Roseland Review by Duane Dewitt - June 2020

It has been a beautiful spring this year with greenery bursting out all over in Roseland. Plus the air has been as clean and crisp as ever in the last 30-40 years. Now the “Shelter in place” restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic are being lifted, the crush of traffic is back onto Sebastopol Rd., as well as Hearn Ave., so air pollution has risen again in Roseland. During the two months of “Shelter in place” in Roseland it was a noticeably quieter time. Except for the drivers with exhaust amplification systems on cars and motorcycles “winding out” their engines at all hours of the night and day. Many young folks were getting restless while there were more and more people of all ages out walking dogs.

The Taco trucks were doing a booming business without worrying about the “social distancing”guidelines the local governments were calling for in both Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. It has been 15 years ago since the city of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County officials tried to deal with the Taco trucks for fairness to existing businesses. There were endless rule breakers who then were selling all kinds of food and things in the area without licenses or permits. This was, and still is, a problem for local business people who obey the rules. Especially those who have buildings, the “bricks and mortar” type of businesses which have competitive disadvantages because they play by the rules.

These disadvantages are growing because the officials, and the Santa Rosa police, appear to no longer be interested in enforcing any rules in Roseland. It appears there is no traffic law enforcement, and no parking tickets being given out anymore, so to many residents it appears now is “anything goes” time. But on Wednesday, May 22, 2020 at 5:30 a.m. there were a whole bunch of police on Westwood Dr., including police officers from as far away as Sonoma.”

The Press Democrat reported the Sonoma County, “

Enjoy the weather be well and stay safe while you can. Burbank Ave. has become a speedway for cars so be careful if walking in the area south of Roseland Creek. Local residents are concerned about another Burbank Ave. subdivision at 1400 Burbank Ave. 136 homes are up for discussion at an appeal hearing before the Santa Rosa Design Review Board. There are no public allowed at the meeting on Thurs. June 4, 2020 at 4:30 pm. Readers can comment online athttps://www.srcity.org/design review

Read My Article in this issue specifically about the subdivision at 1400 Burbank Ave.