Politics & Government

Opponents Urge City to "Stay the Course" in Dutra Fight

Plan on taking recent decision to appellate court

Critics of the Dutra asphalt plant at Haystack Landing are urging the city to stay the course in its opposition to the project and have pledged to appeal a Sonoma County Superior Court judge’s decision that gave the project the green light.

On December 23, filed by the city of Petaluma, community groups and residents, saying that the project was appropriate for the area, which is zoned light industrial. The plant aims to begin construction this year and would import 500,000 tons of aggregate via a barge and produce up to 225,000 tons of asphalt, which opponents say will impact air quality, traffic and tourism to the park.

“We thank the city for their continued support, but they now have an important decision to make,” wrote organizers, which include Moms for Clean Air, Friends of Shollenberger and Petaluma River Council, in an online appeal to residents.

Find out what's happening in Petalumawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The group is planning to appeal the decision to a higher court, but wants the city’s backing, which would bring with it city dollars. The city council will discuss whether they want to continue as a plaintiff in the suit in closed session at next Monday's meeting.

Opponents say it makes sense for the city to continue opposing the project because it has spent millions of dollars to purchase Shollenberger Park and Alman Marsh, putting in trails, creating wetlands and running birding and other wildlife education programs. Click here to read a history of Shollenberger Park.

Find out what's happening in Petalumawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The city has been responsible for entire development of site and now that investment has been tarnished by the county,” said David Keller, a plaintiff in the case and a member of the Petaluma River Council. “The county has always written off the Petaluma River as an industrial, dredge spoils site, which reflects the out of touch notion about what the river and the rest of the San Francisco Bay are. That shift of values has escaped the old boys network of Santa Rosa.”

Dutra Materials maintains that the project will meet all requirements and will not exceed air or noise limitations. The company also says it’s important to produce asphalt locally instead of bringing it in from other parts of the state.

On Monday, plaintiffs sent a letter to Sonoma County’s Permit and Resource Management Department saying that all preconditions of the project must be met (there are more than 120) before the county issues a building or grading permit to Dutra Materials. See the letter on the right.

Opponents have also started an online petition with the goal of raising 5,000 signatures that they will send to the Petaluma City Council.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here