Preserve Petaluma
Stop the big dig!
A massive renovation and ground excavation at the historic Brainerd Jones-designed home at 26 6th St., owned by Peter & Ginnie Haas of the Levi Strauss & Co. fortune, was approved by the City of Petaluma City Council on December 22, 2020, without required CEQA compliance.
1905 brainerd jones home LOST TO THE COMMUNITY
The Haas Residential Remodel project will soon commence without California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, per the decision of City Council on December 22, 2020.
This project sets a troubling precedent which significantly lowers the bar for historical preservation and environmental review requirements in our beloved historic districts. Preserve Petaluma has lost trust and faith in the City following its required processes and its fair and consistent application of established standards to protect the community’s interests and resources.
Preserve Petaluma is saddened for Petaluma and the future of its designated historic districts, which are now no longer protected.
KEY PROJECT COMPONENTS
- 4,210 SF UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE - Over 1200 cubic yards of soil and bedrock will be excavated from underneath the home to accommodate a full story 4,210 sq ft underground parking garage for 4+ cars with vehicle turntable and elevator. This massive excavation of ~4500 SF to a minimum depth of 7 feet will occur within feet of neighboring historic homes and a protected Coastal Live Oak tree.
- HIGHLY VISIBLE FROM PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY - This subterranean parking garage with its sloping entry driveway will be clearly visible from the public right of way on 6th Street, creating disharmony with surrounding historic buildings.
- REMOVAL OF GROUND WATER - An undetermined amount of ground water will need to be continuously pumped out of the underground garage level in order to keep it dry year round, resulting in a significant loss of ground water for the neighborhood.
- DOUBLING SIZE OF HOME TO ~10,000 SF - Total square footage of the residence will more than double from 4,241 SF to 9,464 SF, per the City of Petaluma Planning Department, and the floor plan will be changed from a 6 bedroom home to 2 bedrooms, incorporating an elevator, and essentially gutting all existing interior historic features.
- DEMOLITION OF HISTORIC FEATURES - An architecturally significant upstairs rear dormer window will be demolished in order to create an attic level 460 sq ft outdoor terrace that will have unimpeded views down into at least 6 neighboring backyards.
- NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO NEIGHBORS - An 864 sq ft lower level outdoor deck will be created with an outdoor kitchen only a few feet away from neighboring backyards, at the existing elevated finished floor height of 5 feet.
- VIEW-BLOCKING PERGOLA STRUCTURE - A pergola, with the potential for full screening, will be created on top of this elevated lower deck, impeding skyline views from neighboring backyards as well as B St.
- MIN. 80 DUMP TRUCK LOADS - The construction period for this major project is ESTIMATED at 14 months of Monday -Saturday work, with its significant amount of machinery, noise disturbance, construction vehicle traffic and parking impediments predicted for the entire neighborhood. The underground excavation alone will require a minimum of 80 trips of a standard 15 yard dump truck, on our newly resurfaced city streets.
Existing 1st Floor Plan with 4 bedrooms
New 1st Floor Plan with 1 bedroom, dining for 25, mail room & elevator to 4-car underground parking garage.
URGENT: we need your help!
Preserve Petaluma is still shaken by the complete disregard for historic preservation and necessary CEQA review exhibited by the City of Petaluma's City Council, City Planning Department and Historic & Cultural Preservation Committee.
The last possible recourse to prevent this project from proceeding as approved is via litigation demanding CEQA compliance initiated prior to the 30-day statute of limitations expiring on January 20, 2021. The estimated cost for this action is $25-30,000 and unfortunately, Preserve Petaluma does not have the funding necessary, so is urgently seeking any advocates or donors who might champion this cause.
Please email preservepetaluma@gmail.com ASAP if you are able to help!