Page 12 - Sonoma County Gazette - May 2019

FUTURE cont’d from page 1
recently joined forces to urge the Board of Supervisors prioritize the update of the General Plan in the Permit Sonoma Comprehensive Work Plan for 2019 through 2021 without further delay.
After a lengthy public hearing and difficult conversations held April 16, the supervisors voted in favor of Permit Sonoma’s recommendation to delay work on the General Plan or at least another year or more. They decided to prioritize multiple important existing and new initiatives over the next two years. The Permit Sonoma Work Plan priorities will be finalized at the June 4 supervisors meeting.
See April 16 documents here: sonoma-county.legistar.com/ LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3920616&GUID=3CE463A3-3D86-405E-B02F- 7D9EAF95CE92&Options=&Search=
Most of the priorities are supported by environmental community, but several raise red flags due to conflicts with city-centered growth and the potential to increase greenhouse gas emissions. No climate measures were put on the priority list. So we will need to continue to make the case for action on climate change, protecting our environment and public health, and ensuring homes for all as we face of an uncertain future.
The following list reflects the environmental priorities as in the five-page letter we sent to the supervisors about the Permit Sonoma Comprehensive Work Plan (available on request from tshore@greenbelt.org).
Priorities - SUPPORT
Cannabis Ordinance—Phase 2 Large community turn-out at public hearing in favor of revising cannabis ordinance.
Tree Ordinance—Second strongest community support at public hearing for updating tree ordinance. The County’s Tree Protection Ordinance allows trees including oak woodlands to be cleared for hay, wine grapes, without public review. A revision has been promised for more than a decade.
Local Coastal Plan—Finalize the “General Plan for the coast” and get approval from the California Coastal Commission as required. Previous draft sparked controversy due to plans to open up more coastal areas to commercial development.
Winery Event Regulations—Long overdue, not clear how soon county will move forward or whether draft staff guidelines will ever be released or if county will rely entirely on standards developed by wineries and/or neighbors in each area of overconcentration.
Sonoma Developmental Center—Approved by board with funding from state for three years to develop a specific plan that will include housing on-site and protection of open space lands.
X Combining Zone Revisions (Vacation rental exclusion zones)— Opportunity to protect more residential areas from vacation rentals and make it easier for neighborhoods to apply.
Springs Specific Plan—Complete planning process in the Springs area of Sonoma Valley to allow more home and businesses. The EIR is due out soon for public review.
Do NOT Prioritize
Airport Specific Plan – not urgent, violates two Urban Growth Boundaries (Santa Rosa and Windsor), conflicts with existing General Plan which does not allow housing, requires General Plan amendment, controversial, and needs full Environmental Impact Report. Should be deprioritized at least until UGBs and downtowns are built out.
Southeast Santa Rosa/Santa Rosa Avenue Planning – not urgent, conflicts with City of Santa Rosa UGB, General Plan, Downtown focus and Renewal Enterprise District, needs full EIR due to critical habitat for endangered tiger salamanders, wetlands, sensitive habitat. Has not been on any housing or other priority list by county or city until just now.
12 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 5/19
FUTURE cont’d on page 13
New Housing Initiatives – Rezoning of non-residential land use, Removal of Z zoning for ADUs on rural parcels– not urgent, needs full EIR, not city-centered, increases Vehicle Miles Traveled. Focus should remain on city- centered growth and in unincorporated communities, not rural lands.
More than 16,000 units of housing are currently in the pipeline across Sonoma County, according to estimates by the Sonoma County Transportation