Ledson development approved

After five years and numerous revisions, Sonoma’s Planning Commission approved 5–0 Thursday the key parts of a 26-unit development on West MacArthur Street.
“This truly is a project … that has been a joint effort,” said Planning Commissioner Tom Anderson, who first saw the project as a commissioner in 2003. “The developer has listened to the neighbors, and the developer has listened to the commissioners.”
At issue was the tentative map, use permit and planned-development permit for a 2.36-acre site on the south side of West MacArthur Street just east of Second Street West. As approved, the project will put 26 single-family homes on a U-shaped private road off West MacArthur Street.
Developer Steve Ledson stated that his aim in building the development was to provide homes for younger couples and first-time families – some of whom were his employees. Five of the units will be classed as affordable for low- to moderate-income households.
One issue concerned installing a detention pond in the development’s southwest corner in order to slow surface runoff during winter storms. The pond will be placed underground and topped with a “pocket park” featuring natural land- and rock-scaping.
Other changes requested by the commissioners include fittings for roof-mounted solar arrays as well as “edible landscaping,” such as fruit and nut trees and backyard beds for growing vegetables.