CVS/Chase development proposal [Archive]

1104GT

05-18-2011, 10:16 AM

For all that are concerned with the character of downtown, I urge you to review the building that CVS Pharmacy wants to put downtown. It is essentially a suburban stucco building with no windows or doors facing the street. Sitting at one of the most important corners of our town, they need to do better ... much better. Street facing storefronts are an essential part of our downtown. Without them, entire blocks die.

Please review the plans at https://ci.sebastopol.ca.us/page/special-projects

1104GT

05-19-2011, 07:45 PM

Here's a follow-up to my original posting. I attended a design review meeting Wednesday and confirmed that what is being proposed is a suburban strip center with a big CVS box with a drive thru pharmacy and a separate bank building all surrounded by parking. The whole development is focused on the parking lot and turns its back on Downtown and the street. My biggest concern is that, since it meets code, it will quietly pass through the City's process and get built. We can't let that happen.

This is one of the most visible, important and valuable pieces of property in town. Something very special and good needs to happen there. If you think the loss of redwoods on 116 is bad, that's nothing compared with how bad this will be. I am often supportive of development in town, but this project needs to be either dramatically improved or stopped. I'm not sure what the next steps will be, but I urge you all to get in touch with the City and get involved.

Paul Fritz

05-19-2011, 08:53 PM

I agree with this and would like to add this is a completely auto-centric proposal and underutilization of an important gateway site. The developers have made some revisions to the original plan in an attempt to respond to some of the comments of the design review board. But it still falls far short of what should be on this site. This is a great example of the suburban sprawl development patterns of the past 60 years that have resulted in our car-dominated landscape. It has nothing to do with good urban design. I also urge people to get involved. Is this really the type of development that represent our values as a community? Let your voice be heard at the planning commission hearing on May 24th.

scamperwillow

05-20-2011, 09:35 AM

If you are interested in the development process on the former Chevrolet property in the center of downtown, I urge you to read the attached letter that was submitted to the DRB and to the planning commission from a small citizen committee. AND to attend the planning commission meeting next Tuesday.

Our political process must be informed by a collective vision of how our downtown will change with time. Some believe it should never change which, I believe, resulted in part with the rejection of the NE planning process. Many of us believe that change and development is needed, but it must be well planned and consistent with our vision of our community.

Please consider attending the planning commission meeting at 7:00 p.m. next Tue night at the youth annex.

If you'd like your name added to this letter, please go to this petition site that has been set up: https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sebastopolcvs/
Or use this letter to help form your own talking points.

Feel free to forward this information widely to other Sebastopudlians who might be interested.

May 18, 2011

Sebastopol Planning Commission
714 Johnson Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472

Dear Planning Commission,

We would like to express our concern regarding the proposed CVS/Chase Bank development in
downtown Sebastopol. The proposed location of this development rests at a prominent intersection,
which is considered a significant gateway to our town. As a community, we must carefully consider
the impact on the character of Sebastopol that development of this site could have. What we allow to
be built at this important location will visibly reflect our community values and set a precedent for
future downtown development.

Sebastopol has recently been accepted into the CittaSlow movement. One of the core tenets of
CittaSlow is “celebrating and promoting diversity and avoiding the ‘sameness’ that afflicts too many
towns in the modern world.” Sebastopol also adopted a new slogan several years ago, 'Local Flavor,
Global Vision'. The CVS/Chase Bank development is in stark contrast to the CittaSlow principles and
the community values expressed in our city slogan. We are asking the Planning Commission to
consider these questions: Isn’t it in our greater interest to encourage and support the development of
local businesses over the expansion of chain stores? Does the CVS/Chase Bank development live up
to our “Local Flavor, Global Vision,” slogan and promote a unique, sustainable downtown?

Our concern for the development as proposed is based on several core ideas.

 Underutilized Site - The zoning code allows a developed floor area ratio of 2.0 on this site.

The CVS/Chase proposal has a FAR of 0.18. While we do not believe the site needs to be
built out to achieve the maximum allowed FAR, the proposed FAR is unacceptably low for a
key downtown site. This level of density is more typical of a suburban strip shopping center,
and not appropriate for an urban infill site. Such a low FAR wastes land in our urban core
where we should be developing most intensely. The zoning also allows for a 3-story building
while the proposed buildings are only single story.

 Missed Development Opportunity - If the current developer were against increasing the size

of the proposed project to match the FAR, the project should be designed so that future
development could boost the site utilization. For example, a portion of the site could be set
aside and lot lines adjusted, with the intention of allowing a future project to fully utilize the
available entitlements. The proposed site is a gateway to downtown. We should maximize the
development potential, not minimize it. If not in the immediate time frame, then we should
reserve the capacity for future expanded use. Ideally the project would include additional retail
and/or another use such as office or housing (youth hostel?) on upper floors.

 Excessive Parking - The proposed development is extremely overparked, providing

approximately 50% more parking spaces than required. If the excessive parking were a
means to landbank a portion of the site for future development, that might address concerns
about future site utilization. We should study other existing developments downtown (Rite Aid,
Safeway, Whole Foods) to see the impact of parking lots on the urban landscape. For
instances, North Main Street lacks the urban feel of the blocks between Burnett and McKinley
Streets because of the large surface parking lots and chain store retail. The welcoming,
pedestrian friendly Main Street between Burnett and McKinley creates a unique downtown
atmosphere and attracts visitors; this is what we should be encouraging throughout downtown.

While we appreciate the parking provided for Frizelle Enos along Abbot Avenue, we request
adherence to the zoning code minimum for the site. In fact, we recommend considering less
parking than required. In support of a pedestrian friendly downtown, we should move away
from projects that are auto-centric. If parking is a concern, then the city could work with the
developer to create a parking garage on this, or another downtown site. A parking garage with
retail frontage is a very appropriate building type for an urban infill location, compared to a
surface parking lot with a large percentage of unoccupied spaces.

 Non-Sustainable Development – A related concern has to do with the sustainability impacts

of the CVS/Chase Bank development. According to the proposal, this development is
projected to produce greenhouse gas emissions above the BAAQMD significance threshold.
(These are mitigated with a purchase of CO 2 emission offsets.) The proposed model of single-
use buildings in a sea of parking is one of the primary development models that have gotten us
where we are in terms of sprawl development and the associated greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the city's website, the city has development ordinances promoting mixed-use
development and reduced parking requirements downtown. This is great and exactly what we
should be promoting. Unfortunately, this project has neither a mix of uses nor a reduction in
parking and is therefore expressly against stated city policies.

It is important to recognize that CVS is currently located at Redwood Marketplace. Due to the
proximity of this location to several residential neighborhoods, residents of the north side of
Sebastopol can now walk or bike to a full-service pharmacy. If CVS moves downtown,
residents will be forced to drive to the drug store, further contributing to the greenhouse gas
emissions.

 Evidence of Need - Downtown Sebastopol is already served by a full-service pharmacy
located in the Rite Aid, along with a second pharmacy inside the Safeway. We see no
evidence of need for an additional pharmacy on the proposed site.

Sebastopol is a unique community dedicated to a vibrant downtown that reflects our expressed
values. From the page in our city’s website devoted to sustainability programs, to our honored place
in the CittaSlow movement, we take pride in our long-term commitment to a healthy, vital downtown.
We ask the Planning Commission to carefully consider the information we have provided, and
thoughtfully study the significant impact that the CVS/Chase Bank development would have on our
downtown.
.
Sincerely,

SESAW Committee

Paul Fritz
Lars Langberg
Cary Bush
Holly Hansen

SESAW is an ad hoc committee born out of the 2009 Sebastopol Economic Summit. We are a group of volunteers interested in enhancing the economic vitality of downtown and the role future development could play in maintaining a quality of life that reflects our shared community values.

David Ferrera
Corey Hitchcock
Alia VanHoorn
Tina Grob
Eric Spillman
Michael Jacob
Dan Arendt

Praksys

05-21-2011, 06:51 AM

scamperwillow

05-21-2011, 08:26 AM

And if this bothers you, please go sign the online petition requesting close evaluation of this project: https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sebastopolcvs/ (https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sebastopolcvs/)

And attend the Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Bryan

05-21-2011, 11:04 AM

Didn't Safeway in Santa Rosa have to build a mixed-use development in order to expand over on Mendo ave?

If CVS and Citibank are expanding in Sebastopol, seems that the city of Sebastopol can require similar changes to the site's zoning plan to require same.

Unfortunately, I think with corporate players, the city politicians need to decide if they want to ASK for what
they want, or if they want to TELL the corporations what is required.

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090321/articles/903219959 (https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090321/articles/903219959)

https://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/doclib/agendas_packets_minutes/city_council/Resolutions/20000516_CC_Resolution24410.html (https://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/doclib/agendas_packets_minutes/city_council/Resolutions/20000516_CC_Resolution24410.html)

dominus

05-21-2011, 11:53 AM

Thank you for your post. I can't help but wonder what will become of the strip center where CVS currently is if they move? Everytime I go there, I can see that Lucky's won't survive for long if CVS were to relocate. It doesn't look like there would be enough traffic. Who would take CVS's location? I presume the pharmacy in Safeway would manage okay because Safeway gets enough shoppers but what would happen to Rite Aid?

danejasper

05-21-2011, 03:04 PM

For all that are concerned with the character of downtown, I urge you to review the building that CVS Pharmacy wants to put downtown. It is essentially a suburban stucco building with no windows or doors facing the street. Sitting at one of the most important corners of our town, they need to do better ... much better. Street facing storefronts are an essential part of our downtown. Without them, entire blocks die.

Please review the plans at https://ci.sebastopol.ca.us/page/special-projects

I'm no fan of CVS; I miss Longs in Santa Rosa, CVS is a poor substitute.

That said, the new site plan and accompanying letter on the website link you provided seem designed to address these concerns, and while the site plan doesn't show the elevations, the letter says that they're adding windows to the streets.

-Dane

scamperwillow

05-22-2011, 11:45 AM

There are only a couple more days to sign the petition before the Planning Commission meets on Tuesday - let's make it a long list!!! https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sebastopolcvs/

Barry

05-23-2011, 05:00 PM

This project is going to be discussed at a Sebastopol Planning Commission meeting tomorrow (Tuesday 5/24) at the Sebastopol Youth Annex (Teen Center) 425 Morris Street. Meeting starts at 7pm and this is early on the agenda.

The topic at hand is reviewing the abandonment of Barnes Ave. Here's the item from the agenda:

Public Hearing – Alcohol Use Permit; Advisory Review of Barnes Avenue Abandonment; Certification of Mitigated Negative Declaration – (Project #2010-08) – To consider a request, submitted by William McDermott, for an Alcohol Use Permit for off-site alcohol sales at a proposed CVS Pharmacy; and in addition, to review and make a recommendation to the City Council concerning the proposed abandonment of Barnes Avenue as part of the proposed CVS-Chase project, located at 6877 Sebastopol Avenue; and certification of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Here's Barnes Ave:
https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/ImagesforMembers/2011-05-23_1632-1.png

Note that the project has been revised following the DRB meeting of April 20th:

https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/ImagesforMembers/05_13_11_armstrong_letter1.jpg
https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/ImagesforMembers/05_13_11_armstrong_letter2.jpg

Revised site plan is here (https://ci.sebastopol.ca.us/sites/default/files/rmansour/05_13_11_revised_site_plan.pdf).

Barry

06-17-2011, 01:30 PM

https://sonomawest.com/art/logo-sonomawest.png

CVS proposal knocked down
https://sonomawest.com/articles/2011/06/17/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/doc4df92eb0d3a2a614238649.txt
Planning Commission votes 4-2 against project, elects new chair

by David Abbott
Sonoma West Editor
Published: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 3:53 PM PDT

SEBASTOPOL — Anyone who wants to purchase goods from CVS in Sebastopol will still have to trudge up the hill to Redwood Marketplace, at least for the foreseeable future.

The Planning Commission voted 4-2 Tuesday night to reject the Mitigated Negative Declaration/Initial Study which would see the site of the former Pellini Chevrolet razed and rebuilt to accommodate a pharmacy with a drive-up window and a branch of Chase Bank.

Tuesday night’s hearing went on for about three hours — after an equally long and contentious meeting on May 24 — and included the resignation of Simon Turkalj, whose term would not expire until the end of 2012 and the appointment of a new chair and vice-chair of the commission.

According to Sebastopol Planning Director Kenyon Webster, 18 speakers mostly voiced concerns —a few were there in support of the project — ranging from negative traffic impacts to inadequate CEQA analysis.

“There were a wide range of concerns expressed such as the project not being consistent with the downtown pedestrian portion of the General Plan,” Webster said. “Others were concerned with the survival of local businesses competing with a national chain.”

Planning Commission chair Bob Green, whose term expires at the end of this month, has left the commission as well.

Green, however, didn’t leave before amending the minutes from the last meeting — at which a citizen called him “an arrogant prick” — to read “arrogant prick” rather than simply “prick.”

“It’s unfortunate really,” said Green in a subsequent interview. “People volunteer to do something and serve the community and then they have to experience that stuff.”

