COME - PARTICIPATE - LEARN - ASK QUESTIONS - SHARE YOUR VIEWS **** A meeting with businesses, owners, workers, and all residents in the Creamery District Combining Zone on Tuesday, May 16th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will also be a meeting of the Planning Commission on Tuesday, May 23rd, starting at 5:30 p.m. to "discuss this topic." *** Includes maps and the letter sent out by the City.

Here is a list of the approximately 75 businesses located in the Creamery area. With maps and links to other articles on the Creamery and the L Street Corridor Linear Park.

At their April 27, 2023, meeting, the Planning Commission brought up rezoning on two specific areas in Arcata. This discussion and survey of each of the Commissioner's positions went on for about 38 minutes. Unfortunately, this topic was not listed as an agenda item for that meeting. To have this discussion was a violation of California's Brown Act "sunshine" law. What's worse, the Commissioners had specifically requested that this be on the agenda for that evening, and Community Development Director David Loya had not done put it there, even after being told on at least three occasions.

There are two articles on the rezoning of specific areas: The 17th & Q and Eye Street / Craftsman's Mall. *** There does not seem to be any accessible collection of MSDS information available to the public. What Commissioner Lehman speaks to is not what is "required by law" as Director Loya has mischaracterized. *** The need for a City park to be located in the heart of the Gateway Area. We may have, in 20 years, potentially 1,000 or 2,000 additional people in this area.

We received your public notice of March 2023, inviting community comment on the City's proposed General Plan Update. The business operated at this address since 1982 provides private outdoor hot tubs. The "continued current use of our site" absolutely requires privacy from neighbors peering over the fences of our property. We will not hesitate to take legal action against the City of Arcata if the proposed General Plan Update infringes on our longstanding way of operating this business.

“Revise circulation plan to eliminate L Street as being considered for new streets and car traffic. This area is recommended to become a car-free linear park that prioritizes people.”  ***** There have been questions raised whether this draft accurately or adequately reflects our recommendation regarding L St being designated a linear park.

How to contact Arcata's City Councilmembers & Planning Commissioners, and how to attend a City Council or Planning Commission meeting -- in person, via YouTube, via Zoom, or on the phone.

This story from reporter Austin Castro appeared on Channel 7 KRCR (ABC Eureka-Redding) TV news, on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The Arcata Planning Commission meeting that is referred to in the news story took place on April 11, 2023. With links to further articles on Arcata1.com and how to sign the Petition for the L Street Linear Park.

As just about everyone knows, just by saying something is true -- that does not make it true. And just by calling something by a certain name -- that does not make it be what you call it. *** So how is it that "Regular Meetings" became "Special Meetings" -- just by calling them that?

After our February meeting, I took an opportunity to briefly review the second draft of the Gateway Plan. There have been questions raised whether this draft accurately or adequately reflects our recommendation regarding L St being designated a linear park. --- Further, upon review of the second draft of the Gateway Plan, I find no mention whatsoever of this recommendation. --- This important topic being relegated to a “conflict” and in an attachment nevertheless, diminishes the work put in by this committee.

Please accept these comments related to updating the General Plan Circulation Element. I offer these comments in consideration of the adopted objectives and policies of HCAOG’s Regional Transportation Plan, Variety in Rural Options of Mobility (VROOM) 2022-2024. HCAOG staff appreciate and support the draft/suggested changes that serve to most effectively increase safety, most broadly increase accessibility for users–especially the most vulnerable users, increase equity in transportation investments and resources, decrease transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, and improve health outcomes. As more and more research supports, transportation policies that engender these benefits simultaneously augment the social, economic, and recreational qualities of neighborhoods.

In recent years, windowless bedrooms have become somewhat normalized on college campuses. Students at the University of Texas, Austin and the University of Michigan are currently renting dorm bedrooms without windows. Sunlight in your bedroom could become a luxury as cities debate allowing landlords to rent windowless rooms in former office buildings to alleviate the housing crisis.

Course Materials. Form-Based Code Study Session with the Arcata Planning Commission and Ben Noble. February 11, 2023.

Modular housing could be an answer to state housing crisis. A collection of articles from other sources, and lots of photos. Modules can be assembled into apartment buildings 40% more quickly and 20% cheaper than traditional construction. ------- From factories in Vallejo, Sacramento, Klamath Falls OR, Idaho, Canada, and China.

The construction of a new dormitory at the site of the old Craftsman's Mall is of great concern to the Arcata Fire District. In summary, the proposed dorms will be two seven story buildings, and the Arcata Fire District has stated that they cannot provide adequate fire protection these structures.

Over the course of three meetings -- October 11, October 25, and November 8, 2022 -- the Planning Commission and City Staff created a list of what are called "Gateway Concerns / Solution Set." One glaring problem with that title: There are lots of concerns shown here, but no solutions.

At the November 8th, 2022, Planning Commission meeting, David Loya acted as though he was familiar with the 2010 City study that proposes what amounts to a linear park on the L Street Corridor. But from his speaking, it was clear he did not know what that study contains. A suggestion to him: Come to the Arcata1.com website and learn.

I'm very much in support of the Gateway Plan, and my input is to be sure that the sound between apartments is not passing through into, below, or above the adjacent apartments. If you want residents to be happy with where they live, they need to not hear their neighbors coughing, snoring, or other noises.

Some thoughts regarding the current Arcata concerns, that include Cal Poly Humboldt and Gateway, specifically. Perhaps there may be something within this offered tome, of merit upon review.

A decision on "building height" does not exist as a stand-alone figure. Among the critical factors that accompany this decision: -- Setback from the street -- Upper-story stepbacks -- Proximity to other taller buildings -- Relationship with neighboring single-family residences -- Solar Shadowing -- The "canyon" effect for pedestrians and bicyclists, particularly in Winter months -- Massing and design.

It’s a question of priorities. What do we want to see in Arcata? Do we make our roads better for cars, or do we make the Gateway area better for people? Yes, it is that simple.

Excerpt from a letter from Fred Weis to the Arcata City Council.  August 16th, 2022 -- prior to the joint CC/Planning Commission study session on August 23rd, 2022 -- ONE YEAR AGO. At that meeting very little was accomplished. The Transportation Safety Committee was asked to revisit their firm recommendation to ELIMINATE the couplet.

A special page for readers of the Mad River Union and the Northcoast Journal -- and a great place for all readers to learn more about the Gateway Plan. This page will be changed and updated regularly. Come back for more!

Sea Level Rise expert Aldaron Laird, Danco president Chris Dart, and the Arcata Fire District Board of Directors, Chief, and Staff all agree -- for three different reasons. ---------- “Gulliver’s Travels” map from 1726 depicts Arcata and the Brobdingnagian Gateway Plan. ---- The Gateway Plan was anticipated in 1943 as: “The can-do spirit of the times that led people to devise a number of illogical schemes that would purportedly solve social and economic ills.”