Paul’s Resort projects move forward

The use permit for a 120-room hotel and 72-unit affordable housing project at the former Paul’s Resort site across from Maxwell Park gained unanimous approval from the Sonoma County Planning Commission on July 15. The project site is located just west of Highway 12 at 135, 155 and 175 W. Verano Ave.

The applicant, the Springs Investors Group, is a limited partnership led by local hotelier Norman Krug, 83.

The “100% affordable” rental apartments, to be called Verano Family Housing, are expected to house 170 residents. The 72 housing units will compose six 3-story apartment buildings: 32 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom, 18 three-bedroom units, along with a dedicated parking lot with 97 spaces.

The three-story hotel would be 92,411 square feet and include a swimming pool, gym, meeting rooms, roof deck and 138 parking spaces.

First District Commissioner Greg Carr motioned to recommend approval of the project to the Board of Supervisors with modified conditions as suggested by staff, including eliminating the roof garden, adding a solid fence along the neighboring residential parcel, that the applicant explore EVA opportunities with FAHA and upgrades to the crosswalk across Verano Avenue to Maxwell Park. The project was seconded by 5th District Commissioner Eric Koenigshofer and approved on July 15 with a 4-0-1-0 vote.

Krug and his investment group committed to purchase the 5.9-acre parcel in 2018 from Sonoma Valley Health and Recreation Association, also known as Sonoma Splash, a nonprofit recreation group which had struggled to find a developer for a planned community swimming pool complex. They have since allied with the school district to co-develop a pool complex on the campus of Sonoma Valley High School.

If the project receives approval from the county to proceed, a yet-to-be-determined affordable housing developer would purchase the project land from Krug. The two projects will be constructed and operated independently from that point forward, according to the application. The affordable housing project must break ground before the hotel can be built, according to Permit Sonoma staff.

The Board of Supervisors will consider granting final approval in September.