Great that the Palm Drive District has voted to 'self dissolve'. Let's hope this happens very quickly, as they are still spending $40K/month of taxpayer money on overhead that has no benefit to...

Last night, in front of an overflow crowd demanding dissolution, the Palm Drive board of directors voted unanimously to dissolve the District! The Board directed its legal counsel to prepare a...

While I generally agree with you, I think Ceres also brings a lot to table (figuratively {as in value} and literally {as in food!}!)

Having a central garden within the development does add...

As someone who has supported CERES over the years I just want to make sure I have my facts straight in this discussion.

My understanding is the O'reilly Media has donated the space to CERES for...

I just want to say a BIG 'thank you' to all who asked questions and all who responded... it helped
me get clearer about the very complex issues involved and what my vote would mean....

My explanation of the appraisals is the same as Dan Smith's but with a little more in the weeds.

The higher value by the same appraiser preceded the Wright Contracting estimates of $28M in...

It is my understanding that there no longer is, nor will there be a hospital open to the public at the Palm Drive location. The “hospital” that now exists is currently a short term acute care...

Barry,

In response to your request, I'm not sure what questions you are trying to clarify but here are some answers to a few of the posts on this thread:

1) Converting the hospital to most...

The reality is that there is a dire need for housing. I was born in Sebastopol, have a Masters degree and am a working professional, and it is really difficult to find housing in Sebastopol let alone...

if you're elderly with a broken leg, getting in your car, driving to town, parking, getting your stuff back into the car, driving to god knows where you found a place to live, unloading, getting back...

It may well turn out to be a lot of wasted public money. As for "someone's development convenience" the whole point of Pine Grove Square was that it was city-owned land. They could take the...

The Pine Grove Square parking study was presented last night at the city council. While the study concluded there would be sufficient parking of the large public lot near Hopmonk were to be converted...

The Sonoma West recently published an article about the Pine Grove Square that covers the main points.

What I found really interesting is that one of the commenters (Tony Bryhan) suggested a...

Pine Grove is returning to the Sebastopol City Council next Tuesday, Jan 16th, starting at 6pm at the Sebastopol Community Center Youth Annex (Teen Center).

The parking study has been completed...

I loved your response. Many individual's sole incomes are from Airbnb. For people to demand that Airbnb hosts, who are generally not wealthy and wouldn't be renting a room or granny unit unless they...

I'm going to try to get some information about this and will provide you with what I learn. I really appreciate that you and many other vacation rental hosts are being compassionate and helping our...

Never done Airbnb but we will be using our guest house to provide shelter to a family. For less than 30 days, I guess there is no issue; but does anyone know if we need to keep the sheltering terms...

Thanks Shandi for your post.

I too will be interested in the response, especially because I know a couple who are Air B &B hosts. They depend on it for post-retirement income, and wouldn't have...

I was just at Bass Lake, visiting friends who live there. No-one seemed to notice the small invasion from Sonoma Co, mostly because the invasion is mostly made up of people from Fresno and other...

I'd say we are at stage 3. While I still support the hotel, I'd say it's time for "Shields Up!".

Some amount of tourism is a good thing. Each community needs some type of industry the brings in...

Welcome to the Napafication of Sonoma County. Having colonized the smaller Napa County, the wine industry now takes on Sonoma County, with its rampant, destructive tourism. Napa vintners, such as...

Letter by Vice Mayor Patrick Slayter regarding the Pine Grove Square concept
Sent to the Sonoma West Times & News,
in part as a reply to this letter, published in the Times and News
Reprinted...

https://www.WaccoBB.net/forums/waccobb/keep90days/2017-02-27_17-25-20.png

Housing or parking: What’s the best use of the Burnett parking lot?
By Amie Windsor, staff writer, [email protected]...

The conversation on the homeless & Courthouse Square is complex, and difficult, with no easy answers. I notice at the Starbucks on 4th St, the tables and chairs that used to be outside, have been...

It is important to remember that your opposition has positive intent.

The other side believes that they're supporting the best candidate. With so much acrimony in national politics, remembering...

thank you for this thoughtful post.
we have to end these divisive & ugly posts on wacco. between the hospital, w. those "feeling the bern", & this supervisor race, we have gone off the rails.
we...

Dear Neighbor Richard,
For me, it depends on the tone and intention. It was not my intention "to bash Noreen supporters." It is one thing to raise questions about who did the 1% tagging, which is...

I agree with Ted—strongly—that civility on both sides of the 5th District would benefit all of us in West County.

One of them, Noreen or Lynda, is going to win, and all of us are going to need to...

The above quote was in response to Lynda Hopkins proposal for Jr. second units that allow an existing home with unused bedrooms to be modified to be turned into a separate unit low/no county fees.
...

The above video is really worth watching! Lynda has got some fresh new ideas that seem really good to me, while Noreen is talking about 2 ideas each of which has problems:

Inclusionary Zoning has...

Striking contrast in approach on this issue.

Noreen seems disconnected from our 5th Dist. rural character when she espouses urban-centric solutions. It shows her heart and head remain in east...

https://i.imgur.com/yv1Iu.png

Hotel projects may change face of West County

Posted: Wednesday, September 28, 2016 9:20 am | Updated: 5:19 pm, Wed Sep 28, 2016.
by Amie Windsor Sonoma West...

Some great ideas there, Nancy! I particularly like your idea of supporting agriculture. What about an artisan food company incubator? There's LaCocina in SF, Forage Kitchen in Oakland, and...

Very interesting article about Healdsburg that jerichsalud posted (link below) .

According to the article, it doesn't seem like boutique hotels had much to do with soaring rents ....

Here's...

You can see the full size elevations that compare the proposed hotel to the nearby building here:

A20:
https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/keep90days/2016-09-26_22-09-09.png

A21:...

As someone born in Sebastopol struggling to be able to stay here like so many other young West County people, this hotel project seems to not meet the needs of the residents of Sebastopol. Sebastopol...

A.15, A.20 & A.21 show elevations with existing buildings.


You can see the full size elevations here:

A20:
https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/keep90days/2016-09-26_22-09-09.png

A21:...

That's pretty cool that they are including 6 hostel rooms. I was just trying to make reservations for an event I'm attending in downtown San Diego early next year (yow - expensive!). I stumbled...

I’ve compiled a brief list of resources for people who would like to take responsibility for staying informed of the many City and community meetings, forums, round tables, Town Halls and other...

and it's ok.. not too big a footprint on the town. But if we're bringing in more visitors I'd prefer they don't have to use their cars except to go winetasting or whatever. If they can just wander...

Thanks, Barry. This is very helpful, as was the Core Project report. Something is bound to go into that key space. So if this project is rejected, something much worse could go in there. From what is...

Before taking a position on this hotel project I suggest you check out the developer's website.

Sonoma West also did a good article on it.

I support the project.

Here's the description...

This thread is opened with the hope that some viable solutions to Sebastopol's traffic problem will be presented and discussed here.

Since the idea of a Highway 116, Llano Road to Occidental Road...

so calmly using logic is condescending?? passionately flailing about will give better results??

Failing to understand the forces you're dealing with, failing to understand the source and limits of...

I really love the calm, logical tone you use to explain these basic facts of life. I certainly hope that Dian, a very passionate woman, who cares deeply about the natural world, has got her head on...

I thought I'd try my hand at video! Still haven't gotten used to talking into the camera, but this is passable...

Bonus points to anybody who posts a video reply! If you're interested (and have a...