Opponents of a Target-anchored development in Petaluma are hoping to gather a crowd to attend a special City Council meeting today in a last-ditch effort to modify the already approved shopping center.
The City Council issued primary approvals in February for the project and sent it to the Planning Commission for more detailed architectural and site-plan review.
The Petaluma Community Coalition, a group of about 150 opponents and neighbors of the East Washington Place center, appealed the commissioners' April approval of architectural details for the 380,000-square-foot project.
Today, they will argue that the project violates the city's general plan and is inconsistent with its zoning ordinances.
Those issues have already been "thoroughly vetted" by multiple levels of city staff, Councilman David Glass said.
"The last, final stop in any review process is the ability for members of the community to appeal a decision, for final review, to the City Council," he said. "We'll go through that process and listen to the testimony."
The council voted 5-2 to approve the project, and the Planning Commission endorsed it 4-1. Mayor Pam Torliatt and Councilman David Rabbitt, who face each other in the November election for the 2nd District seat on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, voted in favor of the project in February.
Coalition leaders said in an e-mail to supporters that: "Now it's time to show up in person and let the council know we're serious about seeing our town develop in a healthy way, one that follows the general plan that so many have worked so hard on. If we have a strong showing, we can get the council to make some positive changes in this monster project, and frankly, at this point, any change will be important."
Regardless of the council's actions on Monday, the development remains stalled by two lawsuits filed in Sonoma County Superior Court.
The coalition is seeking a court order stop the project, based on the same grounds. A case-management hearing is set for September.
Florida-based Regency, the project developer, has also filed suit, saying the city unlawfully delayed approval for the project that was first proposed in 2004. A conference in that case is set for next month.
The development, at the former Kenilworth Junior High site, includes 380,000 square feet of retail and office space on 33 acres, including a Target store and possibly a Friedman's Home Improvement.
After years of stops and starts in the planning process, the city finally approved the environmental impact report in February. Regency was invited by city leaders in 2004 to build on the site, which it bought for $22 million, and first submitted an application in December of that year.
Opponents argue that the design is akin to bad 1970s architecture, its traffic design will endanger the health of users of the nearby swim center, it lacks bike- and pedestrian-friendly designs and that its mixed-use component doesn't satisfy the city's requirements.
Councilwoman Tiffany Renee, who voted against the project with Teresa Barrett, said she would like to know how the coalition concluded the design is inconsistent with the general plan.
"Many concerns have been raised over impacts to the swim center and skate park that warrant further review," she said.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
You can reach Staff Writer Lori A. Carter at 762-7297 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com.
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