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News briefs

Council expands Design Review authority

In a four to one vote at its meeting on Wednesday evening, the Sonoma City Council introduced a draft ordinance amending the city’s Development Code and expanding the authority of the Design Review Commission (DRC) within the Historic Overlay Zone (HOZ) for alterations for residences constructed prior to 1945 for which a building permit is required.
Community members addressed the council with their support urging the council to vote for the review authority while others argued that the review authority should be reduced because it created a “design police” element within the city.
The development code expansion is now a date-based age threshold in which buildings constructed after 1945 would not be subject to design review,” City Planner David Goodison said. “Residences constructed after 1945 are more likely to have been built in tracts and that residences of an earlier vintage are more likely to possess qualities associated with historic Sonoma. Goodison noted in making the changes, the DRC had concerns that a 50-year threshold casts too wide a net.
Multi-family and commercial developments were previously and are still subject to design review.

T-Mobile denied new site at Sonoma High

The City of Sonoma Planning Commission at its meeting Thursday evening denied a use permit application from T-Mobile for a new 70-foot tall pole in the faculty parking lot at Sonoma Valley High School. The pole was to support six antennas for mobile phone communications, three at the top and a second set of three about 12 feet lower.
Residents from two houses on Denmark Street expressed concerns about the height and color of the pole, not wanting to see it from their homes. Commission Chairman Ray Gallian felt that the project was “reasonable with minimal intrusion.” His was the lone vote in support.
Among the four commissioners voting to deny the project, Matt Howarth said that he did not want to set a precedent with this “right off the shelf 70-foot pole,” and Gary Edwards was concerned that we may become a “town of poles.” Tom Anderson said, “It’s back to the drawing board. They [T-Mobile] need to get out their slide rule.”
Following the denial, T-Mobile’s representative Scott Sutherland, from Strategic Real Estate Services, told The Sun that he hopes to work with the residents to develop an acceptable design for that location. He said the high school site was selected because of its central location and the presence of tall trees on campus already.

Fiery crash on Arnold Drive
A ’93 Ford sedan was traveling southbound on Arnold Drive at Leveroni Road late Sunday night (1:15 a.m. Monday morning) at a high rate of speed. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver lost control, crossed over the center line, and struck an ’82 Mercedes traveling northbound.
The Ford was destroyed by the impact and the ensuing fire that engulfed the vehicle, burning the driver; the county coroner’s office announced Tuesday morning that he was Marco Hurtado, a 27-year-old from Sonoma.
The driver of the Mercedes, a 20-year-old from Santa Rosa, was reportedly airlifted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in critical condition. There were no passengers in either vehicle.

Murder suspects make plea

The three men arrested for the murder last month of Luis Miranda in Maxwell Park all plead not guilty when they were arraigned in Sonoma County Superior Court, Friday, November 9. Preliminary hearings will begin later this month.

Spending increase
The funding limit for the Sonoma Valley Redevelopment Agency was raised by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. The supervisors voted Tuesday, November 6 to raise the funding cap from $20 million to $120 million, expected to provide the agency to accumulate an additional $100 million over the next 20 years.