Pyrotechnics aside, by the end of the evening, Commissioner Colin Doyle was elected as chair of the PC and Matt Stevens was elected vice-chair. Both commissioners’ terms expire at the end of this year.

The decision will also set an appeals process in motion that will take months, at the least, which will indefinitely delay the appearance of the issue before city council for final approval.

“I believe they’re going to try to appeal,” Webster said.

The Mitigated Negative Declaration included an alcohol use permit and the City’s abandonment of Barnes Avenue, the alleyway that connects Sebastopol Avenue with Abbott Avenue, which is part of the parking lot for the Frizzelle Enos Feed Store.

The original application for the project was submitted by Armstrong Development Properties Inc. (ADPI) on March 3, 2010 to build a 22,076 square foot project on the 2.58-acre site of the former Pellini Chevrolet.

The proposal included a 14,576 square foot CVS pharmacy/retail store and a 7,500 square foot commercially zoned building facing Frizelle Enos.

The project was amended to create a smaller footprint, 18,903 square feet, and the Chase Bank element with a drive-up ATM was included. The amendments also placed the drive-up elements away from the street side of the property, in response to citizens’ concerns for the appearance of the development.

The project would also increase the setback and add landscaping to one of Sebastopol’s main intersections. The landscaping will cover about 20 percent of the property, adding a significant amount of permeable surface area to a site that is mostly buildings and pavement.

When the car dealership closed its doors in 2008, more than a dozen employees were laid off, and an era ended in Sebastopol.

The property is currently owned by Pete Pellini, and has been in his family since around 1910.

The original building was built in 1920 to be a car dealership, and the property at one time housed a gas station.

The Pellinis started the car dealership in 1932, and to the East between the property and the Laguna, was Sebastopol’s China-town, which burned to the ground in the 1930s.

Since its closure, the Pellinis have donated to space to fundraising events, such as a recent rummage sale by the Analy High School cheer leaders.

City Council is expected to address vacancies on the Commission at its Tuesday, June 21 meeting, which will take place at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center’s Youth Annex building at 390 Morris Street, Sebastopol. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

Go to ci.sebastopol.ca.us (https://ci.sebastopol.ca.us/) for more information. The final agenda for the meeting will be posted Friday, June 17.

David Abbott can be reached at [email protected].

Keith of all trades

06-17-2011, 07:43 PM

When I first saw the public notice sign at the Pellini site, I just sighed.

So, do we or don't we go down the road of the chain store/strip mall? Granted, lots of chains established themselves in Sebastopol before I moved here with my family 4 years ago (e.g. Starbucks, Subway, Burger King, Taco Bell, McDonalds, RiteAid, CVS (used to be Longs), Whole Foods, Safeway, Lucky, Baskin-Robbin, GNC.. what am I missing...)

I know that some of these establishments are locally owned franchises, so I don't wish any harm towards the local owners. (I eat at Taco Bell once in a while!--the horrors!) But, with new retail developments opening with only chains elsewhere in the county, state, country and world. I'd hope that someone with a vision could do something better with that prime piece of Sebastopol real estate than put up a drive thru pharmacy and ATM. As the self-employed proprietor of a local handyman service, I hope that someone other than CVS and Chase bank can come up with something interesting to do with the old Chevy dealership. But money talks, even in Sebastopol.

Keith

Imagery

06-18-2011, 02:31 AM

So is CVS trying to build a new, more central location, so they can move their business, or are they trying to occupy a second location in Sebastopol? Same question applies to Chase.

Barry

06-18-2011, 06:58 PM

So is CVS trying to build a new, more central location, so they can move their business, or are they trying to occupy a second location in Sebastopol? Same question applies to Chase.
I'm sure CVS is moving and I imagine Chase if moving too.

Anybody know for what reasons the Planning Commission denied the Negative Declaration?

Barry

06-22-2011, 03:52 PM

Heads up, folks! The recent denial of the proposed CVS project is being appealed and will come before the council on July 5th.

dominus

06-22-2011, 05:19 PM

I'm not surprised that CVS is appealing as they have a real incentive in moving to the Pellini location given it's proximity to Palm Drive Hospital and the Medical offices. However, the Redwood Shopping Center currently offers a dedicated lane, traffic light and two entrances into the center for CVS shoppers. That will not be the case at the Pellini location. At the last meeting, Mr. Green stressed that it was just a matter of transporting "buying trips" across town. In theory, that might be the case. In reality, that will not be the case. If CVS were to relocate, the traffic situation will become a certifiable nightmare. Why should an entire community have to pay the price for what CVS wants???

caverly

06-22-2011, 07:53 PM

i wish this site could be developed/dedicated to the well-being of the commonunity { rather than some
corporation seeking their own interests in making MORE profits }. Ideal would be an Alternative Health center
or Arts Center { although we allready have this }. Any ideas ??!!!

scamperwillow

06-23-2011, 09:19 AM

i wish this site could be developed/dedicated to the well-being of the commonunity { rather than some
corporation seeking their own interests in making MORE profits }. Ideal would be an Alternative Health center
or Arts Center { although we allready have this }. Any ideas ??!!!

We have to remember that whoever develops this property must first BUY it from the Pellini family and then have the money to build something, so it has to be something that is financially feasible. This is not going to be easy in this financial climate so we should all be looking for developers and projects that can financially afford to do something that will also benefit the community. Moving CVS across town is not going to add more jobs, more tax money or anything, it is just a transfer and will cause traffic problems and competition for existing downtown locally owned businesses.

1104GT

06-30-2011, 09:56 AM

As most of you know, the developer representing CVS has appealed the Planning Commission's denial of the Negative Declaration to the City Council. This issue comes to the Council next Tuesday, July 5. We need to keep pressure on our representatives to make good decisions for our community. With that in mind, I want to share some thoughts on how I think we can best engage this process:

1. A developer is proposing a real project, so we need to specifically comment on the project being proposed. This is not the time to talk about things that we would like to see on this property. We have to deal with CVS and a bank. Nothing else is on the table.

2. It may be better to make something good out of this proposal than to hope for something better down the road. We may stop this development, but with our current codes, an even worse development may come next.

3. The only authority the City has comes from the Zoning Ordinance and, to a lesser degree, from the General Plan (see note 4 below). We need to frame our comments in the rights granted and limited by these two documents. If you have not read the sections on Downtown and the Downtown Core zone, I urge you to do so. The zoning section is very short. The General Plan section is longer, but easy reading. The General Plan and Zoning Ordinance can be downloaded here: https://ci.sebastopol.ca.us/page/zoning-ordinance . A marked up and highlighted copy of the General Plan can be found here: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14352522/GeneralPlan-Noted.pdf

4. For those not familiar with the working of cities, here's a quick primer. All property owners in the city have rights described in the City's Municipal Code which boils down to the Zoning Ordinance and the General Plan. The Zoning Ordinance is the most enforceable thing the City has. It is very specific in terms of the type of business that can operate on a property, but vague when it comes to directing the design or character of a project. The General Plan provides broad goals and objectives, speaks to character and has vague development guidelines. It is less enforceable than Zoning.

5. We need to focus on the specific things the developer is asking the City Council to do. They are:
A. Approve a conditional use permit to sell alcohol.
B. Abandon or move our Barnes Street right-of-way
C. Approve the Negative Declaration that basically states that the project conforms with Zoning and the General Plan and has not significant environmental impacts.

I'll offer my opinion of each of these three issues.

A. Alcohol Permit - CVS already has a permit to sell alcohol in our City and has done so without significant local issues that I am aware of. In order to argue that they are not good stewards of this responsibility one would need to present very specific information to that effect. Although there may be an argument related to the number of stores selling alcohol in the area, the City does not have a code limiting them. My feeling is that the City will be very reluctant to deny this application and doing so would likely result in a lawsuit.

B. Barnes Avenue - The downtown of our town must be served by a grid of City owned streets, so I strongly oppose abandoning Barnes or allowing it to be built as part of a parking lot. I do support moving it to the East side of the property. Barnes needs to be a downtown City street complete with curbs, sidewalks and public street parking. I know many people do not favor development, but with large parcels up for sale and our existing zoning codes, like it or not, this area of town is going to be developed. Making sure it is done well is up to us and our City officials and having a grid of streets serving it is essential.

C. Negative Declaration - I think the Planning Commission was correct in denying approval of the Negative Declaration, but could not cite the specifics as to why. My feeling is that the project does not comply with the parts of our General Plan specifically related to the type of development that is appropriate in a downtown, the importance of pedestrian activity at the sidewalks and how the parking is configured. I question wether some of our commissioners have read or fully understand the General Plan. I have bookmarked and highlighted a copy of General Plan that can be downloaded at this link. https://dl.dropbox.com/u/14352522/GeneralPlan-Noted.pdf

The last point I will make is to ask that we all please keep our comments civil and polite. Remember that our commission and council members are volunteers and are trying to do what they think is best for our community within the powers granted to them by our municipal code. I know the process can be confusing and frustrating, but I'm sure we can display our passion for our town in a positive way.

The City Council Meeting is July 5, 2011.

John Eder

07-03-2011, 10:34 PM

I encourage all citizens who are interested in the proposed CVS project at the former Pellini Chevrolet site to attend the Sebastopol City Council meeting at the Youth Annex on Morris Street at 6 P.M. on Tuesday, July 5. It is important that a wide cross section of Sebastopol residents be seen and heard by the City Council regarding this matter. Here is a link to the agenda package and its supporting documentation:

https://ci.sebastopol.ca.us/sites/default/files/events-and-meetings/cc_meeting_july_5_2011.pdf (https://ci.sebastopol.ca.us/sites/default/files/events-and-meetings/cc_meeting_july_5_2011.pdf)

The first item on the agenda is a hearing of an appeal by the project developer of the Planning Commission's denial of the CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for this project. City staff is contending that the Planning Commission denied the IS/MND without a solid basis or findings, and that their decision was arbitrary. This may or may not be true, but the fact remains that the IS/MND still is a flawed document and should not be approved by the City Council. I have addressed three points that need to receive further consideration prior to its approval. I have outlined these in a letter that was sent to all members of the City Council on July 1, 2011. A copy of that letter is attached. It also contained several examples of the type of development that Sebastopol might find acceptable at that site.

The main point is that the City of Sebastopol has profoundly weak/nonexistent design guidelines to apply to this site and this project to guide its development. Therefore, the developer is in a very strong position to advocate the design and usage which best suits them. To date, all of their proposals have been thoroughly inappropriate for our town and that location. It is critical that the aspect of aesthetics be incorporated into the Initial Study, which is allowed under CEQA, so that concretely mandated building and site design requirements can be established and applied to this proposed project.

Finally, I believe that some points should be entered into the record regarding the alcoholic beverage license application by CVS. They are as follows:

1.) The proposed CVS will be located directly across the street from Hopmonk Tavern. Ready nearby access to lower-cost alcoholic beverages may encourage some patrons of Hopmonk Tavern to walk directly across the street to purchase and possibly consume these beverages either on-site at the CVS store or in the immediate vicinity prior to returning to Hopmonk Tavern, as one beer at Hopmonk will cost as much as or more than a six-pack across the street at CVS.

2.) The sale of alcoholic beverages at this location should be permanently restricted to no later than 10 P.M. CVS has left open the option of going to 24 hour operation, thereby opening up the possibility of later (until 2 P.M.) sales.

3.) CVS should be permanently restricted at this location from the sale of single-serving alcoholic beverages- 40 oz. beers, malt liquor, single bottles of beer, fruit-flavored vodka drinks, etc. - the type of alcoholic beverages that may encourage more-immediate consumption patterns.

4.) CVS should be required to provide an on-site security officer to enforce the ban on the on-site and immediate area consumption of alcoholic beverages and loitering during evening hours until store closing. This would assist the Sebastopol Police Department in monitoring and controlling this potential situation.

If you, or anyone that you know, would be willing to present the above four points, it would be of great assistance, as my speaking time before the City Council will deal with other matters related to this proposed project.

 Hopefully, the City Council will be willing to listen to the voices of their constituents- you and I. See you Tuesday at 6 P.M.!

Barry

07-06-2011, 11:42 AM

Barry

07-07-2011, 09:07 AM

https://www.sonomawest.com/art/logo-sonomawest.png

Council overturns decision on CVS
Clears way for development on Pellini property
https://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2011/07/06/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/doc4e14b4985be5a839106166.txt

by David Abbott
Sonoma West Editor
Published: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 1:01 PM PDT

A marathon 4-hour-plus hearing took place in the Council chambers Tuesday night and in the end, a nearly unanimous vote cleared the way for the development of the Pellini property on the east side of town.

The decision put a quick but favorable end to an appeal by Armstrong Development Properties Inc. of a decision to halt the project made by the Planning Commission on June 14.

The project includes a 14,576 square foot CVS pharmacy/retail store with a drive-up window and a 4,327 square foot branch of Chase on the 2.45-acre site at the intersection of Highways 12 and 116 (Sebastopol and Petaluma avenues).

