Safeway’s big plans; Kenwood resort plans revived; Stompers notes and more

The Sonoma Safeway wants to expand its store at West Napa and Fifth Street eastward, growing from about 50,000 sq. ft. to 65,000 sq. ft. The plan, still to undergo lots of official scrutiny, also calls for a nine-pump gas station on the corner, perhaps to fuel the cars stuck in the resulting traffic… Traffic and pedestrian safety – the wide crosswalk at Studley and Fifth is notoriously dangerous — will be prime topics when the plan is the focus of a study session by the City Planning’s Commission, Thursday, August 11, 6:30 p.m., in the Community Meeting Room, on First Street West. The gas station would become the fifth within the City limits.

Meanwhile a sleeping development giant has awoken in Kenwood, where 12-year-old plans have been revived for a 186-acre resort on Campagna Lane. The luxury cottage property presumes 50 guest rooms, a restaurant, pool, and 102 parking spaces. Tohigh Investment SF LLC paid $41 million for the old Graywood Ranch property in 2014. With it came County approvals dating back to 2004, but never acted upon by the cash-strapped owner: a 10,000-case winery, store, and 11-parcel housing development. The developer’s pr folks promise to “provide hotel guests, restaurant patrons and future residents with an experience that blends modern-day elegance with old-world, rustic charm.” All that and an organic mint under the pillow.

Memo from the Sonoma Stompers: the team is on the road until Friday, August 12, as the first-half champs host Pittsburg that weekend with a couple of big events. First, Jose Canseco returns to Peoples Home Equity Ballpark (in an opponents uniform) which should be interesting after his appearance with Sonoma last year. Secondly, Sonoma will host a premiere of “Pitch,” the new fall drama from FOX that tells the story of Major League Baseball’s first female pitcher. That’s set for Saturday, August 13. As always, info and tickets at StompersBaseball.com.

Local water supply? If you’re scoring at home, here are the numbers. Lake Mendocino: 97 percent of targeted water supply capacity (This date last year, 60 percent). Lake Sonoma: 93 percent of water supply capacity (This date last year, 79 percent).

— Val Robichaud

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