Next Chapter for the SE Greenway

Source: City of Santa Rosa, Final Preferred Land Use and Circulation Alternative Illustrative

On July 9, 2019, the Santa Rosa City Council adopted the General Plan Amendment, Environmental Impact Report and Rezoning Plan for the 57-acre SE Greenway property, dedicating 47 acres to open space and parkland and 10 acres to housing. Caltrans would like to sell the property to the City of Santa Rosa, and so our Greenway Partners – Sonoma Land Trust, City of Santa Rosa, and Sonoma Water – have formed an Acquisition Team to work with Caltrans to prepare for a sale of the property sometime in 2020.

Like any land purchase, the first step is to agree on a price. What makes the SE Greenway complicated is that there are two very different values: what is the land zoned for housing worth on the market, and how much should the Greenway Partners pay for the portion that will become parkland?

The first step is to create an appraisal map. What’s an appraisal map? Members of our Acquisition Team describe it this way: “The Hwy 12 right of way was obtained by Caltrans over many years, and there are over 50 separate parcels of land that make up the SE Greenway. The appraisal map will consist of a depiction of these parcels, configured into tracts of land that represent the zoning designations adopted by the City under the General Plan. The appraisers we hire will use the map to determine which tracts of land should be valued for housing, and which should be valued for parkland/greenway. Additionally, the map will draw boundaries between the uses and show existing easements and encumbrances that may affect the property’s value.”

The Acquisition Team is in the process of obtaining information from Caltrans so that they can begin to compile legal descriptions of each parcel, and hire appraisers approved by Caltrans. We will keep you posted as the Acquisitions Team moves forward.

Autumn Guided Greenway Walks

Wednesday, September 18
5:15–7:15 pm
Saturday, October 12
9:00–11:00 am

Enjoy wide swaths of open space that provide great views of Taylor and Bennett Mountains. We will stop to view important features of the natural and built environment on this 3-mile walk along the edges of the Greenway. Learn more about the property’s approved uses based on the City’s Land Use Plan.

• Meet walk leaders in the Montgomery High School parking lot near the tennis courts.

• Register at info@SoutheastGreenway.org or call us at (707) 703-1922.

• Include your name, email address and the best phone number to reach you at.