The Planning Commission rejected the negative declaration after two contentious meetings, but did not address two other important issues, the application for an alcohol use permit and the City’s’ abandonment of Barnes Avenue as part of the project.

The appeal was filed about one week after the negative declaration denial, putting the issue square on the shoulders of City Council.

Planning Director Kenyon Webster said that city staff recommended a reversal of the decision because the Planning Commission “didn’t make any required findings.”

“The Planning Commission’s rationale was not quite clear,” he said.

Councilmember Sarah Gurney echoed Webster’s concerns and advocated for sending the matter back to the Planning Commission.

“How did the Planning Commission come to this conclusion and not have findings?” she asked. “(It appears) they just took a vote and didn’t give us what we need.”

But Gurney was overruled by the other councilmembers, who wanted to move forward with the decision one way or the other.

More than 75 citizens packed into the Youth Annex and more than 20 made public comments, mostly in favor of the project.

Jeffery Schmidt, who lives near the current CVS location at the Redwood Marketplace on the northwest side of town said it was “inconvenient to have CVS move away,” but he felt it would have a “positive economic impact” on the city.

“Look at what we have there now: old abandoned buildings. It looks shabby,” he said. “It’s huge to have this project there … It goes further than I could have wished.”

Marty Webb also spoke in favor of the project, and against a commissioner who “ranted against corporate America.”

“You would have though CVS-Chase were building a napalm plant,” he said. “The Planning Commission should make decisions based on the merits of the project.”

But there was also opposition voiced at the meeting.

Magick Altman questioned CVS’s motives for moving.

“Most corporate entitites do predatory practices,” she said, adding that the move would likely lead to “two blighted areas.”

She also questioned the legitimacy of the traffic study done by the CVS corporate office.

“Let’s see a real traffic study instead of a computer generated one,” she said.

Maureen Shea said that she has a “front porch view” of the traffic at the intersection aa well as personal knowledge of the amount of soot dropped by idling vehicles.

“We don’t need to be adding cars to one of our most busy intersections,” she said.

The project was also seen as a “gift” to the community that will purportedly bring about $5 million in construction — with commensurate temporary jobs — with improvements to the abandoned property that will include Streetscape Sebastopol improvements the City won’t have to fund and improvements to street crossings.

Responding to criticism of the project, Councilmember Patrick Slayter — who was elected last November — said that his first experience in Sebastopol politics involved the Northeast Area Plan, which was “too big,” and now it seems as if the CVS project is “too small.”

“We seem to have a Goldilocks Conundrum,” he said. “I think this project is threading that needle.”

In the end, the appeal was upheld 4-1, with Gurney casting the lone, dissenting vote. The negative declaration was amended to allow for an eventual extension of Abbott Avenue, and to ensure that parking on the site will be open to the public.

The Barnes Avenue and alcohol use permit both passed unanimously.

Barnes Avenue, the alley that connects Sebastopol Avenue to Abbott Avenue, will be moved to the east and widened to 25’ along with other improvements. The City will also retain the right to take the street back.

CVS representatives hope to begin demolition of the existing buildings by September of this year, with a targeted “in service” date of May 2012.

Property owner Pete Pellini declined to comment.

David Abbott can be reached at [email protected].

scamperwillow

07-07-2011, 11:27 AM

Where was everyone??? With all the opposition on this discussion and more than 500 signers on the petition against it, why was almost NOONE at the council meeting?? I was really amazed and disappointed to see very few opponents at the Council. All these people who care so passionately about our community, don't care quite enough to show up for an important meeting I guess. Sarah was looking desperately for ways to prevent or improve this project, but almost all the speakers were glowing with how wonderful it is.

Helen Shane

07-07-2011, 08:04 PM

For the most part, the people who were there to oppose the appeal were the regular council watchers, and most spoke. Those who supported the appeal outnumbered the opponents, probably because they were urged to do so by one or more of the electeds. They were, for the most part, people who rarely show up but do at the occasional "crisis" point and speak they did.

I agree with Marty; while signing a petition is good, better is to show up, speak up and physically demonstrate your support for the council members who spend their time and energy doing the city's business. Show them that the issue is important enough to bring you out to encourage them.

Seedling

07-16-2011, 04:48 PM

I'd love to hear people's ideas on the fact that 2 national companies (one a "too big to fail" bank mired in controversy and one a corporate drug dispensary) have convinced the Sebastopol city council that it's a good idea for them to set up shop in the middle of town?

It makes me so angry that greed and short-sighted thinking is driving city planning here.

Does anyone know if Go Local Sonoma or Transition Town Sebastopol is fighting this?

My info comes from this article:
https://sebastopol.towns.pressdemocrat.com/2011/07/news/sebastopol-council-removes-roadblock-to-cvs-pharmacy/

Barry

07-16-2011, 05:22 PM

Seedling, I've merge your post below onto this thread. You might want to check out the other comments on this thread on the website.
Anybody have anything new to add?

I'd love to hear people's ideas on the fact that 2 national companies (one a "too big to fail" bank mired in controversy and one a corporate drug dispensary) have convinced the Sebastopol city council that it's a good idea for them to set up shop in the middle of town?

It makes me so angry that greed and short-sighted thinking is driving city planning here.

Does anyone know if Go Local Sonoma or Transition Town Sebastopol is fighting this?

My info comes from this article:
https://sebastopol.towns.pressdemocrat.com/2011/07/news/sebastopol-council-removes-roadblock-to-cvs-pharmacy/

tommy

07-17-2011, 09:39 AM

I don't understand how any of our so called "leaders" could love this place, if they allow two "Big Boxes Commercial Facilities" to dominate the sacred heart of West County. These belong in Rohnert Park, or Sacramento, where the developer is from, not this place that is so special. How could they despoil the central core of this area?

In my opinion, a better use would be a place for small consumer oriented businesses, for community facilities, non profits, open space. Why would they want to make this thorough fare, of Hwy 12 & 116, even more crowded, with more traffic?

Follow the money. Who owns this property? How much will they get? How much will the developer get? What about those of us who live here, who will be stuck with two greedy commercial "Too Big To Fail" dinosaurs in the middle of our belly?

Tomas

I'd love to hear people's ideas on the fact that 2 national companies (one a "too big to fail" bank mired in controversy and one a corporate drug dispensary) have convinced the Sebastopol city council that it's a good idea for them to set up shop in the middle of town?

It makes me so angry that greed and short-sighted thinking is driving city planning here.

Does anyone know if Go Local Sonoma or Transition Town Sebastopol is fighting this?

My info comes from this article:
https://sebastopol.towns.pressdemocrat.com/2011/07/news/sebastopol-council-removes-roadblock-to-cvs-pharmacy/

Barrie

07-17-2011, 01:47 PM

I live on the western edge of Santa Rosa and had shopped at the Long's on Stony Point for years, always happy with the service, etc. After CVS bought out Long's it didn't take very long for me to become unhappy with what they offer. Their store brand merchandise is very poor quality, the dental floss labeled "Waxed Mint" was neither waxed nor mint, their brand of chapstick is poorly put together, the waxy stuff comes out of the tube and gets stuck in the lid. I could go on for a long paragraph. I help a schizophrenic friend stay on his meds, when he went in to pick up his pills the pharmacist informed him that his flu shot was also ready. You don't tell a paranoid schizophrenic that their shot is ready. So I have transferred his prescriptions to RiteAid & I don't buy anything at CVS. They have all sorts of trippy little coupons and sales, etc., that are more work than they are worth to keep track of. If you want a discount for bringing in your own bag, you have to buy a token to fasten to the bag, then you have to remember to check every sales slip to see when you have earned your discount. It's easier to shop somewhere else. I recommend that Sebastopol say NO to CVS.

I'd love to hear people's ideas on the fact that 2 national companies (one a "too big to fail" bank mired in controversy and one a corporate drug dispensary) have convinced the Sebastopol city council that it's a good idea for them to set up shop in the middle of town?

It makes me so angry that greed and short-sighted thinking is driving city planning here.

Does anyone know if Go Local Sonoma or Transition Town Sebastopol is fighting this?

My info comes from this article:
https://sebastopol.towns.pressdemocrat.com/2011/07/news/sebastopol-council-removes-roadblock-to-cvs-pharmacy/

John Eder

07-18-2011, 09:59 AM

A "study session" will be conducted between the applicant for the CVS/Chase Bank project and the Sebastopol Design Review Board this coming Wednesday, July 20, at 4 pm in the conference room at City Hall.

This meeting is voluntary for the applicant, as formal design review has not started yet. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the site layout, the design of the buildings, the street furnishings (bike racks, benches, etc.) and the landscaping.

This is not a forum for expressing your views about how evil these companies are, how they should just go away, how crappy their behavior or products are, how bad traffic will be, etc. That ship has sailed, and, short of a lawsuit, which is still possible, this project will very likely be built. Our City Council has, for the most part, already rolled out the red carpet for this project, and, in doing so, effectively silenced a large number of voices and views. Expressions of this type will only serve to dilute the efforts of the people who are trying to salvage as much of this situation as possible and will be a distraction. A constructive way to participate at this point is to lobby for the [I]best possible project, using a realistic definition of "best possible". They aren't going to build a park, a community garden, or an art center. We can, however, try to influence the applicant, through the Design Review Board, to create a project that fits into our town and the surrounding area in the best manner possible, and has the smallest visual and cultural impact.

I encourage you to attend, and to speak creatively from both your heart and your mind. Attacks and tirades will only play into the hand of the project applicant, and possibly strengthen their resolve to do things their way to the maximum extent possible.

John Eder

07-18-2011, 11:23 AM

Bad dog.... my posting above is incorrect. This Wednesday's Design Review Board meeting will not be about CVS/Chase. I am told it will be about the Barlow project. The meeting regarding the CVS/Chase project will occur in August, with the date unknown by me at present (I have reached my quota of misinformation for the day).

The same thoughts regarding the CVS/Chase project still apply- what can we, as citizens, do to make a convincing case for a really high quality project that we might actually enjoy if it is "done right"?

Geni Houston

07-18-2011, 04:32 PM

Whereas I think your overall idea is superb, I think you will have two minor obstacles, 1) getting all the citizens to agree on what is "high-quality" and 2) what is "fun-for-all".

Your final obstacle is finding someone with money to develop the project even if you did overcome 1 and 2.

A final note - I think I have seen several mentions of CVS expanding - and with initial meetings with the CVS representative - the actual idea was to DOWNSIZE with the smaller stores were more profitable (yes for them - but sales tax for us, too!) and more personable.

Final, final note, Barry why won't spell check work withing this text? I see the icon but no action. :wink:

Barry

07-18-2011, 04:53 PM

Final, final note, Barry why won't spell check work withing this text? I see the icon but no action. :wink:
Spell checking should be done in your browser. Seems as though Internet Explorer (IE) still doesn't have it. (Microsoft never fails to amaze me!) If you are using IE I suggest you switch to Firefox! Otherwise this looks like free add-in spell checker for IE (https://cybernetnews.com/spell-check-ie9/). Here's another one (https://www.iespell.com/). I don't know anything about them, though.

Business come and go, but building tend to hang around longer. Given that the CVS/Chase largely meeting the zoning requirements, the city would be hard-pressed to have a credible excuse to deny the project.

I think both the site and building design are as-important or more as the tenants. I think this is a good opportunity to work with the developer to press for a downtown, pedestrian-friendly attractive design. I believe they are open to hearing and working with the community to come up with something acceptable. This would be a great time for progressive architects and other interested parties to come forward with some with some constructive suggestions!

scamperwillow

07-18-2011, 11:45 PM

I don't understand how any of our so called "leaders" could love this place, if they allow two "Big Boxes Commercial Facilities" to dominate the sacred heart of West County. These belong in Rohnert Park, or Sacramento, where the developer is from, not this place that is so special. How could they despoil the central core of this area?

In my opinion, a better use would be a place for small consumer oriented businesses, for community facilities, non profits, open space. Why would they want to make this thorough fare, of Hwy 12 & 116, even more crowded, with more traffic?

Follow the money. Who owns this property? How much will they get? How much will the developer get? What about those of us who live here, who will be stuck with two greedy commercial "Too Big To Fail" dinosaurs in the middle of our belly?

Tomas

Once again, I ask, where was everybody when this came before the council?? It does no good to whine here, you have to speak to the leaders and decision makers. Sarah G was looking for a reason to at least delay it but there was very little support in the audience which makes it harder to take a stand.

This is not about what the council would like to see on this property. It is about what the law allows. There was not much available in the general plan planning law that they could use to refuse it. But it is not over yet, so if you really care about this, get involved, talk to the decision makers and go to the MEETINGS.

Sara S

07-20-2011, 08:17 AM

Ditto, Barrie, although I only once bought something there; yeah, the "loss-leaders" in their ads look good, but when they first opened in Sebastopol and I needed an item that I didn't want to drive to WalMart for, that item was more than twice the WalMart price.

And for those of you out there who do the knee-jerk "WalMart=evil" dance:

WalMart was the number one corporate contributor to charities last year;

after hurricane Katrina, while all the government agencies were dilly-dallying around, WalMart was loading up 18-wheelers with supplies for New Orleans; and

the money I save shopping at WalMart enables me to give a scholarship in my son's name to an El Molino senior every year.

