Developer: Poll shows Petaluma supports Lowe's project

<p>Developers released a survey this week showing that more than 60 percent of those polled support their plan to build a shopping center anchored by a Lowe's home improvement store.</p><p>Merlone Geier Partners, developers of the proposed Deer Creek Village, commissioned the telephone survey, which polled 300 registered voters in Petaluma from Sept. 6 to Sept. 8.</p><p>According to the developer, 63 percent of those polled supported a Lowe's at the Rainier Avenue site, while 33 percent opposed it.</p><p>Only 25 percent of those polled believe Petaluma “has sufficient choices for home improvement projects and building supplies,” according to the survey.</p><p>“Petaluma wants a Lowe's store so that they can purchase home improvement supplies locally and at affordable prices,” Merlone Geier managing director Greg Geertsen said in a statement.</p><p>The survey found “very strong support from the east side of town,” the statement said, specifically for a desire for “more choices and places to shop.”</p><p>Deer Creek Village would include 346,000 square feet of retail and office space, a health club, garden center and restaurant on 36.5 acres of vacant land at the southwest corner of Rainier Avenue and North McDowell Boulevard.</p><p>It would also give Petaluma its only home improvement warehouse, although it has smaller stores that offer hardware and home-improvement supplies.</p><p>A draft version of the final environmental impact report is being examined by city planning staff. The final EIR may go before the city's Planning Commission next month and later to the City Council.</p><p>If approved, Merlone Geier said the project could begin construction in the spring.</p><p>The wide-ranging survey also sought opinions about the local economy and the performance of city leaders.</p><p>According to the poll, 53 percent would be more likely to vote for a City Council member who supports Lowe's while 31 percent would vote against them. Eleven percent responded that the issue would make no difference in their vote.</p><p>Respondents were split on whether the council is doing a good job. Forty-one percent said they have a favorable view of the council while 37 percent have an unfavorable view.</p><p>The Planning Commission was viewed favorably by 29 percent of those polled, compared with 47 percent who reported an unfavorable view.</p><p>The poll was conducted by Houston-based Voter Consumer Research and funded by the developer. It has a margin of error of 5.7 percent.</p>