Citizens Advisory Commission approves Sonoma Creek Inn rezoning

By unanimous vote at its meeting Wednesday night, the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission recommended approval of a request by the Sonoma Creek Inn, located at 239 Boyes Blvd., to change the zoning of the property.
The zoning would be changed from R-2 B6 (Medium Density Residential) to K (Recreation and Visitor Serving Commercial) zoning in order to eliminate the inn’s present status as a legal non-conforming use. This will not involve any physical change or use change of the existing structures or businesses, although commissioner Jeff Baptista noted, “This does mean that the entire parcel could be leveled and developed to K usage.”
David Whiteley, co-owner of the property, explained that there was once a bakery located next to the Creekside Cafe that moved out years ago, leaving the space vacant. The entire property was developed around 1950 into a motel and the J&D Bottling Works. By the late 1990s the motel portion had become a dilapidated weekly/monthly residential rental with 16 units and the bottling plant had become a restaurant and bakery. The property was purchased in 1999 and an application was filed with the county to build a 16-unit inn in place of the 16 residential units. The restaurant and bakery building areas were unchanged and remain so at present, except that the bakers have gone. The inn was completed in 2003.
Ig Vella, the lone remaining charter member of the commission, added, “The people renting in the area were less than desirable. Now that negative element is gone. The inn has been more of a re-development program. It has been a great improvement to the area.” Other commissioners agreed, and there were no negative views voiced.
The other part of the meeting was a commissioner orientation chaired by county supervisor Valerie Brown, who explained, “A lot of folks with projects come to me for a candid view of their project. I tell them the problems with their projects and where to go next.” The orientation included an explanation of the Brown Act that governs commissioners’ actions, a report by the county planning division about the county referral process, and a report by Sonoma City Planner David Goodison on the current city projects subject to SVCAC review.
Goodison reported that the number of projects is decreasing but identified four current projects of interest: the affordable housing project at 19344 Sonoma Highway, the Sonoma Valley Inn expansion, the Denmark Street housing subdivision and Mission Square at 165 E. Spain St. “The number of projects seems to be decreasing because of the economy,” he added. “There aren’t a lot of vacant sites in Sonoma but land uses that are on their way out may lead to eventual larger projects on the site.”
The meeting ended with a brief history of the SVCAC given by Vella. “This commission used to be sort of back slapping,” he said, “I remember in the first joint meeting when we discussed how much power we have and we were told, ‘As much as we deserve.’ We have worked to where we have a considerable amount of power – not direct but indirect – and we are looked upon with merit.”
The SVCAC is a joint advisory body with representation from the County of Sonoma and the City of Sonoma to share responsibility for local planning in the Sonoma Valley. It holds monthly meetings to provide a local forum for community input on projects in the valley.