I live on the western edge of Santa Rosa and had shopped at the Long's on Stony Point for years, always happy with the service, etc. After CVS bought out Long's it didn't take very long for me to become unhappy with what they offer. Their store brand merchandise is very poor quality, the dental floss labeled "Waxed Mint" was neither waxed nor mint, their brand of chapstick is poorly put together, the waxy stuff comes out of the tube and gets stuck in the lid. I could go on for a long paragraph. I help a schizophrenic friend stay on his meds, when he went in to pick up his pills the pharmacist informed him that his flu shot was also ready. You don't tell a paranoid schizophrenic that their shot is ready. So I have transferred his prescriptions to RiteAid & I don't buy anything at CVS. They have all sorts of trippy little coupons and sales, etc., that are more work than they are worth to keep track of. If you want a discount for bringing in your own bag, you have to buy a token to fasten to the bag, then you have to remember to check every sales slip to see when you have earned your discount. It's easier to shop somewhere else. I recommend that Sebastopol say NO to CVS.

dominus

07-21-2011, 02:03 PM

I visited CVS today and spoke to an employee about the upcoming move. This individual is telling all her customers to contact the CVS Corporate Office and let them know that many people do not think this move is a good idea. The phone # is 800 746-7287 and they're back in Rhode Island.

I just called the C.O. & registered a complaint about CVS being the wrong business for the Pellini lot and shared that I believe their current location is an excellent fit. The developers of this upcoming project are from Sacramento and which tells me that they probably have little concern about how the traffic and congestion.

If you have a moment, please call. There is strength in numbers and CVS needs to know how the community feels about this move.

leela8

07-21-2011, 02:48 PM

Thanks, Dominus. I just phoned and the fellow was really friendly and polite and assured me he'd pass my comments on to the appropriate honchos.

I made the point that as a customer of CVS in its current location, I actually prefer to go there, as I can bypass the muddle of traffic in the "downtown" area. I explained that while our town is small, the circulation at that intersection is already quite congested, and that many citizens have concerns over that being an appropriate location.
He was surprised to learn that the move was just 1.1 miles away! I took the opportunity to say that while the concept of "downtown" in the abstract sounds prime from the corporate perspective, in this case, it is less than optimal, and they are well placed as they are now.

I think it's a great idea for people who care about this to call CVS directly as Dominus has invited us to do. :waccosun:

Weiser

07-21-2011, 06:53 PM

What drives me bonkers about this thread is that there is no better way to determine whether or not a business deserves to be in a given community than if it survives in the market place. It isn't the job of city councils and planning commisions to make economic/consumer choices for people. Are you so weak that you just can't resist shopping at Wall Mart? You need the government to protect you from your own behavior? How weak can you get.

What businesses need to figure out is how to deliver the goods and services in a manner that people will be willing to consume at their establishments at a given rate. Enough of the protectionism. This goes for marijuana dispenseries also.

Mark

zenekar

07-22-2011, 06:54 PM

Ditto, Barrie, although I only once bought something there; yeah, the "loss-leaders" in their ads look good, but when they first opened in Sebastopol and I needed an item that I didn't want to drive to WalMart for, that item was more than twice the WalMart price.

And for those of you out there who do the knee-jerk "WalMart=evil" dance:

WalMart was the number one corporate contributor to charities last year;

after hurricane Katrina, while all the government agencies were dilly-dallying around, WalMart was loading up 18-wheelers with supplies for New Orleans; and

the money I save shopping at WalMart enables me to give a scholarship in my son's name to an El Molino senior every year.
____

WalMart helped victims Katrina. That's good. Being the world's largest retailer they can afford to do it. They owe it to society, esp. considering their exploitation of their employees, not to mention people making their products in sweatshops in other countries. I recommend seeing the film "Why We Come" -- how predator WalMart puts small manufacturers and family businesses out of business in Mexico. The cost of cheap goods at WalMart comes at the expense of human suffering.

I understand when people with large families and little income are forced to go to WalMart out of a real necessity but if there is a choice, be aware of WalMart's practices that disrespects human dignity.
____

scamperwillow

07-26-2011, 01:09 PM

Sarah Gurney and I recommend you make advance contact AND attend the Design Review Board meeting on Aug. 3 [another preliminary review, no voting] which, I believe, will start at 4 PM at City Hall [this info needs to be confirmed]:

Architect Kevin Kellogg [email protected]
CVS Agent Bill McDermott [email protected]

DRB appointees:
Peter Schurch [email protected]
Zachary Douch [email protected]
Bob Beauchamp [email protected]
Lynn Deedler [email protected]
Ron Basso [email protected]
Alternate Lindsay Masset [email protected]

Let your views be known. We can still have an impact on the design and sustainability of this project. Landscaping, solar panels, car charging stations, recycled materials, zero waste construction, pedestrian entrances, etc.

If/when you speak, please be respectful and constructive. Angry insulting speeches only have the opposite effect. Believe it or not, almost everyone has the best interests of Sebastopol at heart - we just have different perspectives. Let's make ours really effective.

Geni Houston

07-26-2011, 01:35 PM

Marty - You know I love you, girl friend, and I hate to bump heads, but I have to put in my 2 cents.

What else is going to go there? When is it going to go there? Who has the money to put something there? Fine to say wait till something "better" comes along, but how long do we wait?

And of course I have no problem with input on sustainability: landscape, solar, etc. but if we are going to foster this detail on this project, why not on all projects? I see trees cut on main street, building signage without permits, sandwich signs that I understand are not even legal.

Are we singeling them out simply because they are CVS? Amy's Kitchen wanted their pilot fast food restaurant here in Sebastopol - Sebastopol from which they had all the choices in the world! And yet we said no thank you (yes because of the drive through - but for those who don't think the drive through is used - guess again - I almost always use it).

We need some commercial vitality in this community and sometimes the stronger / corporate business can help us with that. I agree it would be wonderful to have all locally owned businesses (even locally owned franchises) but ain't happening - not anytime soon.

Thanks for letting me share.
G

scamperwillow

07-26-2011, 01:52 PM

Hey Geni - love you too and glad we can all feel free to express our views here. I'm not saying it shouldn't go there any more - just let's make it fit in as well as possible. There is quite a difference between a sandwich board and a huge construction project in the very center of town. And as far as the sustainability bit, I DO press for it at every opportunity - it should just be automatic by now, but we apparently still need to watchdog like crazy to get the big players to do it.

I worry about the competition it is going to provide to our existing local businesses and the thought of three pharmacies downtown and none at the edge of town which will require EVERYONE to drive into downtown.

But I agree if a better project hasn't shown up, the Pellini's certainly have the right to sell and develop their property......

Marty - You know I love you, girl friend, and I hate to bump heads, but I have to put in my 2 cents.

What else is going to go there? When is it going to go there? Who has the money to put something there? Fine to say wait till something "better" comes along, but how long do we wait?

And of course I have no problem with input on sustainability: landscape, solar, etc. but if we are going to foster this detail on this project, why not on all projects? I see trees cut on main street, building signage without permits, sandwich signs that I understand are not even legal.

Are we singeling them out simply because they are CVS? Amy's Kitchen wanted their pilot fast food restaurant here in Sebastopol - Sebastopol from which they had all the choices in the world! And yet we said no thank you (yes because of the drive through - but for those who don't think the drive through is used - guess again - I almost always use it).

We need some commercial vitality in this community and sometimes the stronger / corporate business can help us with that. I agree it would be wonderful to have all locally owned businesses (even locally owned franchises) but ain't happening - not anytime soon.

Thanks for letting me share.
G

The Owl

07-26-2011, 03:56 PM

Hey Geni - love you too and glad we can all feel free to express our views here. I'm not saying it shouldn't go there any more - just let's make it fit in as well as possible. There is quite a difference between a sandwich board and a huge construction project in the very center of town. And as far as the sustainability bit, I DO press for it at every opportunity - it should just be automatic by now, but we apparently still need to watchdog like crazy to get the big players to do it.

I worry about the competition it is going to provide to our existing local businesses and the thought of three pharmacies downtown and none at the edge of town which will require EVERYONE to drive into downtown.

But I agree if a better project hasn't shown up, the Pellini's certainly have the right to sell and develop their property......

On day I imagine hearing town folk say "Why the hell did we let that go in? Now all we have are these corporate chains taking our money away from the community and undercutting local merchants 'til they have to close up shop." That Pellini place would have made a nice new location for the art center, or a permanent year round location for the Farmer's Market. Locating one of those there rather than down a hard to find dead end alley or one day a week in the town square would say volumes about the community to people passing through - instead we'll have yet another set of corporate signs among the first things people see coming into the city, just like the ones everywhere else within a few mile radius, nothing special about here... and there will probably be a need for more traffic lights because everyone who goes there will need to drive 1 person to 1 car, right? It's the American way, after all... and like the traffic lights now, they probably won't be synchronized so one will turn red just as the other turns green and you'll have monumental gridlock at peak shopping and commute times and make our already bad traffic situation many times worse... Seriously, how many BANKS does a city the size of Sebastopol really need? CVS is fine where it is, do you really want it located practically at the gateway to the city? ...small sign - entering Sebastopol -completely overwhelmed by huge, lighted CVS! CHASE! Logos. I find the lack of imagination appalling.

Barry

07-26-2011, 07:15 PM

One thing that should pointed out that this is very low-density use of the site. I hope the developers do not intend to come back later and develop the site further (with a new building). If there is an intention for future development it should be put on the table now. If this is going to be a downtown mini-mall that should not be hidden. As a local professional planner wrote to me:

"Approving projects piecemeal is a violation of CEQA and deliberate deception. "

I'd like to see the further development of the site be addressed, perhaps with restrictions or agreements.

scamperwillow

07-26-2011, 09:54 PM

One thing that should pointed out that this is very low-density use of the site. I hope the developers do not intend to come back later and develop the site further (with a new building). If there is an intention for future development it should be put on the table now. If this is going to be a downtown mini-mall that should not be hidden. As a local professional planner wrote to me:

"Approving projects piecemeal is a violation of CEQA and deliberate deception. "

I'd like to see the further development of the site be addressed, perhaps with restrictions or agreements.

I would LOVE to see more density in this project. I think what they are doing is a waste of valuable downtown center space. Not a mini-mall of course, but housing and offices upstairs, a restaurant, local retail, - maximize the site where density should be high.

Zeno Swijtink

07-26-2011, 10:00 PM

Even as I am not happy with seeing such generic and bland occupants as CVS/Chase at that key location in town I can imagine that a city council has to ask the question: is there any better occupant likely to develop there in the not too distant future?

So I am asking: what are the alternatives? And how are the recent new businesses in that general area doing, are they thriving, will they be viable?

Is a period of, say, five year of blight/non development at that key location preferable over CVS/Chase?

Keith of all trades

07-27-2011, 07:25 AM

Can this thread be forwarded to the powers that be in town and at CVS? I know Sarah Guerney is an Wacco, but I don't know if any of the other city council or planners are. Certainly CVS is not on Wacco!

Keith

1104GT

07-27-2011, 09:23 AM

A few comments on previous posts:

1. The only way thoughts, comments or ideas can be useful is if they are framed in an understanding of the way the City works and what powers the City has to govern development. The City has limited power over a person's property rights and cannot stop a development for vague reasons. Our City government only has powers granted to it by our General Plan and Municipal Code (zoning). If they take action, they need to site the chapter and section of the code that gives them the power to do so. That's why the Planning Commission's decision was overturned. They didn't cite the specific reasons and their related authority in denying the application. Any action by the City to act otherwise will result in lawsuits that will cost a lot and the City will loose.

2. The Pellini property has been vacant for a long time and there are quite a few other large lots currently for sale right in the center of town. If an arts center or some other use is desirable, someone needs to start working on a plan to make it happen. Being reactionary isn't going to get us what we want and City Government does not have the resources to do it for us. Ideas are great but useless if no one can forward a plan, make commitments and start writing big checks. We need to shift out of "protest" mode and into "proactive" mode.

3. I know a lot of people do not support development, but that view is unsustainable. The only way to preserve the open spaces between towns and cities in Sonoma county is by increasing density in existing towns. Unfortunately, our zoning codes are backwards; they make it easiest to develop on the periphery of towns where land is cheapest and comes in big chunks. This results in sprawl that develops precious open and agricultural land and destroys our rural buffers between cities. We need to work to reverse our zoning laws to make it easiest to develop in the center of town and hardest to build on the outskirts.

4. Remember that we have to respond to the proposal that is on the table; CVS and Chase Bank. Our City does not have the authority to stop it outright, so the best we can do is demand that the design be really good. My opinion is that buildings need to be moved close together with a walkway between them, eliminating the parking lot between buildings and leaving the land to the South open for future development.

We have made significant progress, but are not done by a long shot. The current proposal has a MUCH better designed CVS building elevations. Now we need them to fix the suburban site plan (it still stinks) by moving the buildings together to remove the big parking lot gap between them, show us the corner of 12 & 116 and show us the Chase building.

