'Uncle Patty's' pizzeria gets commission approval

Despite a half-baked presentation, applicant Karen Waikiki's high approval went a long way toward gaining acceptance of the planned Boyes pizzeria.|

The Boyes Hot Springs community and Sonoma Valley Citizen's Advisory Commission seemed positively disposed toward plans for a Neopolitan-style pizzeria to replace the defunct and decrepit Uncle Patty's on Boyes Boulevard, but the Wednesday evening commission hearing got off on the wrong foot when someone mentioned 'parking.'

Karen Waikiki purchased the property several years ago, and her son (and presumptive chef) Joe Waikiki was at the hearing, as were architects, advisors and friends. 'She bought the building, maybe eight years ago,' said the younger Waikiki, 'and she had the wild idea to turn it into a pizzeria.'

The mother-son duo headed off to Naples, Italy, to learn the fine points of flatbread, and returned with ideas to revitalize the long-gone bar and grill with a teardown, rebuild and redirection toward a more community-oriented, upscale establishment.

Presenting the primary agenda item at the June 22 hearing of the Commission, whose purpose is to provide a public forum to deliberate planning decisions impacting both the City of Sonoma and the unincorporated areas of the Sonoma Valley, architect Adrian Martinez acknowledged that the limited parking at the site could be a challenge.

'What would you do about overflow parking?' asked commissioner Margaret Spaulding.

'We haven't figured that out yet,' said Martinez. Another commissioner, Sonoma City Council member Rachel Hundley, speculated whether their customers would arrive by car, foot or Uber – and, again, project developers had no data.

Commissioner Jack Ding noted that in restaurant permitting, one car was allocated for every four seats, and did the quick math to figure out that with a capacity of 75 proposed for the restaurant, 19 parking spaces would be needed. The submitted plans for the pizzeria included only nine.

Finally 'commissioner emeritus' Mark Bramfitt pointed out the entire question was moot, as they were seeking to rebuild on an existing site with an existing use permit. As there was no on-site parking at the old Uncle Patty's, a new restaurant on the same location technically didn't need any parking spaces at all. Therefore, nine would be a huge improvement.

The news was greeted with apparent relief from presenters, commissioners and citizens alike. There followed a small caravan of Springs neighbors who expressed enthusiasm for the idea of a Waikiki-run pizzeria in town, vowed they would bike or walk to get there, and testified it 'it would be a wonderful addition to the Springs.'

Commissioner Angela White's own statement on the issue ended commissioner comment, when she said, 'I love this idea, and I hope it would be one of those places that people get out of their cars to visit.'

The high regard in which applicant Karen Waikiki's El Molino Central was held went a long way toward easing acceptance of the new Waikiki pizzeria (whose final name has yet to be decided), and the final vote was 8-0 approval.

Teri Shore of the Greenbelt Alliance suggested the presentation team go to an upcoming Springs Community meeting to share its plans and build enthusiasm for the project, in case any more were needed. Too, it might provide another opportunity to work through their dog-and-pizza show, in case another county commission were to prove less positively predisposed.

Contact Christian at christian.kallen@sonomanews.com

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