A plan to expand and reconstruct the Sonoma Cheese Factory building, approved April 12 by the Planning Commission on a 5-2 vote, has been appealed by the owners of two buildings on the same Plaza block.
Disputing the current plan for an upscale, multi-vendor marketplace are Tom Dunlop and Ingrid Dunlop, owners of the nearby Swiss Hotel, and Hank and Jim Marioni, who own Mary’s Pizza Shack.
The iconic Plaza building at 2 West Spain Street was built in 1945. Its façade would remain unchanged, but the structure behind it would be removed and replaced, increasing overall square footage to 15k sq. ft. (from 6k) and nearly tripling the number of seats, to 295.
The appeal contends the project is too large, doesn’t comply with many elements of the development code, and was approved with flawed and inadequate environmental review. It states the remodel would “demolish major character-defining features of a historically significant structure.”
Parking is also a point of contention. “We already have a very serious existing parking and traffic problem on the Plaza, and this promises to make it exponentially worse.”
The appeal hearing, before the Sonoma City Council, has not yet been scheduled.
Thank God! Someone with some sense finally putting a stick in the spokes of this runaway development! Crazy traffic, parking, pollution… Are they insane to approve an expansion of existing facilities? People! Complacency will be Sonoma’s ruination!
This article incorrectly states that the building is a “designated historic landmark”. It’s a potentially historic building, but has never received an official designation. An historic evaluation has stated the building would qualify for the state register of historic places, but the owners have never filed an application for the building to be considered for the list. Only the owners of private properties can get their buildings “designated.”
Thanks for pointing that out; that phrase has been removed. The appellants say the building is “historically significant.”
Who is the actual owner of the Swiss? Dunlap?Dunlop? Or Marioni?
Posted – 05/08/2014 03:52pm New Item TitleHistory of Swiss Hotel featured at Sonoma League for Historic Preservation’s quarterly meeting May 21
The Swiss Hotel on the Sonoma Plaza is the location and also the featured topic of the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation’s quarterly meeting Wed., May 21.
Swiss Hotel owner Hank Marioni will speak about the history of the hotel and the structure. Complimentary wine and hors d’hoerves will be served.
Sonoma Plaza has been going downhill for years and this project would infuse some badly needed energy and interest – not to mention some high quality food and beverage options – into our city. Parking problems are good problems to have in a world where Amazon is giving challenges to retailers of all shapes and sizes. Sonoma should be welcoming this kind of investment; something for both locals and visitors to enjoy for years to come.