Page 38 - Sonoma County Gazette February 2017

NEW Heights for Downtown: Downtown will grow up, that is, get taller. Sebastopol now allows 4-story buildings of up to 50 feet in height in the downtown area, by the City Council’s decision on January 17. Previously,
Just Pink? The Women’s Marches on the Saturday following the UNauguration (as one friend calls it) were historic in size and some say in the absence of police violence or arrests. Indeed, from the number of neighbors who added their bodies to the Santa Rosa March of about 10,000 souls, Graton must have been a ghost town that day. As uplifted as I was by all the Pink Pussyhats lling streets all over the country and world, I couldn’t help but notice the low number of other colors – in the participants.
buildings were limited to 3 stories and, curiously, only one such building was ever constructed: the remodeled o ce building at the corner of Petaluma Avenue and Burnett Street, a project designed by architect Patrick Slayter, now Vice Mayor.
If there wasn’t a rush to build 3-story buildings before, will there be any interest in 4 stories in our future? Yes, because, with our renewed Urban Growth Boundary and current trends in the real estate market, up – not out – is the more available way to build. The taller the project, the more likely it will “pencil out.”
Before we get too proud about the lack of arrests and police harassment, please remember that authorities are consistently di erent in the way they control
and handle crowds with higher numbers of POC and that alone can be enough
to keep a motivated mama away. Also know that our Latina sisters and their families are hearing a lot of scary anti-immigrant talk from the new Prezy and
There’s already one 4-story project in the pipeline: the hotel proposed on the former Diamond Lumberyard site across from The Plaza. “Hotel” is somewhat of a misnomer: in addition to a 66-room hotel, the several buildings will house
a restaurant, retail spaces along Petaluma Avenue, a hostel, maker/art studios along Depot Street, outdoor sculpture, a public plaza with a replace, and rooftop viewing areas.
his cronies and may just feel like laying low. At the next action, let’s all do some outreach and extend the love; these stands need to be inclusionary AND safe.
There’s a second 4-story project under study. It’s called Pine Grove Square. Aided by consultants, a Council Sub-Committee is considering development possibilities for the municipal parking lot between S. Main and Petaluma Avenue, south of Burnett Street: perhaps retail, o ce, and commercial on the rst oor, with housing, including a ordable units, and public open space above.
A Toast to Graton’s Centenarian! Graton’s beloved West County Notable, Louise Hallberg turned the magical 100 on January 3rd, and a celebration was held at Graton Community Club January 8th.
With the recent approval of the zoning text amendment requested by the hotel developer, the “Central Core” area, designated in the new General Plan’s Land Use Map, presents even more potential opportunity sites for 4 stories. The Central Core extends from the Methodist Church to the Post O ce, between Pitt Avenue and High Street on the west to the westerly edge of The Barlow, including the entire south side of Sebastopol Avenue [approximately].
Many of you may know the Hallberg name from the famous Hallberg Butter y Gardens, which may be the oldest butter y garden in the country. A marvelous treasure of a place to learn about butter ies and butter y plants, Louise and the volunteers open the gardens a few times a year for schoolchildren and the community (learn more at www. hallbergbutter ygardens.org).
Imagine these properties in lling, or rather up lling: the parking lots of Safeway and Rite Aid and behind the former Ford dealership; the Postal Annex; the underdeveloped area east of The Feed Store; side-by-side older homes near the library that, with age, could become tear-downs.
The Hallberg family arrived in Sonoma County in 1880 and played a major role in apple processing, including running an applesauce cannery through the 1930s. During my volunteer duties at the Sturgeon Steam Mill Restoration Project on Green Hill road, I have seen some of the original Hallberg apple boxes, full
of old Mill parts. They also grew hops and these days there are also some local vineyards bearing the Hallberg name. The heartbeat and family name are now centered around the amazing butter y gardens that grace the family home on the hilltop overlooking Graton. I have spent most mornings this last decade catching the sunrise from the upstairs deck throw splendid rays out from around the Hallberg house and palm tree. As I did then, I again send a smile and thank you up the hill to Miss Louise Hallberg – and a big Happy Birthday!
NEW Experiences for Downtown: The hotel complex will bring new vitality to downtown. Some people worry that our core business district will cater to wealthy tourists and exclude locals. Others report that their visiting friends and families look forward to the upgrade. Either way, the experiences will be livelier than what has been o ered by the long-vacant lumberyard and the unfortunate, resulting disconnect between The Plaza and The Barlow.
Thinking Big, Working Small Graton Gallery is presenting its popular 6th Juried Small Works Exhibition this month. Don’t forget to pop in sometime during February1- March 5 to catch this year’s selection of featured artists. Get your glad rags on or come as you are and come meet the artists at the Artists Reception Sat. February 4th from 2-5pm.
Park Design Graton Park Design Committee is inviting neighbors to
join for monthly metings and work on a park design that everyone can enjoy. Especially sought after are anyone with grant experience, outdoor/park design experience; however anyone with time to devote to our village’s future is welcome. Please contact Stephanie at 530-354-1646.
The hotel project has already brought one signi cant change. Our community survived a two-and-one-half-year-long application process without angry
and divisive arguments and multiple lawsuits. That’s a big success, especially after the six years of wrenching con ict over the redevelopment of the Pellini property.
How was that success accomplished? It started with the community- visioning workshop and the marketing brochure for the lumberyard property. These Council-sponsored activities attracted a developer interested in collaborating with the community while the project took shape and in responding with changes in design and use during the approval process.
Shifting Sights You may have heard a rumor that our family is changing dens and moving. It’s true – we are moving a few miles West of town and
will now be shifting from being a Gratonist to a Gratonite as de ned by my excellent predecessor in this column, HoLlynn DLil in her April 2009 writing.
In about three years, we’ll see how it a ects our downtown.
NEW Store: It looks like the downsized CVS will open at its new location before the February Gazette hits the stands. No news available about the old location up north.
My own heath journey into smaller income-ville as well as my gutsy mother’s* determination to stay living on her forested ridge have prompted us to set up housekeeping on the family property. This means a move into tiny house living, which I have always looked at askance but am leaping into nevertheless. I am still haunting Graton and the family and friends still there, still happily scratching out these missives at my worthy editor’s request.
NEW Business: February Council agendas look as complex and lengthy
as January’s. They include discussion of: The annexation of Tomodachi Park and Village Mobile Home Park; the location of commissioned public art;
the development of ten small homes on the north side of Bodega Avenue near Pleasant Hill where the steep hillside creates a gap in the sidewalk; the Senior Center’s request for nancial help; the analysis of the City’s unfunded liabilities; a proposal for housing and services for Sebastopol’s homeless.
(*Gutsy mother Andrea is launching her latest book February 10th at Occidental Arts , replete with Valentines goodies and racy poetry – see what I mean? You can’t ght this stu ).
Go to ci.sebastopol.ca.us for up-to-date information. Come and participate in the discussion.
So, please keep sending any notices of upcoming happenings or other news – remember, my deadlines are the 15th of the month BEFORE the month of publication. Email me: heatagran@gmail.com.
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