Controversial development near Blue Wing Inn

The Sonoma Planning Commissions will consider on Thursday August 23 possible acceptance of the Final Environmental Impact Report for a new development in the vacant lot in the 100 block of East Spain Street, just east of the Plaza. The Mission Square project involves 23 residential apartment units above some 5,400 square feet of commercial space on the 1.13 acre site.
Written opposition to the project has come from architect Ned Forrest, who lives in the 200 block of East Spain Street. He points out that the City just helped to fund acquisition of rights to the Castagnasso property, across the street from the proposed project, to prevent development of the very type proposed.
According to Rob Gjestland, associate planner for the city, the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation has also written in opposition, saying that the project is “totally unsuitable and ruinous for the area in which it is proposed.”
The commission’s only decision at this meeting will be whether or not tocertify the final EIR as complete and adequate under the CaliforniaEnvironmental Quality Act (CEQA). It would be at subsequent meeting that the Commission would consider whether actually to approve the project.