Valley Forum: Protect the UGB

I am a volunteer with the campaign committee “Citizens to Renew City of Sonoma’s Urban Growth Boundary.” The committee was recently formed by Sonoma city residents and business owners, and registered with the state Fair Political Practices Commission as a not-for-profit social-welfare organization. In order to protect our city’s natural environment, we are advocating for renewal of the City of Sonoma’s existing Urban Growth Boundary with a vote of the people before it expires in December 2020.

Urban growth boundaries are just what the name implies: Boundaries around a town or city which limit housing, commercial and other types of urbanized development beyond them. Sonoma’s urban growth boundary largely extends to its city limits, but edges beyond in certain areas into county lands which are considered to fall under the City of Sonoma’s “sphere of influence.”

Urban growth boundaries are common in California; all cities in Sonoma County have a UGB in their city planning codes. In all other Sonoma County cities, existing UGBs were renewed without changes for 20 years or more through ballot measures placed by each City Council and approved by a large majority of voters. Additionally, Sonoma County “community separators” – protected open spaces which act as buffers between developed communities – were tripled in size and renewed by 81 percent of county voters in 2016.

While maintaining the existing boundary, we request that you increase the duration from 20 years to 30 years. Firstly, it allows the city to be more flexible and gives more time to review and renew the UGB in the future. Secondly, it prevents the UGB from expiring when the General Plan fails to update timely. Thirdly, it lets the city to focus on comprehensive and wise use of existing city lands. Fourthly, it saves the city’s resources by renewing the UGB and avoiding costly infrastructure.

We are grateful to live and work here in Sonoma. Although it is small, the strength of our community is tremendous and unmatched. We must continue to honor and cultivate the Sonoma’s legacy to ensure that, when we pass on our city to the next generation, it will be even more beautiful, healthy and strong, both structurally and economically.

Since we set up the campaign committee, we have received a lot of support, encouragement and donations for UGB renewal. It is the reason that we urge the City of Sonoma to develop and pass a ballot measure to renew its existing Urban Growth Boundary for the next 30 years.

Jack Ding is a Sonoma resident and treasurer for the Citizens to Renew City of Sonoma’s Urban Growth Boundary.