SPECIAL SECTION | ROHNERT PARK
to help Rohnert Park remain a city where housing is not out of reach—affordable housing should continue to be built,” says Ahmed. “Jeff Keating, associate vice president of government relations and strategic communications at SSU, goes to most city council meetings. He’s there to hear what occurs and answer questions about SSU as needed.” SSU further aids Rohnert Park by meeting the housing needs for its students. It stands out as being a university that has sufficient on-campus housing to house the undergraduate and graduate student populations that may come to the campus from outside the area. “This is partly due to the number of students who already live in Sonoma County or the North Bay and commute to SSU,” says Ahmed. SSU recently opened up on-campus housing to faculty, staff and non-traditional students, like students with families. This step has helped ease the housing demand in areas close to the university, in Rohnert Park, Cotati and Penngrove. The business community is supportive of Rohnert Park’s achievements in residential development. “One concern is whether residential development will impact traffic in town. So far, there’s been no serious concerns,” says Lisa Orloff, CEO of the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce. Small businesses around the city are most excited about the development of downtown. The completion of this area has the potential to lift the profits of hotels and restaurants. One of the final pieces of the puzzle is the construction of new parks. The idea is for the city to have enough parks and recreational
activities to meet residents’ needs. Rohnert Park’s 2000 plan makes this possible because certain areas slated for residential development have predetermined set- asides for parks. “This means we don’t have to plan parks on the fly. There are several steps taken when looking at the space for a new park, including communicating with the city council and residents. Together, we take into consideration what amenities new and Yoga instructor Laurie Phillips, second from left in navy tank top, leads an outdoor yoga class at a park in Rohnert Park. [Photo courtesy Community Services Department, City of Rohnert Park]
November 2024
NorthBaybiz 75
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