In a misguided attempt to increase business at the dying Santa Rosa Plaza shopping center, the City of Santa Rosa’s Zoning Administrator has approved the replacement of the mall’s pedestrian plaza with parking spaces. Four spaces will designated for disabled parking, and six spaces are for the convenience of Door Dash drivers picking up deliveries from a new P.F. Chang’s restaurant.
The approval is under appeal by the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition with the support of Santa Rosa YIMBY, Bikeable Santa Rosa, and North Bay Transit Riders.
“Santa Rosa has been moving toward a downtown that is more bike and pedestrian friendly,” said Eris Weaver, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition. “Why do they need more parking? It feels like they’re trying to sneak something by the public.’’ The appellants assert that the change will reduce safe passage options for cyclists, adding two conflict points as drivers enter and exit the parking lot and focus on westbound traffic, making cyclists even more vulnerable to increased traffic and reducing pedestrian safety, especially for those using wheelchairs and other mobility devices…