Take a look at city council candidate Mike Healy's statements to COTS:

"I did mention that the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce is about to
launch a serious, focused initiative to change the failed culture of the development review process at City Hall. Petaluma has now gained a reputation as a place to avoid at all costs if one is interested in developing anything -- residential or commercial. The only people who are trying to do projects here are the ones who already have the land, and therefore have little choice. There are literally dozens of horror stories. In short, the culture and process need to be radically transformed so that applicants can get a thorough, timely and fair decision on their proposals."

This is Healy's and the Chamber's endorsement of what's to come next, particularly if Healy is elected: "development by right".

I.e., if your project, no matter how large or potentially controversial, is deemed (by staff) to be in conformity with the new General Plan; and, if it is deemed (again by staff) to be in conformity with the new (even interim) Zoning Codes; and, if you are not asking for any map change, then:
- you are very likely to receive a "negative declaration" of environmental impacts, and thus might only need to have a public hearing (again, only if deemed necessary by staff) regarding the site layout and appearance at SPARC!!!

That's right: NO PUBLIC HEARING would be required for project approvals at the Planning Commission, or at the City Council. Yup, that could apply to Regency, or Deer Creek or Basin Street's Riverview, as well as more local projects.

This is a sea-change in public procedures for approving projects in Petaluma, changing over 30 years' practice of having most projects go through full public hearings at Planning Commission and City Council before approving the project and giving the developer their legal entitlements to build.

This position is completely antagonistic to effective public particiption "if the public isn't happy they can [pay the appeals fees, hire consultants and attorneys, and]appeal the SPARC or staff approvals to the City Council. says the Planning Director and City Attorney.

Mike Moore says that 'since we went through extensive public hearings on the new General Plan and its CEQA-required Environmental Impact Report, and the new Zoning Code will, for the first time, be consistent with the General Plan, and since the public had lots of opportunities to comment on parcel specific plans over years of developing the General Plan, and since the GP and FEIR both considered long term and cumulative impacts of any particular land use and allowable projects, there's nothing left to do but review the on-site design and architecture. '

If you believe that the GenPlan and its FEIR dealt with all development issues at the level of project specificity needed for the next 20 years, you'd buy into his argument.

Easy for developers? You betcha.

Healy's working with the developers and the Chamber of Commerce to bring this around to fruition.

Our job is to stop this giveaway of Petaluma's character and soul, and to prevent stupid or outdated projects from occurring here.

When asked the question at the LWV/AAUW candidate's forum, "Would you agree with allowing major projects to get their final approvals without having to have public hearings at the City Council first?", Nau answered: yes. Freitas answered: yes.

Healy did his usual doublespeak: 'of course we would require all projects to meet CEQA requirements before approvals.' i.e., if staff deemed that a project didn't need any further hearings beyond SPARC, it wouldn't have to go to the Planning Comm or City Council.

Don't vote for Healy, unless you like his future vision of restricted public involvement ALLOWING STAFF, APPOINTED COMMISSION MEMBERS AND DEVELOPERS TO RUN ROUGHSHOD OVER YOUR TOWN WHILE YOU GET NO SAY.

Development approvals can be made more efficient, but without cutting out effective, early and meaningful public participation in trying to shape projects to suit Petaluma.

It's done in thousands of communities around the country. Particularly helpful is having an early process of meaningful public participation in design charrettes and neighborhood meetings, with the intent (and
successful practice) of having the neighbors and
stakeholders and developers sit down, with a neutrally guided process to reach the best and most creative solutions.

The intent is to build consensus for a successful project, not to seek out public relations messaging or search for neighborhood divisions or how to roll over the city. The intent is to build trust, that both the developers and public will be heard, respected and responded to, while building agreements on important aspects of the project, and to help it along to success - assuming that there is sufficient public buy-in and developer rewards to help make it go.

(Contrast this purpose and practice with what I'd expect out of MGM's approach to Deer Creek Plaza in a few weeks.)

So - watch out for Healy's and the Chamber's plans, and vote accordingly: Vote for Glass, Renee and Burton to avoid this disaster.

happy voting!

Ain't Democracy GRAND?!

Healy's comments here were, as usual, trenchant and insightful. It will good to see him back on the city council as he brings balance and pragmatism to Petaluma governance. At some point, Petaluma will need to judiciously expand its retail offerings so that people don't have to leave town when they need to buy things. The city also needs the sales tax revenues, or services here will continue to suffer.

"In a democracy, the governed get what they deserve"

have fun picking your poison

d21033 - so let me understand, you say that healy and two of your friends are on one side and you are on the other and it cost you those friendships. you kind of seem like the type that say everyone else is wrong and you are the ONLY one that is right. could the wrong one be you and everyone else is right? you are writing on here that heally isn't concerned with right or wrong...truth or lie. i have to say, you are a perfect example of why these blogs can be shameful, people can attack ones character while they hide behind a screen name. very unfortunate that folks choose to slander others. you say those two used to be your friend so you valued their opnion at some point.....i must say, if they choose to not be your friend now i think i now value their opinion!

The City of Petaluma has received a wonderful gift to have Mike Healy back on the City Council. This is a person who looks at all sides of an issue and does what is right for Petaluma! He has children and a wife with deep roots in our community and understands the need to bring revenue to our City to pay for the much needed services that our community demands! Remember that as your read today's Argus about our street conditions and the loss of our School Resource Officers! Or when you are paying your water bill! Or when you are leaving Petaluma to go shopping!!! Happy 2009