The owners of the Cooperage building, sometimes referred to as the Ice House, will appear before the City Council on September 4, 2024 at a public hearing.
The appellants are requesting that the council overturn the Sonoma’s Planning Commission denial of a use permit to allow a vacation rental and wine tasting facility.
The council meeting begins at 6pm in the City Council chambers on 1st Street West.
The staff report prepared in advance of the meeting notes that “The primary structure is historic and is a contributing element to the Sonoma Depot Historic District. The first-floor stone structure was constructed in 1906 with a stucco clad second floor residential level added in 1923. Three tandem onsite uncovered parking spaces are on site. The City of Sonoma Planning Commission granted a Use Permit in May 2018 for the restoration, seismic retrofit and adaptive reuse of the historic Ice House Building and barn.”
The 2018 Use Permit allowed limited retail use of the first floor, residential use of the second floor, conversion of the existing barn into an ADU, and seismic retrofit parking credits.
The conditions of approval included:
- Commercial use of the ground floor of the Cooperage Building shall be restricted to a limited retail use consisting of a lifestyle retail store the curates, displays and sells unique or one-of-a kind home furnishings, clothing, artwork, fabrics, and related products.
- The hours of operation for the retail shop (i.e., business hours open to clients, customers and /or the public) shall be limited to 9 am – 7 p.m. six days a week.
- The conventional kitchen within the employee breakroom at the back of the retail shop on the ground floor of the Cooperage shall be for the exclusive use of employees. No food shall be prepared in the breakroom or kitchen for public consumption.
- Special events and live music shall be prohibited.
- Further use of the property for short-term, vacation rental purposes shall be prohibited.
In April of 2024, the Planning Commission considered requests of the property owner to allow a short-term vacation rental and the granting of a Wine Tasting Permit, ultimately denying both requests. The applicants submitted an appeal on May 28, 2024.
The city’s planning staff recommends the City Council deny the appeal and uphold the decision of the Planning Commission.
One detail missing here: city staff initially recommended to approve the changes and the Planning Commission went against that staff recommendation. Staff may still feel that way but it is city policy to back a Planning Commission decision.
I’m unaware of any such city policy. Moreover, staffing in the planning department has changed since the original hearing.
More claptrap from the guy who just makes up whatever he wants as he goes along.
I hope the council doesn’t compromise and stands by the original decision. It’s the right thing to do. It would set a terrible precedent to allow an Airbnb for this location and deny it to others.