Hummingbird Cottages marked with graffiti stating ‘Go Home Ken Matson’

“Go home Ken Matson” (sic) graffiti appeared last week on tree stumps at a Fifth Street West site under construction by a Concord-based developer.

De Nova Homes – not developer Ken Mattson or his partners – are building nine single-family residences and three duplexes to replace a dilapidated home that was torn down in January on the 1.5-acre property at 19910 Fifth St. W.

De Novo Homes could not be reached for comment on the misspelled graffiti.

Mattson and his business partner Tim Lefever have come under scrutiny after buying more than 80 Sonoma Valley properties in the past seven years, many of which sit empty and untouched.

De Novo’s Fifth Street West project, known as Hummingbird Cottages, received push back from the Sonoma Planning Commission in May, which initially denied the application citing concerns about density in the residential neighborhood.

Neighbors also rejected De Novo’s project during the planning commission’s review, with objections that the two-story design is inconsistent with the surrounding neighborhood.

“The adjacent buildings are one story,” said neighbor Pete Poser during the May meeting.

However, Sonoma Planning Director David Storer said the project was consistent with the city’s General Plan, which supports in-fill housing developments.

“In our zoning code, the developer has the ability to build two-story, single-family homes, with a maximum height of 30 feet,” said Storer. “It’s by right, they can do that.”

On June 2, the commission voted 5-1 to approve the project with Commissioner Larry Barnett opposed and Commissioner Bill Willers absent from the proceedings.

“I don’t think it’s the best project, but given the state of the law they’re entitled to approval of this project,” Planning Commissioner Steve Barbose said at the time. “They’re within their rights to build what they’re building.”

Of the 15 housing units, 12 will be sold at market rate, with three to be offered below-market rate. The size of duplex units will range from 1,379- to 1,618-square-feet and the size of detached homes will be between 1,757- to 1,918-square-feet. It is unclear when the project will be complete.

Contact Chase Hunter at chase.hunter@sonomanews.com and follow @Chase_HunterB on Twitter.