2 New Developments to Be Discussed at Monday Night Meeting

The city council will discuss two new developments tonight that stand to transform downtown Petaluma over the next several decades.

The first is a new 39-acre housing development on Hopper Street near Caulfield that would put in nearly 300 units of housing, a 120-room hotel and 90,000 square feet of commercial space. At Monday’s meeting, the council will only consider the economic impact of the project and will not be voting on the development.

The second is the SMART station area plan, a more long-term vision document that includes housing, businesses and tree-lined walkways that guide people getting off the train into downtown.

The Hopper Street project, called Riverfront, is estimated to create as many as 350 permanent jobs (from the hotel and shops) and generate about $173,000 a year for the city or $600,000 if a hotel is built, according to the economic and fiscal impact study.

When Riverfront was first presented in fall 2011, Petaluma Fire Marshall Cary Fergus raised concerns about a lack of a second entry and exit point into the development, especially once the SMART train is operational.

But after an emergency vehicle access assessment conducted by an independent contractor in 2011, Fergus said he feels confident fire trucks and other first responders will still be able to access the site by turning right on D Street, then traveling down the one-way ingress to Hopper Street.

Two emergency access gates are proposed along the emergency vehicle access road. Fire trucks would also be able to turn left on Hopper Street and travel against traffic for about 400 feet.

Tonight’s meeting starts at 7pm.