The Sonoma Dog Camp tonight will seek approval from the Sonoma Planning Commission for a permanent use permit for dogs to stay overnight at the business at 1061 Broadway.
The operators of the Sonoma Dog Camp also will seek approval to allow dogs to begin use of the outdoor areas at 9 a.m. on weekends, rather than 10 a.m. as originally approved.
The planning commission voted unanimously on Aug. 10 to allow the dog camp to try overnight stays on a 3-month trial basis in order to test its compatibility with neighboring uses.
“During that time, it appears that the (dog camp) has operated as a good neighbor. Staff is not aware of any complaints,” said city planner David Goodison, in a report.
Ledson seeks higher density
Another item to be considered by the planning commission is a proposal from developer Steve Ledson to build a 30-unit development about five blocks from the Plaza on 2.37 acres on the south side of West MacArthur Street, just east of Second Street West.
Ledson proposes building two-story “ownership” units (as opposed to apartments) ranging in size from 1,185 square feet to 1,500 square feet. Twenty-four of the units would be fully detached and six would be attached as two-unit “duets.” Each house would have a one- or a two-car garage.
The overall housing density would be 12.7 units per acre, which is above the normal maximum density for the property’s zoning of 11 units per acre.
Ledson is asking the city for a “density bonus” that could allow construction of up to 32 units on the site.
Under state law, a project qualifies for a density bonus when it provides a certain number of affordable units, said a city staff report.
Ledson contends he’s eligible for the density housing bonus because he’s proposing to build five affordable housing units in the development, as is required under the city’s development code.
But city staff maintains that, in order for Ledson to qualify for a density bonus, he’d have to build a total of eight affordable units in a 30-unit development.
City staff recommended that the planning commission make it a policy that affordable housing units that are required by the city not be counted when determining whether a project qualifies for a density bonus.
The Sonoma Planning Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Thursday, Nov. 9) at the city council chambers at 177 First Street West.