Show up on August 3 and make a case for great design!

scamperwillow

07-27-2011, 09:44 AM

Can this thread be forwarded to the powers that be in town and at CVS? I know Sarah Guerney is an Wacco, but I don't know if any of the other city council or planners are. Certainly CVS is not on Wacco!

Keith

We need to get past the idea of hoping someone will read something on Wacco. You need to call or email the leaders personally and go to the meetings and speak up. What they see on Wacco is pretty much meaningless if you don't stand up and show real interest and action.

I posted all the email addresses of the Design Review Board in this thread - they want to hear from you.

Geni Houston

07-27-2011, 12:35 PM

On day I imagine hearing town folk say "Why the hell did we let that go in? Now all we have are these corporate chains taking our money away from the community and undercutting local merchants 'til they have to close up shop." That Pellini place would have made a nice new location for the art center, or a permanent year round location for the Farmer's Market. Locating one of those there rather than down a hard to find dead end alley or one day a week in the town square would say volumes about the community to people passing through - instead we'll have yet another set of corporate signs among the first things people see coming into the city, just like the ones everywhere else within a few mile radius, nothing special about here... and there will probably be a need for more traffic lights because everyone who goes there will need to drive 1 person to 1 car, right? It's the American way, after all... and like the traffic lights now, they probably won't be synchronized so one will turn red just as the other turns green and you'll have monumental gridlock at peak shopping and commute times and make our already bad traffic situation many times worse... Seriously, how many BANKS does a city the size of Sebastopol really need? CVS is fine where it is, do you really want it located practically at the gateway to the city? ...small sign - entering Sebastopol -completely overwhelmed by huge, lighted CVS! CHASE! Logos. I find the lack of imagination appalling.

Once again, I have to respectfully disagree. What I don't want have to say is "Where the #*$& did that business go?" A couple of points - coming into town you will see a city owned park at the bridge, some nice to lovely buildings on Morris corner, the Barlow project which will HAVE (my understanding) a year round farmers market and I don't think it is down a hard to find corner. Additionally, banks, pharmacies, et all do their market research and they know now many our city can sustain - or they close down. Remember, we serve the larger western side of the county. And again, CVS has indicated that they will do better in a smaller location so THEY do not think they are okay where they are. I, too, personally do not like the CVS or Chase logo for that matter but signs (should) go through review for size and usage. We cannot change the rules because some may not like a particular one. I can think of about 3 that I find appalling and they are not corporate business.
Geni

eeeeeeow

07-27-2011, 04:26 PM

At the last council meeting held re: the CVS developement, there was quite a bit of, not just concern, but outrage set squarely against this project. Those folks were told that this was an environmental impact meeting and that they would have a say at a later date. That "later date" never happened. The city council made the decision to exclude the citizens of Sebastopol and greenlight this project without any input from the people. Very discreetly, we're on a course to become another mall/town with more stores than we can shop at. With setbacks and codes being altered to please the developers, our city is slowly disappearing. We need guidelines as to developement in Sebastopol and people in office to enforce them, not bow down to corporate entities. What will happen to the smaller businesses that make this town what it is? Locally owned! Has anyone thought of the ramifications involved? Without public opinion, it is impossible to do so. You want another Santa Rosa? I say move to Santa Rosa. I'm sickened by the course our local "government" has taken. I fear we have crossed the Rubicon. If we are excluded in the process from the beginning. I see no reason to exclude ourselves from the results. Boycott CVS.

zenekar

07-27-2011, 05:06 PM

A few comments on previous posts:

1. The only way thoughts, comments or ideas can be useful is if they are framed in an understanding of the way the City works and what powers the City has to govern development. The City has limited power over a person's property rights and cannot stop a development for vague reasons. Our City government only has powers granted to it by our General Plan and Municipal Code (zoning). If they take action, they need to site the chapter and section of the code that gives them the power to do so. That's why the Planning Commission's decision was overturned. They didn't cite the specific reasons and their related authority in denying the application. Any action by the City to act otherwise will result in lawsuits that will cost a lot and the City will loose.

2. The Pellini property has been vacant for a long time and there are quite a few other large lots currently for sale right in the center of town. If an arts center or some other use is desirable, someone needs to start working on a plan to make it happen. Being reactionary isn't going to get us what we want and City Government does not have the resources to do it for us. Ideas are great but useless if no one can forward a plan, make commitments and start writing big checks. We need to shift out of "protest" mode and into "proactive" mode.

3. I know a lot of people do not support development, but that view is unsustainable. The only way to preserve the open spaces between towns and cities in Sonoma county is by increasing density in existing towns. Unfortunately, our zoning codes are backwards; they make it easiest to develop on the periphery of towns where land is cheapest and comes in big chunks. This results in sprawl that develops precious open and agricultural land and destroys our rural buffers between cities. We need to work to reverse our zoning laws to make it easiest to develop in the center of town and hardest to build on the outskirts.

4. Remember that we have to respond to the proposal that is on the table; CVS and Chase Bank. Our City does not have the authority to stop it outright, so the best we can do is demand that the design be really good. My opinion is that buildings need to be moved close together with a walkway between them, eliminating the parking lot between buildings and leaving the land to the South open for future development.

We have made significant progress, but are not done by a long shot. The current proposal has a MUCH better designed CVS building elevations. Now we need them to fix the suburban site plan (it still stinks) by moving the buildings together to remove the big parking lot gap between them, show us the corner of 12 & 116 and show us the Chase building.

Show up on August 3 and make a case for great design!

It appears to me that the general outrage is about the intrusion of national and international corporate franchises. As you've correctly outlined the process and limitation cities have regarding private property, the system is set up to favor corporations that have the money to purchase prime real estate. Communities are left with no choice but to allow the corporations to move in, even criminal enterprises like Chase.

The question is, how can people take back their communities to build what the community needs and desires vs. big business that profits from, but has no concern for, the community? Corporations play a mean game -- like a combination of Monopoly and Chess. We are the the pawns who sometimes don't collect $200 but go directly to jail. But with some skill, pawns can checkmate a king. Where there is a will and organization there are possibilities for real change.

scamperwillow

07-27-2011, 06:23 PM

eeeeeow you are confused. It was at the Planning commission where the outrage was expressed and the PC said no to the project. It was then appealed to the Council. At the Council meeting, there were very few speakers against the project and many in favor. They DID accept input - it was a public hearing - announced here and in many other places. No one on the Council said anything about a later date - they were very clear that they were reversing the PC's decision. They did say that input would still be taken at the Design Review Board which is referenced in this thread. I was at this City Council meeting - were you? It doesn't sound like the same meeting.

At the last council meeting held re: the CVS developement, there was quite a bit of, not just concern, but outrage set squarely against this project. Those folks were told that this was an environmental impact meeting and that they would have a say at a later date. That "later date" never happened. The city council made the decision to exclude the citizens of Sebastopol and greenlight this project without any input from the people. Very discreetly, we're on a course to become another mall/town with more stores than we can shop at. With setbacks and codes being altered to please the developers, our city is slowly disappearing. We need guidelines as to developement in Sebastopol and people in office to enforce them, not bow down to corporate entities. What will happen to the smaller businesses that make this town what it is? Locally owned! Has anyone thought of the ramifications involved? Without public opinion, it is impossible to do so. You want another Santa Rosa? I say move to Santa Rosa. I'm sickened by the course our local "government" has taken. I fear we have crossed the Rubicon. If we are excluded in the process from the beginning. I see no reason to exclude ourselves from the results. Boycott CVS.

Magick

07-31-2011, 02:39 PM

Community, I will be speaking during public comment at 6pm on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at the CITY COUNCIL meeting at the Youth Annex. I encourage all of you to come and continue to keep this issue alive. The project has not been approved.
PLEASE consider attending the Design Review Board meeting as well, on Wed. Aug 3rd, at 4pm. at CIty Hall I will be speaking there as well.
If you want to have an affect you need to get the hang of how things work and get involved, wacco is a great network for information then we need to run with it.
I have been working on local issues for over 15 years and even when it looks like a done deal, don't give up, Many times we have been successful in the 11th hour.
We can do a boycott online petition adding to the over 500 signatures already opposing, "If you build it we won't COME!
We can do a referendum, We can start to picket and ask people to stop shopping there now and move there money out of Chase to local banks.
What are you willing to do? What are your brainstorming ideas?
See you at the meetings! Yours in truth, Magick

eeeeeeow

08-01-2011, 02:31 PM

I will see you at the meetings! My wife and I have already moved our money to a local bank. That's a good idea anyway, re: the local economy let alone an action to send a message. It shoould happen across America. These larger banks certainly have no interest in the needs of small communities.

The problem of living in a small town is the possibility that the town is run by small minds. The improvements needed in Sebastopol are few. This corner considered for the CVS fiasco could use a facelift, no doubt. The factory/warehouse area not far from that corner is another example. But, these areas could be transformed into neighborhoods with walk streets with housing and a diverse collection of locally owned businesses. To take the easy way out and let big business pull the strings on our city council is something that, unfortunately happens all over America.

Build on what we already have: a community that cares. A community that is involved and proud of where we live.

One more thing: we will not forget this come election day.

Community, I will be speaking during public comment at 6pm on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at the CITY COUNCIL meeting at the Youth Annex. I encourage all of you to come and continue to keep this issue alive. The project has not been approved.
PLEASE consider attending the Design Review Board meeting as well, on Wed. Aug 3rd, at 4pm. at CIty Hall I will be speaking there as well.
If you want to have an affect you need to get the hang of how things work and get involved, wacco is a great network for information then we need to run with it.
I have been working on local issues for over 15 years and even when it looks like a done deal, don't give up, Many times we have been successful in the 11th hour.
We can do a boycott online petition adding to the over 500 signatures already opposing, "If you build it we won't COME!
We can do a referendum, We can start to picket and ask people to stop shopping there now and move there money out of Chase to local banks.
What are you willing to do? What are your brainstorming ideas?
See you at the meetings! Yours in truth, Magick

eeeeeeow

08-01-2011, 02:37 PM

Go to the meetings and voice your oppositiomn: 6pm on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at the CITY COUNCIL meeting at the Youth Annex.

I encourage all of you to come and continue to keep this issue alive. The project has not been approved.

PLEASE consider attending the Design Review Board meeting as well, on Wed. Aug 3rd, at 4pm. at CIty Hall I will be speaking

Barry

08-01-2011, 03:37 PM

https://img594.imageshack.us/img594/7149/cvsrender5.pngSee a new article posted on the WaccoBB.net home page (https://www.waccobb.net/forums/content.php) by Paul Fritz, a local Architect, on the proposed design of the CVS development.

scamperwillow

08-01-2011, 05:47 PM

Go to the meetings and voice your oppositiomn: 6pm on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at the CITY COUNCIL meeting at the Youth Annex.

I encourage all of you to come and continue to keep this issue alive. The project has not been approved.

PLEASE consider attending the Design Review Board meeting as well, on Wed. Aug 3rd, at 4pm. at CIty Hall I will be speaking

And if you can't make it to the Design Review Board - write to them before Wed. This has an impact - send them good ideas, not attacks:

DRB appointees:
Peter Schurch [email protected]
Zachary Douch [email protected]
Bob Beauchamp [email protected]
Lynn Deedler [email protected]
Ron Basso [email protected]
Alternate Lindsay Masset [email protected]

Let your views be known. We can still have an impact on the design and sustainability of this project. Landscaping, solar panels, car charging stations, recycled materials, zero waste construction, pedestrian entrances, etc.

If/when you speak, please be respectful and constructive. Angry insulting speeches only have the opposite effect. Believe it or not, almost everyone has the best interests of Sebastopol at heart - we just have different perspectives. Let's make ours really effective.

scamperwillow

08-01-2011, 07:04 PM

Here is the letter I wrote - write your own:

Dear Design Review board members,

I had hoped to be at the meeting Wed, but now I discover I cannot attend, so here are my comments. Although I am very unhappy that a project like this is going into the center of our little town, I realize we may not be able to stop it. Therefore, I am counting on you to make sure it is the very best design possible. Here are some of my priorities:

The design needs to fit in with the look and feel of our current downtown.
The two buildings should be next to each other to give more of a downtown pedestrian street feel.
If they could add even another building for a restaurant or something in the site plan, that would be great infill.
It should be built as green as possible: solar panels, sustainable materials, car charging stations.
The windows should be REAL windows that look into the store and the people inside, not those fake display windows they are proposing.
If there is any way to add a second story for housing or office space that would be a huge improvement.
Landscaping and benches and people gathering nodes and bike racks should be included.
Signage should be subtle and fit in with other downtown signage.
There should be a clear pedestrian entrance off the street.

Please consider these comments as you conduct your review.

Thanks very much,
Marty Roberts
Robinson Rd.

