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Policy Update, October 2022

What’s Happening Locally?

The Housing Element process process continues to move forward in Sonoma County. The last remaining draft Housing Element’s are expected to be released soon for public input. This includes the County of Sonoma. So be certain to follow our social media for updates soon. We’re also providing all available information below.

  • Cloverdale: A draft Housing Element is expected to be released on Thursday, October 27.
  • Cotati: A draft Housing Element was released on Tuesday, September 27 – you can review it here!
    • Click here to read the draft Housing Element
    • The public comment period has been extended and will now end on Thursday, November 3: You can submit public comment by emailing Cotati@TheCivicEdge.com or mailed/delivered to Cotati City Hall (201 West Sierra Avenue) by Thursday, November 3.
    • Click here to get Cotati specific action alerts!
  • Healdsburg: A draft Housing Element was released on Friday, September 30 and you can review it here!
    • Click here to read the draft Housing Element
    • You can submit public comment by emailing HousingElement@Healdsburg.gov or mailed/delivered to Healdsburg City Hall (401 Grove Street) by Sunday, October 30.
    • Click here to get Healdsburg specific action alerts!
  • Petaluma: The City of Petaluma is currently reviewing both comments provided by elected and the public alike. These comments are being evaluated and integrated into the Housing Element before it is transmitted to HCD for the 90-day review.
  • Rohnert Park: The comment period for the draft Housing Element closed on September 4 and has been submitted to HCD for review.
  • Santa Rosa: A revised version of the draft Housing Element has been released and reflects informal comments shared by HCD. All changes are redlined to better enable additional feedback from the community. The HCD 90-day review period ends on Tuesday, November 1, so stay tuned for more updates soon.
  • Sonoma: The comment period for the draft Housing element closed September 16 and we have been informed that the City of Sonoma has officially transmitted their draft to HCD for the 90-day review. A redlined version of their draft has yet to be publicly released.
  • Windsor: The comment period for the draft Housing Element closed September 23 – they continue to review the feedback provided by the community and aim to transmit their draft to HCD soon.
  • County of Sonoma: The draft Housing Element is expected to be released on Thursday, November 3.
    • Click here to track their website
    • Click here to get Unincorporated County of Sonoma specific action alerts!

To learn more about the Housing Element process and to track the progress for each jurisdiction, click here. You can find information about the Housing Element process here as well. If you want more information on how to get directly involved with Generation Housing’s Housing Element work, email us at info@generationhousing.org!

Downtown Santa Rosa Redevelopment Update

On October 11, 2022 the Santa Rosa City Council held the last of three study sessions which aimed to provide clear direction to City Staff on redevelopment of downtown Santa Rosa – this includes the relocation of the existing City Hall Campus, the surplusing of excess parking assets, and the consolidation of downtown public facilities. The final study session covered the Surplus Lands Act and combined both the information and direction from the prior study sessions. At the conclusion of this study session, City Staff was provided clear direction on which publicly-owned assets should be designated surplus and made available for redevelopment.

So what was the final outcome? After some deliberation, the Mayor and City Council provided the following direction for surplusing publicly-owned assets:

  • YES to Whitehouse Surface Parking Lot
  • YES to Garage 5
  • YES to Lot 11
  • NO to Lot 6
    • It was deemed more likely this parcel will be developed in a timely manner if it is done through the traditional design review and permit process
  • YES to Garage 9
  • YES to Garage 12
  • YES to City Hall site
  • YES to relocating Santa Rosa Police and Fire Downtown Stations
    • Both facilities currently inadequate to accommodate the need of those departments
    • Police Department would likely relocate to both a new facility on Stony Point Road as well as make use of office space at the Utilities Field Operations facility
    • Fire Department would move further into Downtown Core
  • YES to Central Library

We agree with Mayor Rogers’ who stated “I would rather us try something and fail than continue doing what we have been doing for twenty years which has gotten us nothing.” We need to be bold, depart from the status quo, and embrace new approaches to achieving our shared vision for moving Santa Rosa Forward. #WeAreAllGenH 

For more information or to watch the recording of the meeting and review the materials, click here. Provided in the staff presentation is a map that illustrates where all of the above mentioned sites are located in the downtown area.