Advocates for the Gateway Plan in Arcata, including 350 Humboldt, need your help. The Gateway Area Plan, a proposal to allow for dense, infill development in Arcata, is before the Planning Commission on Tuesday. Opponents of the project are attempting to whittle away the plan and delay it through excruciating public review—and unfortunately, it appears to be working. We need folks like you to attend to speak up for climate-smart housing creation. Hopefully, with a large turnout, we can reshape the conversation and forward a process that doesn’t require housing advocates to be bogged down in more meetings.
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I support the Gateway Plan as conceived. Dense, walkable development is important to address the housing crisis and the climate crisis.
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I can’t make it to every meeting. Many people can’t and because of economic and social factors, people who attend public meetings are disproportionately white, wealthy, and home-owning, which isn’t an accurate representation of the community. Most often, the perspectives of people of color, low-income people, and renters are largely missing from these venues. This problem is only exacerbated when a public process stretches out over a long series of such meetings.
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Have fewer meetings with clear decision points so I know which meetings are important to come to.
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Keep sending staff out into the community to meet people where they live, work, and play, rather than requiring everybody to come to Planning Commission meetings.
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It is important for the Planning Commission to outline its vision and to trust Planning Staff to implement that vision. Giving discretion to staff to develop appropriate language is the only way to functionally make it through such a large document.
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I’m worried that the number of meetings will slow the plan down and make it harder for people to engage. There is a housing crisis and a climate crisis that demand urgent action. Inaction and delay are also policy choices.
Thanks!
350 Steering Committee
AGENDA AND HOW TO ATTEND
How to Observe and Participate in the Meeting:
Observe:
Members of the public can attend the meeting in person or observe the meeting on Zoom (see below), on Access Humboldt Channel 10, online by visiting www.cityofarcata.org and clicking on the See Live Meetings, Agendas, and Archives button on the home page, or on the City’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/CityofArcataCA
Public Comment Participation in Person and on Zoom:
Members of the public may attend the meeting in person and give public comment. Or, they may access the meeting via Zoom to provide public comment.
1. Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: Please use this URL:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/96498107422
2. If you want to comment during the public comment portion of any item, click on raise your hand on the right-hand side of your screen. When it is time for public comment on the item on which you wish to speak, the Clerk will unmute you. You will have 3 minutes to comment, subject to the Chair’s discretion.
Or join by phone:
1. *67 1-669-900-6833
2. Enter Meeting ID: 964 9810 7422
3. If you are accessing the meeting via telephone and want to comment during the public comment portion of any item, press star (*) 9 on your phone. This will raise your hand. When it is time for public comment on the item on which you wish to speak, the Clerk will unmute your phone. You will hear a prompt that will indicate your phone is unmuted. You will have 3 minutes to comment, subject to the Chair’s discretion.
CALL TO ORDER.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.
This time is provided for people to address the Commission or submit written communications on matters not on the agenda. At the conclusion of all oral and written communications, the Commission may respond to statements. Any request that requires Commission action will be set by the Commission for a future agenda or referred to staff.
CONSENT CALENDAR.
All matters on the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine by the Commission and are enacted in one motion. There is no separate discussion of any of these items. If discussion is required, that item is removed from the Consent Calendar and considered separately. At the end of the reading of the Consent Calendar, Commissioners or members of the public can request that an item be removed for separate discussion.
A. Approve Planning Commission Minutes – Regular Meeting – April 12, 2022, 6:00 p.m.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR.
Items removed from the Consent Calendar will be heard under this section.
Commissioners will provide Ex Parte communications prior to discussion of any items removed from the Consent Calendar.
4/26/2022 Planning Commission
- PUBLIC HEARINGS.
Prior to opening each public hearing, Commissioners will provide Ex Parte disclosures. Disclosures include a summary of information and sources gathered outside of the public hearing.
- BUSINESS ITEMS.
- General Plan APR
Government Code Section 65400 and 65700 mandates that all cities and counties submit an annual report on the status of the General Plan and progress in its implementation to their legislative bodies, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the Housing and Community Development (HCD) by April 1 of each year.
Adopting Resolution PC-22-02 will approve the resolution as drafted, and will forward the report to the City Council for final review and approval prior to submittal to the State Office of Planning and Research.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Planning Commission review the attached annual progress report (APR) for progress made on implementing policy and programs of the current General Plan and adopt Resolution PC-22-02, forwarding the report to the City Council.
- Gateway Area Plan Mobility
- General Plan APR
- CORRESPONDENCE/COMMUNICATIONS.
- ADJOURNMENT.