County eyes 9 Sonoma Valley sites for potential housing projects

Lots north of Verano, south of Watmaugh and in Glen Ellen identified for possible rezoning.|

Sonoma County has identified nine potential Sonoma Valley sites for future housing projects, three in the Springs, four just south of downtown Sonoma and two in Glen Ellen.

The Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission will hear a presentation by a representative from the Sonoma County planning department on these sites at its next meeting, set for Wednesday, Dec. 2.

The sites include two lots north of Verano and Maple avenues and east of Riverside Avenue in the Springs; one site south of Craig Avenue and east of Railroad Avenue; four adjacent lots on lower Broadway, just south of Broadway Market; and two adjacent lots in Glen Ellen, on the east side of Arnold Road, just south of Warm Springs Road.

In late 2018, the county asked for the public’s help in identifying potential future medium density housing sites, and over 100 sites were nominated. County staff evaluated all nominated sites to determine if they met the basic eligibility criteria. In March 2020, Permit Sonoma announced its intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to analyze 59 sites across the county proposed for possible rezoning to allow for the development of housing. The EIR looks specifically at the potential environmental impacts of development on these sites and will provide solutions to mitigate those impacts.

In a letter to the Index-Tribune last week, Sonoma Valley resident Paul Rockett expressed concern with the fact that the SVCAC had limited to review a complex supporting package for the proposed rezoning, “without any further input from wildfire experts, traffic experts, Board of Forestry and Fire Protection or housing advocates.”

Rockett, a resident of the Donald Street neighborhood, north of Verano Avenue, said that he is particularly concerned about evacuation routes.

“We can no longer close our eyes to the threats posed by wildfires and evacuations of neighborhoods,” he wrote. “The State of California is giving counties mixed signals. First, build thousands of affordable houses and, second, implement increased defensive fire standards in planning. Yet to date, Sonoma County is giving carte blanche to developers and pretending that the wildfires of a changed climate are well in the future.”

The sites identified by the county are in designated Urban Service Areas, near cities or unincorporated communities that have access to water and sewer service.

According to the county, the purpose of the EIR process will further refine the sites to be proposed for rezoning.

Potential zoning designations include both Medium Density Residential (R2), which would allow a range of housing types including single-family homes, cottage housing developments, and multifamily housing; and Workforce Housing Combining Zone (WH) which allows for businesses, housing, or both to be developed on commercial and industrial land

According to Sonoma County Planner Nina Bellucci, not all Sonoma County sites analyzed will be recommended for rezoning, and the Planning Commission will still review the project and make its own recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.

Fact Sheet - Rezoning Sites for Housing.pdf

A list of the sites being analyzed in the Environmental Impact Report is available in the Notice of Preparation for the project, available for download under "Resources and Documents" at sonomacounty.ca.gov.

County planning documents describe the project as part of “ongoing work to increase housing opportunities in urban areas, and to comply with state law requiring all cities and counties to adequately plan for housing at all income levels.”

The SVCAC meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 will take place remotely via Zoom. The agenda and link to participate is available at sonomacity.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/39573.

SVCAC agenda 12.2.20.pdf

In the meantime, the community is invited to provide comments on potential rezone sites using the comment feature for the site on an interactive map at tinyurl.com/y6fqre8o. You can search for a location using the map or click a site in the list to the right to view information.Commenting will be available when the public comment period opens.

Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.

Also on the agenda

The SVCAC will also consider plans for a 92-unit senior affordable housing complex on Siesta Way at its Dec. 2 meeting.

The proposal would require the closure of a small trailer court occupied by 23 people, who would be relocated at developer Milestone Housing’s expense.

The 2.29-acre housing complex, known as Siesta Senior Apartments will be accessed via a driveway on Siesta Way and take up much of the block between Siesta and East Thompson streets, behind the businesses on Sonoma Highway.

In addition, the SVCAC will appoint sub-committee of its members to further discuss winery events.

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