Tonight @ Vintage House - Your Opinion re: the local State Historic Park

If you are in or around Sonoma tonight I encourage you to come to the Vintage House 7-9 pm ( 264 1st St E) and tell our local State Historic Park what their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats are. This information will be used to improve services. Your opinion matters!

no appeal - yet

Here is an email forwarded to me.

Subject: Update on Mission Square Appeal

Hello,

Rob Gjestland and I just finished meeting with the Bill Willers and the legal counsel for the applicants of the Mission Square project. They are considering whether to fund some additional work on the EIR in response to the comments that were raised and have asked that the appeal by stayed.

This means that the appeal will not be heard on September 1st. If they do ultimately decide to commission changes to the EIR, then the appeal would be withdrawn. As soon as a decision has been made in this regard, we will let you know.

Thanks,
David Goodison

Developer appealing Planning Commission decision

"You know, I travel a lot, and I really enjoy visiting the towns and cities that have preserved and cultivated their cultural history."

What would that look like for Sonoma?

I'm told by someone in the Sonoma City Planning Department that the developer has hired an attorney and will be appealing the Planning Commission's refusal to "certify" the EIR.

I haven't been told by people in the city, yet, when it will be on the City Council's agenda but someone else said September 1.

Now what?

It has been demonstrated that there is no organization that is going to step up and say "We don't like this plan and we want something else like ____." It's a small town, tomorrow you're going to need the person you piss off today.

All of this hot air about the EIR is perhaps... delay tactics. We're going to get up and do this all over again when the developer applies for a Use Permit (after the EIR is certified.)

- What is it that the community doesn’t like?
- Any development on that lot?
- Or that particular plan using simplified architectural elements and repetition?
- Apartments in the heart of the historic area?
- What does the community want?

- Is the community still infuriated with the Mixed Use zone “Mission Cubed” plan?
- They don’t like or trust the family?
- They have a tremendous love of the historic significance of Sonoma and THAT area in particular?

What do we WANT to see in that lot - that's what we should be talking about.

Is it still a viable option for the city to trade this lot for one of their city-owned lots? I'll ask.

EIR was not "certified" - what next?

The Planning Commission in a 4-3 vote did not "certify" the Environmental Impact Report as "complete." This in effect delays this project. They could have "certified" the EIR and that would have given the developer a green light.

I think what happened last night was a good thing although I always try to think through the unintended consequences.

The developer will have to address the Cultural Resource and other issues raised last night in the next EIR and go through this Planning Commission meeting process all over again. OR appeal this decision before the City Council...

Even if the EIR is certified it will have to go to the Planning Commission AGAIN to get a Use Permit (is this the best use of this lot.)

Honestly, while I am against this project I have greater empathy for developers. The big surprise was one Commissioner completely changed his position 180 degrees from the last time this was before the Planning Commission a month ago and was very upfront about his disapproval of the project. I wonder what happened???

If you want to see last night's meeting (and the packed audience) it's on Ch. 27 at 10am today, Wednesday, and it's possible to order a DVD of the meeting from Ch. 27.

Thank you to everyone who spoke in favor of maintaining the character of this historic area!

Please write to the Commissioners and thank them for their vote!

- Gary Edwards - "voted NOT to certify EIR is complete" "this is a jewel of a property; tourists identify with the historic nature of Sonoma"

- Robert Felder - "voted NOT to certify EIR is complete", concerned about the integrity of the setting, the lack of water supply, vibration of construction on the Blue Wing"

- Michael George - "voted NOT to certify EIR is complete", concerned about the historic nature of Spain Street, had concerns about dropping apartment into the heart of Sonoma, "What's the give back? Nothing." The audience responded to his comment "The Pinelli Bungalow has been neglected for years and is urban blight, what? give the owners an even larger project NOT to maintain??"

- Matt Howarth, Chair - "voted NOT to certify EIR is complete"

- Mark Heneveld - voted to Certify, believes the EIR is complete

- Alternate, Matthew Tippell - voted to Certify, believes the EIR is complete

- Raymund Gallian - voted to Certify, believes the EIR is complete, liked the previous project with its high density, the goal was to make that area more economically vibrant

- Chip Roberson (removed from the dais because he missed last month's meeting)

July 6 - Important Planning Commission Meeting

"Please note that consideration of the Mission Square EIR, which had previously been scheduled for a public hearing before the Planning Commission on June 24, 2010, will be continued to a special Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 6:30 p.m." at the Community Meeting Room at 177 First Street West
Rob Gjestland, Senior Planner, City of Sonoma(707) 933-2202

Sparks could fly at this meeting as attorney Susan Brandt-Hawley dukes it out with city planner David Goodison about the need for further studies on the "Cultural Landscape!"

Please attend! Don't be dis-empowered and sit at home watching this on TV. It's "Butts in Chairs" that make a difference!

"Certification" Decision Delayed

The Planning Commission on a 5 to 2 vote agreed to postpone the decision to certify the EIR in order to hear from preservation lawyer Susan Brandt-Hawley who was unable to attend on Thursday. She has some questions about the cultural resources section of the EIR.

There was an informational talk by Planning Director David Goodison about what might constitute a cultural landscape which I thought was very good. He described possible examples including the little vineyard on the Castagnaso property as a remnant of agriculture that was done on that lot. I think the whole historic core of Sonoma altogether is a cultural landscape. There is no history of anything "significant" being done on the vacant lot in question; some would say that in itself is significant!

I proposed a museum for that location. No one jeered or made snide remarks. I think it's possible but will require a lot more phone calls and well-crafted letters. I'd love your ideas and suggestions.

I was given one idea that an Indian made tule boat and house be displayed, I love it!

NOW is the Time!

The community meeting went well. Rob Gjestland, the Senior Planner with the City of Sonoma informed us about the process, the architect, Bill Willers, talked us through the project, and people in the audience asked questions.

--> NOW is the time to coalesce your ideas about the project: what you like, don't like and your concerns. If you need help with this process call me, you talk, I type, I email it to you, you edit & distribute. 939-9146.

You must email your comments to David Goodison (Planning Director) at the City by May 11 so he can understand your concerns and will distribute them to all the Planning Commission members: davidg@sonomacity.org

Please copy your email to both papers for inclusion in Letters to the Editor:
david@sonomanews.com
news@sonomasun.com
I believe you need to include your street address and a phone so the paper knows you're a real person.

AND plan to stand up at the meeting and speak to your concerns Thursday, May 13, 6:30pm at the Community Meeting Room (175 1st Street West) next to the police station across the street from Veteran's Hall

Hey, this is important. Whether you live in the city limits or not your opinion matters.

I have in mind calling the 13 people who gave me their phone numbers and try to organize meetings with the Planning Commissioners... This will have to happen soon... Let me know if you'd like to participate. Karla@KarlaNoyes.com

Sometimes there is a tiny window of opportunity to influence something that will effect all of us and our ancestors far into the future - for that vacant lot NOW IS THE TIME!

If you need any help with this process, call me, 939-9146.