Paula Lane Action Network

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world. "
- John Muir

One of numerous American Badger dens in the Paula Lane grasslands (2007).

P.L.A.N. is a nonprofit organization, dedicated to preservation of rural land and open space, wildlife habitat and historic resources.

We began as a community-based, grassroots neighborhood group in 2001. We organized to express concerns about a proposed residential development in our rural area of West Petaluma, Sonoma County. The proposal? Increase density by 400% over that allowed in the Petaluma General Plan and annex the land to the city for city services - streetlights, widened urban streets, sewer service, and water. This would create an island of urban life in the middle of an historic agricultural neighborhood on the outer fringe of the city's west side.

Over time, after much documentation, several public hearings, and many years, the developer and property owner did not renew their option contract agreement, and the development company removed itself from the process. During this same time period, from 2001 to 2005, our neighborhood group formalized our organization, which we named "Paula Lane Action Network" or "P.L.A.N."

Our initial number of 18 neighbors grew to about 70 households, the organizational structure of a 3-member Board of Directors, Fundraising Committee, and Advisory Committee, with all-volunteer supporters. We were fortunate to be fiscally sponsored by the Bodega Land Trust as we applied for and awaited our 501(c)3 nonprofit public benefit designation. We received our designation in 2004.

Today, we continue to receive active support from the greater Petaluma community, as well as many in Sonoma County and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Deer herd on Paula Lane, foraging in early morning.

Beginning in 2002, while continuing to oppose the development proposal for the "Paula Lane property", we began to seek ways to preserve this special land on Paula Lane, an alternative potential buyer for this purpose, and to document the abundance and variety of natural resources there. Our current focus is preservation through an innovative open space project and partnership among the property owners, the City of Petaluma and our nonprofit P.L.A.N., and the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. Project components include habitat preservation, public amenities, affordable rental housing, and educational programs in organic gardening and habitat restoration. To learn more this potential project, please visit Paula Lane.

We believe involvement in issues of interest to our community - land use, General Plans for Petaluma and the County, appreciation of natural resources, and volunteering with other community groups and nonprofits - sustains us by building healthy relationships that connect people with the land and each other.

We also believe nurturing the educational experience in Nature for youth and adults is integral to a healthy, sustainable society. Education in cultivating a garden, eating healthfully, sharing garden abundance with others, respecting boundaries of protected wildlife habitat, and helping wildlife benefit from restoration of habitat areas provides for whole and lasting life experiences.

Guided and structured activities and projects allow students to work in natural settings, set goals, solve challenges, adapt, and contribute to their individual growth and their community. Such experiences give Education deep meaning and help to mold responsive and creative humans.

Preserving areas where there are inter-relationships - history, open space, critical habitat, grasslands and trees - creates a setting where multifaceted health-producing life experiences can occur. While our youth may focus on cultivating a garden and restoring habitat, adults or families out for an evening walk may hear sounds of nocturnal wildlife emanating from the backdrop of a quiet, dark night. The Great Horned Owl hoots rhythmically on Paula Lane and the visitor's barely audible sound of footsteps along the lane combine into the simple joy of solitude, respite from urban life, and clearing one's mind from the daily stresses of life. Visitors to Paula Lane at dusk are given the gift of the beautiful sunset on Paula Lane at Sunset Drive. Arriving to watch the sunset by walking or bicycling, the mural in the western sky is almost always different and consistently beautiful.

Such interactive experiences of life with Nature and Community character, we believe, contribute to our sense of well being and ability to give to others.

These are experiences money cannot buy. Of course, fundraising is an integral part of our own sustainability process, so we invite you to visit How to Help and discover how you can contribute to our Vision!

We thank you for visiting our web site and hope you'll find information that will be helpful for you. If you have questions, suggestions, or ideas, we welcome your input.