cannot trust this city or this process.