During the meeting on Monday, 11/27, the Healdsburg Planning Commissioners approved the Area Plan for Saggio Hills, which incorporated their staff’s comments. During the time set aside for public comments, about a dozen people spoke with concerns about water, schools, agriculture, fire risk, sightlines and the visibility of some of the proposed new homes, wetlands and wildlife, visual and sound impact on Parkland Farms residents, and the number of people who will be using the proposed convention facility. I was impressed by the thoughtfulness and reasonableness of the public comments. Planning and Building Director Rick Tooker addressed many of the concerns, also in a thoughtful and reasonable way.
The approval process is highly technical, with certain comments being allowed to be considered only at certain stages; it is difficult for the average citizen to know when the right time is to be heard. The commissioners gave a great deal of leeway in allowing comments that would have better been delivered at an earlier stage of the project.
Next Tuesday, 12/4, a Special Meeting will be held to continue discussions about the Tentative Map. Following that, a Public Hearing will be held on 12/11 regarding the Development Agreement. This is where we will get a complete picture of what Healdsburg will receive for allowing this valuable, pristine property to be annexed for the Saggio Hills development. Then, the City Council will decide, once advised by the Planning Commission, on the various entitlements that will allow the project to go forward.
Fasten your seat belts.
1 response so far ↓
1 Richard Burg // Dec 3, 2007 at 10:44 pm
David’s description of the Development Agreement (DA) is accurate. It is the contract between the city and the developer, describing what each party will do, when they will do it, what they are doing, etc.
The only issue the Planning Commission will advise the Council on, however, is whether the DA conforms to the General Plan. The substantive elements of the DA will be the focus of the future Public Hearing before the CityCouncil.
However, several people, including me, will speak to some of the apparent weaknesses in the DA as it stands. If this project is approved, the City needs more than confidence, rather remedies and assurances, that the developer can meet his obligations (park, fire station, affordable housing, etc). Once he receives his entitlements, he can sell the parcels, go broke, slow down, speed up, or go looking for financing. It isn’t clear to this reader how well protected the city is in this contract. This might be because the DA is a formal document and I’m not an attorney.
I believe this project, potentially costing as much as a half billion dollars in capital, is a big deal for Healdsburg. And it is a seductive package. But the city is under no a priori obligation to approve it, e.g., apply for the annexation of the property into the City limits.
That is why I believe every question about this appealing but overwhelming large project is worth asking. And being sure the answers are reasonable, honest, guaranteed, and in the best interests of the City. It is true the developer appears to be giving us a lot. And it is also true the project itself seems to sit lightly on the land, in spite of its size. But there are still important questions to ask!