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Dear Arcata Planning Commission,
I wanted to express my support for the process proposed by Vice Chair Davies and Director Loya and encourage you to adopt this approach as a Commission. I believe this approach will be key to meeting the City Council’s deadline of June for finalizing a draft of the Gateway Plan, Gateway form‐based code, and General Plan updates. It will also help encourage public trust and participation. Over the summer, I attended numerous Planning Commission meetings to express my enthusiastic support for the Gateway Area Plan. But each meeting I attended resulted in analysis paralysis. The Commission was not able to move decisions forward. Confused and frustrated by the process, I stopped attending meetings. I am hopeful that the June 2023 deadline and the proposed meeting protocols will help provide more clarity, transparency, and momentum for the process.

I would also like to restate my support for the Gateway Area Plan. As an Arcata resident who has struggled to find
quality and affordable rental housing in the city, I believe the Gateway area plan will help open important new
opportunities for housing by creating thoughtful density that benefits the community and the environment.
And, as someone who has worked professionally in housing and planning policy, I am impressed with the comprehensive
and creative approach of this plan. It will help our community thoughtfully and proactively accommodate the growth
this region is experiencing through strategic infill rather than sprawl that robs us of our beautiful wild and cultivated
lands. I am particularly impressed by the commitment to centering equity; to creating a walkable and bike‐able area that
prioritizes people over cars; and creating new opportunities for local businesses and housing that includes community
assets for all new development.
As a small community, this plan will be critical to ensuring that we manage the current and coming changes in
population in a way that aligns with our values and ensures the greatest benefit for our community.
Thank you,
Lulu Mickelson
Arcata renter