And if you can't make it to the Design Review Board - write to them before Wed. This has an impact - send them good ideas, not attacks:

DRB appointees:
Peter Schurch [email protected]
Zachary Douch [email protected]
Bob Beauchamp [email protected]
Lynn Deedler [email protected]
Ron Basso [email protected]
Alternate Lindsay Masset [email protected]

Let your views be known. We can still have an impact on the design and sustainability of this project. Landscaping, solar panels, car charging stations, recycled materials, zero waste construction, pedestrian entrances, etc.

If/when you speak, please be respectful and constructive. Angry insulting speeches only have the opposite effect. Believe it or not, almost everyone has the best interests of Sebastopol at heart - we just have different perspectives. Let's make ours really effective.

dominus

08-02-2011, 10:00 AM

There will be a total of 3 store locations which are vacant at the Redwood Shopping Center after CVS relocates. Won't that current location become blight? How does the council plan to handle that?

scamperwillow

08-02-2011, 10:54 AM

There will be a total of 3 store locations which are vacant at the Redwood Shopping Center after CVS relocates. Won't that current location become blight? How does the council plan to handle that?

Plus Rite Aid will probably be vacant soon when CVS drives them out. Maybe we should be focussing on how to redo that parcel and make it part of a pedestrian friendly downtown.

leela8

08-02-2011, 11:06 AM

One main point that ought to still really be emphasized regarding this CVS/Chase thing is
the traffic. Bad enough they're putting in suburban sprawl, but drive-through means an untenable increase in car traffic at an already disproportionately congested intersection.
How do they propose to address the vast increase in cars trying to turn left and right from both sides of that development? The developers should not be allowed to simply drop a traffic bomb on our town and then walk away with a pile of cash but no accountability.

Geni Houston

08-02-2011, 11:14 AM

A little heavy on the Rite Aid comment - all of a sudden Rite Aid is the good guy?

But you do bring up an interesting point, Marty. Get in front of those vacancies! Where was all this community input while Pellini's was just sitting there? You can't do nothing and then cry foul.

I noticed a comment above regarding the "old warehouse area" across the street and what a blight it was and why could not not be mixed use with shops/retail. Sound familiar? I think that was a plan that got shot down.

If it was Whole Foods moving there would we still have this discussion? Trader Joe's?
Amy's Kitchen Restaurant?

This is zoned correctly - it should not be a popularity or community vote. Our input needs to be at different levels. If you want this town to be absolutely no corporate entities - then change it - but you cannot pick and choose what business you like on a piecemeal basis.

scamperwillow

08-02-2011, 11:21 AM

A little heavy on the Rite Aid comment - all of a sudden Rite Aid is the good guy?

I wasn't saying Rite Aid was the good guy. I was replying to the post about vacancies. It is not likely our small town can support them both and CVS has a track record of driving out competitors. It just seems like the writing on the wall, that this will drive Rite Aid out and then we have another big vacant space in the middle of downtown. I, by the way, supported the North East plan - because it was a "Plan" that could foresee such things. Too many people thought that it was a development proposal which it was not - only a plan for the area.

oliviathunderkitty

08-02-2011, 11:31 AM

One thing that should probably be added to the mix is lack of good in-store awareness at CVS. Several months ago, employees began finding empty bottles of wine and beer in their public restroom. It seems that a customer or customers took bottles into the bathroom, chugged the contents and then slipped out. On at least one occasion, a single individual drank two 750ml bottles of wine and a large bottle of beer in just a few minutes. This happened early in the morning, indicating serious alcohol problems. I spoke with one of the managers about this and that manager confirmed the details and said they'd had several people mention it to them. This situation was bad enough at the current location but at such as a busy intersection as is currently proposed could result in tragedy. At a minimum, members of the city council should be made aware of this situation.

dominus

08-02-2011, 11:36 AM

For me, the issue isn't a matter of eliminating corporations entirely. The issue is what companies represent and are selling. I believe Whole Foods, Trader Joe's & Amy's are far better options for people and the planet because these companies make every effort to do business as non-toxically as possible. Not perfect, perhaps, but a lot better than the generic run of the mill CVS which sells a staggering amount of products from China. A friend of mine recently returned from a trip to China and told me that the pollution over there is terrible. We are in the mess that we are in this country and this world because so much of business is done without a sense of morality. CVS can put in solar panels, plant native species, etc. but the "outside" will not change the "inside." They will still sell a lot of junk which will make it's way into the landfill. They will still impact the traffic situation dramatically. They will still continue to do business as they always have.

This issue is a matter of morality and what we stand for as a community.

Geni Houston

08-02-2011, 11:59 AM

Sorry Marty! It did read like the entire response was to you - only first part and your good point! And I know you supported the Northeast project!

I was actually responding to several emails all at once.

And Dominus had good points above, too, however I throughly disagree with (Whole Foods, Trader Joe's & Amy's are far better options for people and the planet) . That's why I chose those three, very different, but that is a thread of a different color! :wink:

Howard

08-03-2011, 07:58 PM

A little heavy on the Rite Aid comment - all of a sudden Rite Aid is the good guy?

But you do bring up an interesting point, Marty. Get in front of those vacancies! Where was all this community input while Pellini's was just sitting there? You can't do nothing and then cry foul.

I noticed a comment above regarding the "old warehouse area" across the street and what a blight it was and why could not not be mixed use with shops/retail. Sound familiar? I think that was a plan that got shot down.

If it was Whole Foods moving there would we still have this discussion? Trader Joe's?
Amy's Kitchen Restaurant?

This is zoned correctly - it should not be a popularity or community vote. Our input needs to be at different levels. If you want this town to be absolutely no corporate entities - then change it - but you cannot pick and choose what business you like on a piecemeal basis.

I find this discussion a bit ironic. Some of the very same people opposed to this project (not you Marty) were opposed to the Northeast Area Plan that would have made this a much more Sebastopol friendly project. The plan included incentives for green building, affordable housing, human scale architecture, public uses, etc. Buildings were to be located near the street and parking could have been put in structures away from high profile corners. The opposition, along with the council majority, thought that no plan meant no new development. They convinced many voters that a lack of a plan would keep things the way they are. Welcome to the real world.

scamperwillow

08-03-2011, 09:51 PM

So what happened tonight???? I wasn't able to be there. Details please? Will there be another meeting??

tommy

08-05-2011, 09:25 AM

I was at the meeting & spoke, tho I didn't stay after the public comments. I believe Ms Mayor was there in the back. A member of the Planning Commission told me that for some reason their critical comments were not included in the minutes that went to City Council. The implication was that this may have resulted in the City Council approving the project.

All of the approx 15 or so people who spoke were opposed to either the "shopping center" design, Chase and CVS residing on this prominent site, or design details... with the exception of a local business owner who lives in Forestville and who liked the project.

I thought the most important comments were: desire for mixed use pedestrian oriented development, the green sustainable desire to save and rehab the Pellini building, design comments about the buildings & parking, and legal questions about the negative declaration and environmental issues.

People I spoke to said the Design Review could send it back to the Planning Commission, I think essentially rejecting it, and that the City Council could rescind their approval.

So what happened tonight???? I wasn't able to be there. Details please? Will there be another meeting??

scamperwillow

08-05-2011, 10:01 AM

Thanks Tommy! Anyone stay to the end? how did it end? Was the public comment period continued? Was it sent back to Planning Commission? What was the final result?

I was at the meeting & spoke, tho I didn't stay after the public comments. I believe Ms Mayor was there in the back. A member of the Planning Commission told me that for some reason their critical comments were not included in the minutes that went to City Council. The implication was that this may have resulted in the City Council approving the project.

All of the approx 15 or so people who spoke were opposed to either the "shopping center" design, Chase and CVS residing on this prominent site, or design details... with the exception of a local business owner who lives in Forestville and who liked the project.

I thought the most important comments were: desire for mixed use pedestrian oriented development, the green sustainable desire to save and rehab the Pellini building, design comments about the buildings & parking, and legal questions about the negative declaration and environmental issues.

People I spoke to said the Design Review could send it back to the Planning Commission, I think essentially rejecting it, and that the City Council could rescind their approval.

scamperwillow

08-05-2011, 10:04 AM

One thing that should probably be added to the mix is lack of good in-store awareness at CVS. Several months ago, employees began finding empty bottles of wine and beer in their public restroom. It seems that a customer or customers took bottles into the bathroom, chugged the contents and then slipped out. On at least one occasion, a single individual drank two 750ml bottles of wine and a large bottle of beer in just a few minutes. This happened early in the morning, indicating serious alcohol problems. I spoke with one of the managers about this and that manager confirmed the details and said they'd had several people mention it to them. This situation was bad enough at the current location but at such as a busy intersection as is currently proposed could result in tragedy. At a minimum, members of the city council should be made aware of this situation.

Yikes! and that person actually "walked" out??

oliviathunderkitty

08-05-2011, 10:34 AM

Yikes! and that person actually "walked" out??

Yes, that person actually walked out, got into a car and drove away. Frightening.

1104GT

08-05-2011, 10:55 AM

Thanks to all who attended the design review meeting and spoke their concerns about the CVS project. I think the community's comments were heard and, judging by the comments of the committee, taken seriously. I stayed until the end and heard all of the committee members comments. Many of them echoed our concerns and I think gave the applicant the impression that they were far from having an acceptable solution.

It is important that we all attend these meetings and stay to hear what our representatives have to say. It's one thing to speak and hear community input, but if we don't stay, we don't know if we are heard. Leaving the meeting takes the heat off and makes the board members think we just came to vent. If we wont invest the same amount of time as the board members, our level conviction will be questioned.

It's important to understand that this was a "Preliminary Review", not a response to a formal application or proposal. Since this was a preliminary review, no action was taken or decisions made by the committee. My understanding is that the applicant will take the input from the meeting and revise their plans to respond to the comments or not, depending on how much weight they place on each suggestion or comment. They will then make a formal application. That means that this process is really just beginning. We need to continue to voice our concerns and make sure the next version responds to our input, especially once a formal application is made. That's when it will really count.

Since this project conforms to our lame zoning and our General Plan is fairly vague, my opinion is that design review is our best opportunity to demand an outstanding project. The challenge is that our design review committee typically deals with fairly minor issues on smaller projects and is not used to having to comment on larger issues like urban design and is not accustomed to wielding significant power. We need to continue to support and encourage their efforts in a positive way and let them know that we support their desire for a truly outstanding project on this property and nothing short of outstanding will do. Like I said when I spoke, if this project doesn't make our downtown significantly better, it isn't good enough.

scamperwillow

08-05-2011, 11:33 AM

Thanks for your report! Did they say when they will be back again? Did you get a sense of what things in particular they were wanting improvement on?

Thanks to all who attended the design review meeting and spoke their concerns about the CVS project. I think the community's comments were heard and, judging by the comments of the committee, taken seriously. I stayed until the end and heard all of the committee members comments. Many of them echoed our concerns and I think gave the applicant the impression that they were far from having an acceptable solution.

It is important that we all attend these meetings and stay to hear what our representatives have to say. It's one thing to speak and hear community input, but if we don't stay, we don't know if we are heard. Leaving the meeting takes the heat off and makes the board members think we just came to vent. If we wont invest the same amount of time as the board members, our level conviction will be questioned.

It's important to understand that this was a "Preliminary Review", not a response to a formal application or proposal. Since this was a preliminary review, no action was taken or decisions made by the committee. My understanding is that the applicant will take the input from the meeting and revise their plans to respond to the comments or not, depending on how much weight they place on each suggestion or comment. They will then make a formal application. That means that this process is really just beginning. We need to continue to voice our concerns and make sure the next version responds to our input, especially once a formal application is made. That's when it will really count.

Since this project conforms to our lame zoning and our General Plan is fairly vague, my opinion is that design review is our best opportunity to demand an outstanding project. The challenge is that our design review committee typically deals with fairly minor issues on smaller projects and is not used to having to comment on larger issues like urban design and is not accustomed to wielding significant power. We need to continue to support and encourage their efforts in a positive way and let them know that we support their desire for a truly outstanding project on this property and nothing short of outstanding will do. Like I said when I spoke, if this project doesn't make our downtown significantly better, it isn't good enough.

oliviathunderkitty

08-05-2011, 12:03 PM

Most likely this was one or two people too young to buy booze legally, or someone in need but unable to afford it going in, grabbing a bottle or two and then going into the bathroom and transferring the contents into one or two of those metal or plastic water bottles made for hiking or biking - I doubt anything was drunk on the premises, way too risky.

Actually, this is not the case at all. The alcohol was indeed consumed on the premises by someone well over the age of 21 with a very serious alcohol problem. I know one of the individuals who did this and have verified the accuracy of the accusations. I wouldn't divulge their personal information, of course, and I don't know how many others may have done something similar. But I do know about this one, know that it was on more than one occasion, know that the alcohol was consumed on premise and know that the individual drove away after consuming it. This took place in August, 2010, and possibly in September, as well.

