Speakers urge stronger tree protections and planning attention for Roseland at Santa Rosa Planning Commission

Residents used the Planning Commission’s public comment period Aug. 14 to urge stronger protections and public education on trees and to press commissioners to advocate for a neighborhood planning forum for Roseland as new housing is added to the area.

"Once the trees are gone, they're gone," said Janice Carmen, who spoke about clear-cutting in her neighborhood and called for education about trees' environmental value and care. Carmen told commissioners that mature trees support air quality and water retention and urged caution when public or private development involves tree removal.

Duane DeWitt, a Roseland resident, urged the commission to take an active role in advanced planning for the neighborhood. DeWitt said two housing developments and other projects along Sebastopol Road and Burbank Avenue have increased residents and traffic without corresponding infrastructure improvements. He asked the commission to request a Rudat-style forum for Roseland and to press elected officials and staff to address cumulative impacts, including a traffic signal long sought at Hearn Avenue and Burbank Avenue.

"Planning is politics, and the politics right now is that housing gets to go in anywhere it wants to, especially in Roseland, and they're not paying attention to the larger issues at hand," DeWitt said. He noted residents have asked for a traffic signal at Hearn and Burbank for about 20 years and asked commissioners to "speak up for the disadvantaged, underserved, overburdened community of Roseland."

DeWitt also asked commissioners to engage directly with residents rather than relying solely on staff and pointed to a lack of a recent public forum in the neighborhood. The speakers did not propose specific regulatory changes; they asked commissioners to prioritize outreach and advanced planning for Roseland. The commission did not take formal action on the public comments during the meeting.