Neighbors press Santa Rosa officials on wildfire, evacuation and traffic risks at El Noca housing meeting

Serena Lino, the city’s administrative services officer for planning and economic development, opened a neighborhood meeting on the Southeast Santa Rosa Senior Housing Community — commonly called El Noca — and said the forum was for information and public input, not for decisions.

Senior planner Kristine Toomeyans told attendees the project is roughly a 69‑acre site along Highway 12 under review and would require environmental review under CEQA (she referenced the process using “section 15183”). She said requested approvals include rezoning, a tentative subdivision map, use permits, major design and hillside permits, and review by the planning commission and city council. “The city does not design the project, and staff do not make the final decision,” she said.

Vin (Vince) Smith, representing applicant Burbank Housing, walked through a site plan that the team described as a senior (55+) community with a mix of housing types, about 275 units overall and extensive open space and trails. Smith said the proposal “would convert about 34 of those 70 acres into development” while retaining the remainder as open space, and emphasized larger setbacks and landscaped buffers intended to protect neighboring Oakmont homes.

Residents focused their questions on wildfire evacuation, local road capacity and environmental…