Commentary — Put Petaluma’s downtown overlay referendum on the June ballot

By ELISA WEBER and NANCY LEONI

PUBLISHED IN THE ARGUS-COURIER: February 2, 2026

‘Let the people speak’ for economic revitalization

The eight co-authors of this column are major stakeholders in the future of Petaluma. Several of our families have been in Petaluma for more than 100 years. In addition to our family roots, some of us are local newbies, and some of us are business owners. We care immensely about what happens here, especially for coming generations. We need affordable housing, transportation, economic stimulation, preservation, beautification and most of all we need the vision and the joy in our hearts to manifest the brightest future for our community.

In a recent Argus-Courier opinion piece, leaders of Petaluma Historic Advocates described the revised four-story Appellation Petaluma hotel as a “gracious offramp from the acrimonious Overlay Zoning debate.” While that framing suggests compromise, it instead marks the point at which a small but highly strategic organization successfully collapsed a citywide policy discussion about zoning flexibility into a single, emotionally charged project fight.

The larger issue now is whether Petaluma will allow this episode to limit the City Council’s future ability to adapt zoning rules to local conditions. Voters will weigh in through an upcoming ballot, but timing is critical: Placing the zoning overlay on the June primary ballot gives voters and candidates clarity on the public’s will and ensures that the November general election focuses on local leadership, not an unresolved policy conflict.

What is a zoning overlay?

An overlay is one of many tools a planning department can use to adjust or fine-tune a zoning code. Other tools are rezoning, zoning code text amendments, variances, and warrants.

Modifying a zoning code isn’t a sign of weakness but a show of willingness to adjust to changing conditions that will benefit all Petalumans.

But why are zoning changes usually only made in response to project applications (like the hotel)? Because it would be a waste of city resources, and likely unproductive, to have staff trying to anticipate the need for zoning changes. Instead, its applicants identify where changes might be necessary. By submitting an application with a proposed text amendment or variance, the applicant is effectively saying, “I like your community. I think it’s a good place to do business. I can offer a project that should work well for both of us. But your zoning code doesn’t allow it. Here are the changes I suggest.”

Of course, communities needn’t immediately accede to the suggested changes. Instead, the application should trigger an informed, rational community conversation about whether the changes are truly needed and whether facilitating the project will make a better community. With regards to the zoning overlay and the hotel, this is the process that happened. The outcomes of the process are public record for anyone to find and read. Many hours and dollars were spent, environmental reports completed, a lawsuit defended, council meetings held, and, in the end, the City Council we elected approved the zoning overlay. We stand firmly behind that decision.

Upcoming ballot measure

We support our City Council and we urge them to put the referendum on the June ballot. Then and only then will we find out what the community of Petaluma really wants to do, what kind of city they want Petaluma to become. Stagnate and crumble with vacancies or evolve, thrive and grow thoughtfully.

Over 6,000 people signed a petition to put the zoning overlay approved by the City Council on a ballot, so let’s do it. Let the people speak. It doesn’t matter if the hotel is four stories. We love the hotel no matter how tall it is. It will help Petaluma in unimaginable ways.

We need this overlay to help usher in good, desperately needed economic revitalization in our community and fill in our vacant lots with denser, taller buildings. We need to have faith in our elected officials and not slander and undermine their ability to be productive in their service to our town.

We believe that Petaluma has infinite potential. Have faith in tomorrow.

Elisa Weber and Nancy Leoni are co-founders of Renaissance Petaluma. Robindira Unsworth, Elizabeth Howland, Willie McDevitt, Alicia Hansel, Richard Marzo and David Yunker are also co-authors of this column.