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Petaluma council repeals contested general‑plan amendment tied to downtown overlay
Summary
Facing a successful referendum and a pending general‑plan update, the City Council voted 6–0 (with one recusal) to repeal the general‑plan amendment that would have raised allowable FAR in a downtown overlay from 2.5 to 6, citing redundancy with an upcoming general‑plan update and to avoid added election costs.
The Petaluma City Council voted March 2 to repeal a contested general‑plan amendment that would have raised the maximum floor‑area ratio (FAR) in a small downtown overlay area from 2.5 to 6. The repeal followed public comment urging the council to avoid a costly special election and after staff explained the city’s legal options under the Elections Code.
City Attorney Eric Danley summarized the legal choices available after a successful referendum petition suspended the amendment: the council may either repeal the challenged amendment or submit it to the voters at a municipal election (timing rules require at least 88 days between placement and election). Danley noted the council could consolidate with the statewide primary in June or with the November general election; the council must act promptly if it wished to consolidate with the June primary.
Several speakers urged repeal. Darren Rakusen, a former planning‑commission member, urged council to repeal the amendment, arguing that the city’s general‑plan update (now in process) already sets downtown direction and that the EKN hotel applicant had proposed a four‑story design that did not require the higher FAR. “Let the general plan amendment go, rescind it, no election needed, save money, and let’s focus on the update in the fall,” Rakusen said.
Councilmember Quint moved to adopt the repeal resolution (attachment 3); Barnacle seconded. Following brief comments the council took a roll‑call vote: Barnacle — aye; Cater Thompson — yes; DeCarly — recused; Quint — yes; Shribbs — yes; McDonnell — yes; motion carried 6–0 (one recusal). The resolution directs staff to implement the repeal. Council members said the forthcoming general‑plan update will establish downtown policies, and opting to repeal avoids a separate, potentially expensive special election that would have asked voters to ratify the FAR increase.
What’s next: The repeal resolves the immediate referendum suspension; the council’s ongoing general‑plan update will return to the council later this year and will set the updated FAR and zoning framework for downtown on a longer timeline.
