Planning commission deals residential rentals and considers cannabis

In a marathon meeting Thursday evening lasting four and a half hours, the City of Sonoma Planning Commission reviewed several controversial issues, some to be decided eventually by the Sonoma City Council.
The commission discussed current regulations pertaining to vacation rentals in the valley. There are currently 38 legal vacation rental units within the city, and considerable public comment was taken both for and against tightening the regulations. The commission reached consensus that a two-night minimum rental was not necessary and that historic homes would be evaluated individually for suitability as rental properties. “There’s a growing perception that Sonoma gives too much to tourists,” said chairman Randy Cook, “and not enough to locals. But I don’t think we’ve been that liberal in handing out vacation rental permits. Things are well under control.”
The commission approved the conversion of commercial office space into 12 residential rental units at 19310 Sonoma Highway, the location of the Fitness Factory and other businesses, granting an exemption from the parking requirements and an exception to the open space standards. Environmental concerns were also an issue. “What we are trying to do now,” said commissioner Michael George, “is undo what we have been doing for so many years: allowing water to percolate and return to the earth.” The commission recommended diverting as much water as possible with the use of a vegetative swale (a band of dense vegetation) on the property.
An extensive report on regulations for a medical marijuana dispensary was presented by David Goodison, Sonoma City Planner. Concerns include adopting setbacks from schools and parks, maintaining security for the hash, limiting its potency, restricting the number of patients, and determining the agency in charge for reviewing applications and granting permits.
John Sugg, who has operated a cannabis club dispensary in Santa Rosa for four years, voiced his concern on that latter issue. “Most of the ordinance is strong and necessary,” he said. “But I have a concern with putting the police chief in charge of managing applications and granting permits. It makes more sense to have that be the city manager. Also, you must allow for plenty of parking because that’s where the problems happen.”
Sugg operates now as the Sonoma Patient Group, organized last summer as an unincorporated non-profit collective. Jewel Mathieson, wife of Sonoma Mayor Ken Brown, is an employee and member of that group, and she addressed the commission, saying, “Members must be able to get their medication. We should stop the regulations on medicine and stop ignoring the desperate alcohol problem in the valley.”
The submission by Sugg of seven pages of recommendations for a new ordinance led the commission to table the issue to a future meeting, so the recommendations could be reviewed. The final assessment came from commissioner George: “People think we are intentionally trying to put setbacks in place. We are not; our primary concern is community needs.”
In a subsequent interview, Sugg expressed his hope that the planning commission would, at its regular meeting on April 9, move the matter on to the city council with its recommendations. His group is ready to apply for a permit as soon as the new ordinance is adopted, though he expects that there may be other groups interested, as well, in a Sonoma location.
In other business, the commission approved a kitchen addition at 875 Oregon Street, following comments from neighbors both for and against. The commission also approved conversion of the medical offices in the Sonoma Medical Plaza at 181 Andrieux Street to condominium ownership. Conditions included xeriscaping (landscaping that requires minimal water use) and conducting an energy audit of the facility.