A landmark environmental policy is under fire in Santa Rosa as city leaders weigh economic interests against climate goals.
According to the Press Democrat, the City Council is deadlocked over whether to relax its 2022 ban on new gas stations. The debate is driven in part by Costco, which is seeking to relocate and expand its Santa Rosa Avenue fueling station to a nearby site. While current rules prohibit the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, supporters of a change—including Mayor Mark Stapp—argue the city should re-evaluate if the ban is still serving residents amid a shifting electric vehicle market.
However, a vocal minority on the council called the potential rollbacks “disingenuous.” Council member Victoria Fleming and environmental advocates warn that weakening the ordinance would break a promise to the community and undermine the city’s climate emergency declaration.
For now, the council has held off on any amendments, requesting more information before a future meeting. If the rules remain unchanged, developers say it could be a year or more before any major commercial fueling projects can move forward.
