photo credit: Courtesy, City of Petaluma
Conceptual drawing of the Oyster Cove development looking southeast from D Street.

Petaluma officials tonight will weigh a tough choice.

Developers of the planned 132 unit Oyster Cove subdivision near downtown and Steamer Landing Park are seeking permission to start construction, shortly.

That's even though final approvals are not yet in.

Brookfield Properties, in a letter to the city a month ago, warned that unless they can begin grading the site now, they'll cancel the entire project. The company says any delay will ruin financing of the project.

Brookfield says it will pile a deep layer of new soil on top of the site. And that needs a year to settle and compact before the 21-building complex can begin construction in earnest next spring.

The city is considering the request, but may add a requirement that Brookfield undo any grading work if the project falls though.