Boyes Food Center plan now takingpublic comment

The proposed remodel of the Springs-area market to townhouses, affordable housing and retail space is open for comment till month’s end.|

The proposed remodel of the Boyes Food Center at the corner of Highway 12 and Calle del Monte will next move into the public comment stage following the preparation of a report on the project’s environmental impacts, according to the county’s permit department, Permit Sonoma.

The mixed-use Boyes Food Center project was announced in 2018, involving the corner market building and several other structures on 1.26 acres in the 18000 block of Sonoma Highway. The project would increase the total number of housing units from 12 to 37 and increase the amount of commercial space on the site from 3,000 to 7,000 square feet.

The project would include eight new townhomes distributed between two new buildings and 29 rental units distributed between the existing Boyes Food Center building and a new mixed-use building.

When KS Mattson LLC proposed the project in 2018, company spokespersons said none of the current tenants would be displaced, but temporarily relocated while construction was underway, then given first choice of the new rentals including the affordable-housing units.

The market remodel was one of several high-profile projects launched by Ken and Stacy Mattson in 2016, shortly after their arrival in Sonoma. Others include a “container project” at 18010 and 18020 Bonita Way at the former Lanning Structures. Despite county approval, that project has stalled, and former anchor tenant, a proposed restaurant called “Noodle Springs,” withdrew from it in 2019.

The announcement of public comment concerned some Springs neighbors because of the fear that projects-in-process might be overlooked during the coronavirus shelter in place.

“I am primarily concerned with the public process and that the county doesn’t slide things through under the radar during coronavirus SIP which they are definitely doing,” said Teri Shore of the Greenbelt Alliance, referring to the shelter-in-place health order.

The initial environmental review was prepared by Permit Sonoma in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act guidelines. The document identifies several potential environmental impacts which, according to Permit Sonoma, can all be mitigated to a less-than-significant level. The study and related documents are available at sonomacounty.ca.gov/PRMD/Regulations/Housing/Projects/Boyes-Springs-Food-Center/

The 30-day public review period on the study runs from April 29 to May 29. To submit comments, contact Project Planner Doug Bush at Doug.Bush@sonoma-county.org, or 565-5276.

Following the close of the public review period, the Sonoma County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of the environmental report. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.

Contact Christian at christian.kallen@sonomanews.com.

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