Dixon

08-05-2011, 12:18 PM

I doubt anything was drunk on the premises, way too risky.
Don't bet on it! When I used to work in mental health and took a mental health client from the residential facility to the dentist's office, the mouthwash bottles in the dentist's bathroom turned up empty real quick. My client was drinking all the mouthwash for the alcohol in it. We had to get special "mouth rinse" without alcohol for the residential facility. And it's not just mentally ill people who do this.

scamperwillow

08-05-2011, 12:39 PM

Don't bet on it! When I used to work in mental health and took a mental health client from the residential facility to the dentists's office, the mouthwash bottles in the dentist's bathroom turned up empty real quick. My client was drinking all the mouthwash for the alcohol in it. We had to get special "mouth rinse" without alcohol for the residential facility. And it's not just mentally ill people who do this.

Eeeeeeeew!

Barry

08-09-2011, 07:43 PM

scamperwillow

08-13-2011, 11:45 AM

Does anyone know when this is coming back to Design Review?

Magick

08-14-2011, 06:57 PM

https://img199.imageshack.us/img199/8459/logosonomawest.png (https://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_west_times_and_news/)
Who are we Sebastopol? (https://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2011/08/03/sonoma_west_times_and_news/opinion/editorials/doc4e39cc5c8147f594582307.txt)

by Magick Altman

Published: Wednesday, August 3, 2011 3:52 PM PDT
Are we a community that just gives in when the corporate world puts the screws on? Will we still pretend to feel good about ourselves bicycling to work in the traffic jam caused by drive-thru windows at CVS and Chase as they suck the money out of our town?

Is the General Plan just a bundle of ‘aspirations’ or the constitution of a small town that has laid down policies and goals to maintain our integrity?

Towns across the country are fighting CVS: check out www.newrules.org (https://www.newrules.org/). We need to lead the way by fulfilling our destiny as a model of a locally owned, sustainable economy.

Every day so many people come to me and say what can we do about CVS? People sense the domino affect about to happen. We stopped the last attempts to remake this town in the Northeast area, NEAP, by upholding our General Plan, (GP), which is our constitution. The GP is a carefully crafted legal document that took years to make by citizens with wisdom and foresight.

During hearings on the NEAP a split surfaced in our community that was used by CVS to divide and conquer.

But I don’t think we are really so far apart in what we want.

Actually, most people that opposed NEAP would agree that density has its advantages when it creates space for local, sustainable businesses and truly affordable housing.

But growth in and of itself is no longer a good thing. Water supply and level of service costs can no longer be numbers that are fudged by paid consultants.

We need to get down to reality here. We are meant to be a model not a smug little town that praises itself for recycling and solar that is placed on corporate generic outlets that pay lousy wages here and whose products are made by children in Southeast Asia.

While the Pellinis have been stalwarts of our town it is truly sad that they turned away two highly respected and innovative local businesses as soon as they had a “Big Fish” on the line. Ned Kahn, a world-renowned artist, and The Maker’s Fair, owned by O’Reilly, would’ve been ideal.

So do we actually want to support local flavor with a global vision or is that just a branding that we paid $50,000 for to fool ourselves into thinking we care?

It is time for the Council to revisit this project and galvanize all the experience of city staff to find a way to legally defeat this proposal.

Send it back to the courageous Planning Commission and work as a team to write the findings. We already have Scott Stegeman’s excellent document, Helen Shane and Paul-Andre Schabracq’s clear examination of accumulated affects, Holly Hansen’s testimony about the completely inappropriate nature of this proposal and the voices of so many others.

Our council needs to stop fearing lawsuits. Fear is not a place to act from; it is where you go to give up.

And let’s brainstorm and use all the tools in our toolbox. How about a boycott: “If They Build It We Won’t Come”? The SESAW committee already had over 600 signatures against it, lets make it 6,000 including all of West county’s shoppers. CVS will cut their losses and go take its predator practices somewhere else.

And when they do, we can tell that town how to get rid of them, until town-by-town we say no to everything that is wrong with this world today.

And then when we shop in our farmer’s markets and see young people staying in our community we can feel we’ve done the right thing. We can offer cheap housing and financial support for incubator businesses and have rooftop gardens watered with greywater systems.

We can daylight creeks, practice permaculture, and bring in classrooms of students to learn the methodology to take this model into the world.

Miracles are made with the courage to simply do what’s right when what’s wrong is staring you in the face.

Lets come together and make beauty, grow great food, dance to homegrown music and make our words mean what they say.

Magick is a Sebastopol resident and can be reached at [email protected] for additional information.

Praksys

08-16-2011, 08:10 AM

Enliven downtown, attract eco/edu tourists and empower youth with useful skills for the future:

<meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/danielosmer/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml">  <style>  </style>   Maybe we should provide scientists, engineers, tech leaders and art/science innovators funding incentives for running for political office. Phil Harriman, Robert Porter, Ned Kahn, Dale Dougherty, Bill Seidel, Dan Smith and many more local residents may have more gumption, practical ideas and solutions for local and regional issues than many of our elected officials. Certainly Sonoma County fares better than most when it comes to practical innovations; from the water agency’s solar advocacy to the county supervisors daring dive into chicken sh__ power. At least they are trying! Too bad we can’t find a way to purchase the Pellini property and put it into the hands of the innovators mentioned above. A hands-on Insitu U. – A training and demonstration Exploratorium Maker Facility with dormitories and learning environment for youth from our own region and beyond. The ongoing projects could be on display for all to see right on the main corner and entrance to Sebastopol. A fun place to play, make and show! With a well thought out financial plan, it might be possible to issue a corporate or even municipal bond to purchase and build a facility that attracts visitors from outside the region. If a stable income stream can be developed over time it can then support a bond. Could an ‘Exploratorium North’ with a ‘Maker Place’ attract a growing revenue stream and enliven our economy? <o:p></o:p>
 Daniel Osmer, Realtor

Geni Houston

08-18-2011, 01:13 PM

It is so frustrating to continually read and hear the "fact" spouted when they have no bearing on the truth. Go ahead, give you opinion, but don't lie or exaggerate to get your point accross.

While the Pellinis have been stalwarts of our town it is truly sad that they turned away two highly respected and innovative local businesses as soon as they had a “Big Fish” on the line. Ned Kahn, a world-renowned artist, and The Maker’s Fair, owned by O’Reilly, would’ve been ideal.

Read the current edition of the Sonoma West Times & News to get the real truth, directly from the Pellinis'.
Anyone could have just asked them.

So do we actually want to support local flavor with a global vision or is that just a branding that we paid $50,000 for to fool ourselves into thinking we care?

The City of Sebastopol and certainly not the quoter is not pay for $50,000 for a branding program. The Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce, a membership organization supporting Commerce contracted the program for $48,000 for which the City contributed $10,000.

An email has been circulating that Marshalls is now coming to town to replace CVS in the Redwood Market. Heck, it may be true, but I also heard Olivers and Ross are coming.
What's a small town girl like me to believe?

Activism is powerful - it is useful - it is necessary - but not when you distort the truth to get there.

Magick

08-18-2011, 04:53 PM

I just want to clarify that in the article I did not state what kind of interest was shown by Ned Kahn and O'Reilly as you can see by the quote you mentioned. Yes, I am aware that the Chamber paid the larger portion of the branding costs and I should've been more clear about that. There was no intention to deceive and your clarification is correct.
I stand by my article and the principles that were stated therein. I support respectful dialogue.

[
It is so frustrating to continually read and hear the "fact" spouted when they have no bearing on the truth. Go ahead, give you opinion, but don't lie or exaggerate to get your point accross.

Quoted: While the Pellinis have been stalwarts of our town it is truly sad that they turned away two highly respected and innovative local businesses as soon as they had a “Big Fish” on the line. Ned Kahn, a world-renowned artist, and The Maker’s Fair, owned by O’Reilly, would’ve been ideal.

Read the current edition of the Sonoma West Times & News to get the real truth, directly from the Pellinis'.
Anyone could have just asked them.

Quoted: So do we actually want to support local flavor with a global vision or is that just a branding that we paid $50,000 for to fool ourselves into thinking we care?

The City of Sebastopol and certainly not the quoter is not pay for $50,000 for a branding program. The Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce, a membership organization supporting Commerce contracted the program for $48,000 for which the City contributed $10,000.

An email has been circulating that Marshalls is now coming to town to replace CVS in the Redwood Market. Heck, it may be true, but I also heard Olivers and Ross are coming.
What's a small town girl like me to believe?

Activism is powerful - it is useful - it is necessary - but not when you distort the truth to get there.

scamperwillow

08-18-2011, 08:28 PM

I for one like the idea of a Marshall's or Ross coming to town. Maybe they are chain stores, but wouldn't it be nice to have some affordable clothing for sale here in town without having to drive around to get it? And underwear!

An email has been circulating that Marshalls is now coming to town to replace CVS in the Redwood Market. Heck, it may be true, but I also heard Olivers and Ross are coming.
What's a small town girl like me to believe?

Activism is powerful - it is useful - it is necessary - but not when you distort the truth to get there.

Magick

08-18-2011, 09:17 PM

We may think that clothes are less expensive until you look at the hidden costs

1) Cheap labor in poor countries means 12 -16 hour days, in unhealthy factories often including child labor where any attempt to organize is met by firings and often blacklisting.

2) Corporations extracting nature's riches and producing materials choose countries with lax environmental laws that perpetuate pollution and degradation of nature and the people in these exploited areas do not see any financial returns, only the corporations.

3) The use of fossil fuels to transport the products all the way across the world is wasteful, polluting and unsustainable.
There are people right here making clothing, some from recycled materials, who are not transporting long distances, exploiting labor or the environment.

Not to mention the exploitation of the labor force in the stores and the lack of a service because there are so few employees all they have time for is restocking and cleaning.

So what is the the real cost in human lives and our beautiful world?
Think about it...Can we pretend any longer not to know?

I know that people reading this are not intentionally being apart of this tragedy I know you are at heart good people please just think about.

We need to look at our values and the REAL cost of cheap products.

If you have any doubts about this just check the labels and research the companies and note where they are made. Liz Claiborne is a classic example.

Here is a summary of the conditions of a company that manufactures for Liz Claiborne
Doall Factory Conditions (Summary) Korean owned company in El Salvador....

Systematic and widespread violation of basic human and worker rights.
13-to-15-hour workshifts; 85-to-92-hour work weeks.
Forced Overtime--often from 6:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.--mandatory all-night shifts; working seven days a week. Typically, one worker had just three days off in a nine-month period. Workers complain that their feet swell up due to the excessively long hours--most take a "No Doze" stimulant to stay awake.
60-cent-an-hour wages: The 60-cent-an-hour wage is well below subsistence levels, meeting only 51 percent of the basic basket of goods necessary to survive in relative poverty, and only 27 percent of what it would cost to live poorly, but with a modicum of decency (though, of course, without luxuries or savings.)
Pregnancy Tests--New workers are tested and fired if they are pregnant.
Bathroom visits are strictly monitored, and limited to two uses per day.
No sick days are given, even to a mother whose child is seriously ill. Permission to use the Social Security health clinic is almost never granted.
High production goals, which are arbitrarily raised; pressure to meet those goals. Supervisors yell and curse at the workers.
Fear and intimidation--At the first sign of a grievance the leaders are fired. At the mere hint of a union, those suspected are immediately, and illegally, fired.
Eighteen workers were fired on August 5 for daring to protest being forced to work overtime on a major national holiday--also, Doall suspected these workers might attempt to organize a union.
At least five organizing drives at Doall factories have been crushed with illegal firings.
No worker had heard of the Liz Claiborne Code of Conduct--and certainly no explanation was ever given to the workers regarding their basic rights that the code is supposed to guarantee. Visits by North American company representatives are staged events. The factory is cleaned ahead of time. Workers are pre-chosen by Doall managers to speak with the North Americans. No attempt has ever been made to meet with workers in a safe location, where they would be free to speak.
Enormous Exploitation--The young Salvadoran women at Doall are paid just 84 cents for every $194 Liz Claiborne jacket they sew! The sewers wages equal just 4/10ths of 1 percent of the sales price of the Liz Claiborne jacket.
Systematic and widespread violation of basic human and worker rights.
13-to-15-hour workshifts; 85-to-92-hour work weeks.
Forced Overtime--often from 6:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.--mandatory all-night shifts; working seven days a week. Typically, one worker had just three days off in a nine-month period. Workers complain that their feet swell up due to the excessively long hours--most take a "No Doze" stimulant to stay awake.
60-cent-an-hour wages: The 60-cent-an-hour wage is well below subsistence levels, meeting only 51 percent of the basic basket of goods necessary to survive in relative poverty, and only 27 percent of what it would cost to live poorly, but with a modicum of decency (though, of course, without luxuries or savings.)
Pregnancy Tests--New workers are tested and fired if they are pregnant.
Bathroom visits are strictly monitored, and limited to two uses per day.
No sick days are given, even to a mother whose child is seriously ill. Permission to use the Social Security health clinic is almost never granted.
High production goals, which are arbitrarily raised; pressure to meet those goals. Supervisors yell and curse at the workers.
Fear and intimidation--At the first sign of a grievance the leaders are fired. At the mere hint of a union, those suspected are immediately, and illegally, fired.
Eighteen workers were fired on August 5 for daring to protest being forced to work overtime on a major national holiday--also, Doall suspected these workers might attempt to organize a union.
At least five organizing drives at Doall factories have been crushed with illegal firings.
No worker had heard of the Liz Claiborne Code of Conduct--and certainly no explanation was ever given to the workers regarding their basic rights that the code is supposed to guarantee. Visits by North American company representatives are staged events. The factory is cleaned ahead of time. Workers are pre-chosen by Doall managers to speak with the North Americans. No attempt has ever been made to meet with workers in a safe location, where they would be free to speak.
Enormous Exploitation--The young Salvadoran women at Doall are paid just 84 cents for every $194 Liz Claiborne jacket they sew! The sewers wages equal just 4/10ths of 1 percent of the sales price of the Liz Claiborne jacket.
No visitors are allowed at the Doall factories, which operate behind locked metal gates, barbed wire and heavily armed guards.

