To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Maggie Luce - 565-1796
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Resolution in Support of the City of Santa Rosa’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission Grant Application for South Santa Rosa Specific Plan
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution in support of the City of Santa Rosa’s application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for a Priority Development Area grant to prepare the South Santa Rosa Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report.
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Executive Summary:
At the recommendation of the Moorland Ad Hoc Committee represented by Supervisor Coursey and Supervisor Gorin, staff seeks the Board’s approval of a resolution in support of the City of Santa Rosa’s application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments (MTC/ABAG) for a Priority Development Area (PDA) grant. The City submitted its application on February 23, 2023. If awarded, the PDA grant would provide up to $1,200,000 in funding for the City to prepare the South Santa Rosa Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The plan area includes both a portion of the City’s Mendocino Avenue/Santa Rosa Avenue Corridor PDA and the County’s South Santa Rosa Area PDA, which encompasses the Moorland neighborhood. While the Board’s approval of the resolution takes no direct action towards annexation of South Santa Rosa or the Moorland neighborhoods, it furthers important and necessary work to position both the City and County for future consideration of annexation opportunities. The Moorland Ad Hoc Committee will bring an update on the Moorland Annexation project to the full Board of Supervisors in May 2023.
Discussion:
At the September 27, 2022 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Chair formed a Moorland Annexation Ad Hoc Committee for the purpose of exploring potential City of Santa Rosa annexation areas, prioritizing the Moorland neighborhood. The Ad Hoc directed County Administrator’s Office and Permit Sonoma staff to begin discussions about a potential annexation with staff at the City of Santa Rosa. One result of the subsequent conversations with the City of Santa Rosa was an agreement on the need for a South Santa Rosa Specific Plan. This Specific Plan effort aligns with the County and City’s land use planning goals, and would be an important first step should the County decide to pursue future South Santa Rosa annexation opportunities. The Santa Rosa City Council discussed Santa Rosa Annexation opportunities and the MTC grant in a study session on January 24, 2023. <https://santa-rosa.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5999738&GUID=C40D710B-51F6-497A-8E33-78A1C30E2D7C&Options=&Search=>
The Moorland Ad Hoc Committee recommends this resolution to show a level of support and partnership with the City of Santa Rosa. The South Santa Rosa Specific Plan will benefit the community, and it will position the County and City to move forward with potential Moorland annexation opportunities. The result of a South Santa Rosa Specific Plan will be a comprehensive community involvement strategy that can help develop a vision for land use and circulation in this area, including development and public realm standards, community and equity policies, capital improvements, and implementation actions and investments.
On February 23, 2023, the City of Santa Rosa submitted an application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments (MTC/ABAG) for a Priority Development Area (PDA) grant to prepare the South Santa Rosa Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The PDA grant would provide up to $1,200,000 in funding to develop the Specific Plan and EIR.
The plan area includes both a portion of the City’s Mendocino Avenue/Santa Rosa Avenue Corridor PDA and the County’s South Santa Rosa Area PDA, which encompasses the Moorland neighborhood, Todd Creek and Santa Rosa General Plan “2010” areas. The Specific Plan area contains approximately 1,900 acres, with approximately 500 acres of incorporated City land and 1,400 acres of unincorporated County land. Since the Specific Plan includes portions of unincorporated County land, the City of Santa Rosa application is strengthened by a resolution of support from the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. The deadline for the resolution submission is April 14, 2023.
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There are no fiscal impacts associated with the recommended action to approve a resolution in support of the City of Santa Rosa’s application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments (MTC/ABAG) for a Priority Development Area (PDA) grant.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment A - Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None