In August and September 1998, the National Labor Committee arranged several meetings in safe locations with Doall workers, who provided the following information on factory conditions. The workers were very afraid, explaining they could be fired for speaking to us. The National Labor Committee has been tracking conditions at Doall since 1995, at which point we informed Liz Claiborne of the numerous serious violations. The company took no real action.

Yours in truth, Magick

I for one like the idea of a Marshall's or Ross coming to town. Maybe they are chain stores, but wouldn't it be nice to have some affordable clothing for sale here in town without having to drive around to get it? And underwear!

Weiser

08-18-2011, 09:50 PM

Even if everything you say is the gospel truth your still missing the point. Its not up to the city council and the planning commission to make consumer decisions for everyone. If people agree that the store is a bad actor then they won't shop there and the business will fail. Prohibition doesn't work and its an affront to people who are perfectly capable of making their own choices.

Mark

Magick

08-18-2011, 10:20 PM

I was not referring to the decision making process of Sebastopol when I was speaking of the exploitative practices of the corporate world. But on that note, Sonoma is considering a big box ban and Community Impact Reports are also an tool in the local toolbox. You might want to research these options. The Living Wage Coalition can be of help.
I was asking us to consider our relationship to "cheap imports" of free but not fair trade. I do advocate boycotts as effective methods to choose, as a community and a people, what kind of world we want to sustain.
Now, will you consider the information I related about the sad reality of cheap merchandise?
Saw a great bumper sticker today, 'Non-judgment day draws near', may we learn compassionate action and find common ground, I am willing, and learning and growing in this direction...can we help each other?

Even if everything you say is the gospel truth your still missing the point. Its not up to the city council and the planning commission to make consumer decisions for everyone. If people agree that the store is a bad actor then they won't shop there and the business will fail. Prohibition doesn't work and its an affront to people who are perfectly capable of making their own choices.

Mark

scamperwillow

08-19-2011, 09:22 AM

This sure does sound awful! What country is this in?

We need to look at our values and the REAL cost of cheap products.
If you have any doubts about this just check the labels and research the companies and note where they are made.
Liz Claiborne is a classic example.
Here is a summary of the conditions of a company that manufactures for Liz Claiborne
Doall Factory Conditions (Summary) Korean owned company in El Salvador....

Systematic and widespread violation of basic human and worker rights.
13-to-15-hour workshifts; 85-to-92-hour work weeks.
...

John Eder

08-19-2011, 05:00 PM

The title of this thread is "CVS/Chase development proposal". While the issues of working conditions in other countries, the power of large corporations, people drinking in store bathrooms, what chain store(s) may be coming to our town, etc. are all important and deserve to be discussed, it looks like we may have taken our eye off of the ball. While the debate continues over issues that have very little, if any, tangible impact on the future of this project, the developers proceed forward with their plans to break ground.

It would seem as if most people would generally fall into one of five categories regarding the proposed CVS/Chase development:

1.) Ardent supporter- there are more than you may think, and they can be formidable, especially with friends in high places.

2.) Ardent opponent to any development in Sebastopol- what are you doing to actively stop the progress of this proposal?
Complaining on this forum is of little impact. While it may feel righteous, it won't stop the bulldozers. Are you supporting
($) the lawsuit against the City Council approval of the project that seeks to have an EIR completed for the project?

3.) Ardent opponent to this specific development in Sebastopol- what are you doing to actively stop the progress of this
proposal and/or bring a realistic, economically-viable alternative up for consideration? Again, complaining here is of little
impact- watch out for the bulldozers. Are you supporting ($) the lawsuit against the City Council?

4.) Cautiously resigned to the high likelihood that this project will get built- what are you doing to work towards maximizing
it's potential aesthetically, functionally and environmentally? At least when it is built, some influence of the community
may be incorporated into it.

5.) Apathetic- otherwise occupied, "whatever...."

None of these positions is "better" or "more correct" than any of the others; we are all different. We must all ask ourselves what we are doing to actively promote our beliefs in a manner that has a tangible impact on this project. I do not believe that either the Sebastopol City Council or Armstrong Development Properties, Inc. will be dissuaded from moving forward as a result of discussions regarding the evils of cheap underwear. They may actually appreciate that we, as a community, appear to be so distracted from their ongoing activities.

In my view, it comes down to taking one of four courses of action: Join the fight to stop it, join the fight to change it to a different/better project, join the fight to make it the best project that it can be, or sit back and watch the wrecking ball, either through apathy or support for the project...

rossmen

08-19-2011, 11:38 PM

perhaps writing about the evils of cheap underwear is option number 2. it is interesting to talk to the employees of cvs, who used to work for longs, about their experience of the change. you seem to have a clear understanding that option 2 is tilting at windmills, and option 3 is helpful for your prefered option 4.

i prefer option 2, perhaps because of my imby status, i prefer to bike to get cheap booze and depends for my dad. of course downtown isn't too far away, but the traffic! mostly i'm just trying to get to the other side of town!

the corporate bigbox reality of cvs is an issue here, even if civic planning is a poor tool for envisioning a sustainable world. when you trash allies? its back to hurting those you love the most...

The title of this thread is "CVS/Chase development proposal". While the issues of working conditions in other countries, the power of large corporations, people drinking in store bathrooms, what chain store(s) may be coming to our town, etc. are all important and deserve to be discussed, it looks like we may have taken our eye off of the ball. While the debate continues over issues that have very little, if any, tangible impact on the future of this project, the developers proceed forward with their plans to break ground.

It would seem as if most people would generally fall into one of five categories regarding the proposed CVS/Chase development:

1.) Ardent supporter- there are more than you may think, and they can be formidable, especially with friends in high places.

2.) Ardent opponent to any development in Sebastopol- what are you doing to actively stop the progress of this proposal?
Complaining on this forum is of little impact. While it may feel righteous, it won't stop the bulldozers. Are you supporting
($) the lawsuit against the City Council approval of the project that seeks to have an EIR completed for the project?

3.) Ardent opponent to this specific development in Sebastopol- what are you doing to actively stop the progress of this
proposal and/or bring a realistic, economically-viable alternative up for consideration? Again, complaining here is of little
impact- watch out for the bulldozers. Are you supporting ($) the lawsuit against the City Council?

4.) Cautiously resigned to the high likelihood that this project will get built- what are you doing to work towards maximizing
it's potential aesthetically, functionally and environmentally? At least when it is built, some influence of the community
may be incorporated into it.

5.) Apathetic- otherwise occupied, "whatever...."

None of these positions is "better" or "more correct" than any of the others; we are all different. We must all ask ourselves what we are doing to actively promote our beliefs in a manner that has a tangible impact on this project. I do not believe that either the Sebastopol City Council or Armstrong Development Properties, Inc. will be dissuaded from moving forward as a result of discussions regarding the evils of cheap underwear. They may actually appreciate that we, as a community, appear to be so distracted from their ongoing activities.

In my view, it comes down to taking one of four courses of action: Join the fight to stop it, join the fight to change it to a different/better project, join the fight to make it the best project that it can be, or sit back and watch the wrecking ball, either through apathy or support for the project...

tommy

08-20-2011, 10:02 AM

Mark,
While "technically true", your point is naive, in my opinion.

Saying that "people are perfectly capable of making their own choices".. that "it's not up to the City and the planning commission to make consumer decisions for everyone" implies that there is no need for zoning or planning, just let the people decide by shopping or not shopping at a place. This would conceivably end up with a hodge-podge of drive thru fast food places at major intersections, X rated porn shops and marijuana dispensaries near schools, cheap soviet-style apartment buildings, etc. Unfortunately, one of the liabilities of capitalism is that those who want to make money will build the cheapest most profitable crap in the busiest places to maximize their return. Those buildings last for years and years, with people wondering "Why did the government ever allow this junk to be built here?"

Just look at Rohnert Park. The downtown is a Safeway and CVS store. Why do you think Sebastopol has much more appeal, and higher real estate values than Rohnert Park? Unfortunately, this CVS/Chase project would make this town more like Rohnert Park. Not to offend anyone who lives or likes Rohnert Park, however it's obvious it was developed for greed and not the benefit of those who live there.

The function, appeal and character of a town is from good design and planning. This CVS/Chase project nurtures the greed of the owners, developers, and corporate entities of Chase and CVS.

Even if everything you say is the gospel truth your still missing the point. Its not up to the city council and the planning commission to make consumer decisions for everyone. If people agree that the store is a bad actor then they won't shop there and the business will fail. Prohibition doesn't work and its an affront to people who are perfectly capable of making their own choices.

Mark

dominus

08-20-2011, 12:06 PM

A CVS move to the Pellini lot will ultimately contribute to a loss of pedestrian traffic and small town ambiance in downtown because "big boxes" have a way of destroying the landscape as well as smaller competition. More big boxes, more cars, more trash in our landfills - the end result is always a "no where place."

As a community, it's important that we come together in a singular vision rooted in morality so that we can create a downtown which will thrive in the next few years and not become a place that people pass through on their way to "somewhere better."

zenekar

08-25-2011, 01:51 AM

This sure does sound awful! What country is this in?

You name it -- The "3rd world" is the plantation to exploit for cheap labor for the US (us) to take for granted.

Peter Schurch

10-13-2011, 09:28 PM

The Design Review Board will hear the developer's new proposal on the CVS/Chase project again on Wednesday, 10-19-11 at 3:00 at the City Hall. Comments from the audience are welcome.

scamperwillow

10-14-2011, 10:07 AM

Thanks for the heads up Peter. Is there any advance preview of what they are proposing?

Peter Schurch

10-15-2011, 10:52 AM

Here's the latest on the CVS:

The DRB meeting will be at Parkside School, 7450 Bodega Ave, on Wednessday, Oct 19th at 3:00. It's at a larger venue because more people are expected to come. The final review of the CVS/Chase project won't come up until after 3:30 because there are two smaller items before it on the agenda. You can download the latest CVS/Chase plans from the City's website.

Hope to see lots of people there. Peter

scamperwillow

10-15-2011, 11:32 AM

Here's the latest on the CVS:

The DRB meeting will be at Parkside School, 7450 Bodega Ave, on Wednessday, Oct 19th at 3:00. It's at a larger venue because more people are expected to come. The final review of the CVS/Chase project won't come up until after 3:30 because there are two smaller items before it on the agenda. You can download the latest CVS/Chase plans from the City's website.

Hope to see lots of people there. Peter

Here's a link to the staff report: https://ci.sebastopol.ca.us/sites/default/files/rmansour/cvschase_final_drb_staff_report_10.12.11.pdf

I didn't read the entire thing in detail but scanning, I did not see anything about green/energy saving requirements. What about solar and car charging stations and so forth. I hope these will be conditions applied to approval, if approval is to occur.

1104GT

10-16-2011, 07:51 PM

CVS and Chase are back at design review this Wednesday, October 19 at 3:00pm. You can read their letter, view plans and see the staff report supporting the project at the link below:

https://ci.sebastopol.ca.us/page/special-projects

The overall project design and site plan has not changed in any significant way. They either did not hear the recommendations of the community and the review board, don't care, or think we have forgotten. It is still essentially a suburban pad development plunked into our downtown. They have added some Dwell magazine details, but I am so tired of box shaped buildings with unfinished metal, concrete board and horizontal wood passing as modern architecture I cancelled my subscription months ago. CVS still turns it's back on our most visible intersection and the two buildings are still separated by a parking lot that fronts one of our most important streets. If you agree that we have enough parking lots front-and- center in this town and that buildings downtown should have shop entries, storefront windows and address pedestrians more than cars, you need to show up Wednesday and say so. That's what our General Plan says. Please show up and let them know that any project in our town has to make Sebastopol undeniably better and that bad is not even close to good enough.

Email our design board members, give them your support and thanks for their efforts, let them know your feelings, and show up Wednesday. Our design review board members need our positive support and encouragement in order to make demands of these developers and their architect, so please help them out.

prana

10-17-2011, 09:03 PM

I would love to be part of a large turn-out of people representing the desire for downtown Sebastopol to grow with more local stores, not corporate chain retail.
To help get as many people there on Wed. as possible, can someone please post the address where the design review will be held. I don't know where to go, but I want to be there!
Thank you, thank you...