Resident urges alternatives to dense mixed‑use proposal for Sebastiani site in public comment
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Summary
A Sonoma resident urged the commission to reconsider dense residential proposals for the Sebastiani property, arguing the plan conflicts with draft general plan goals for historic character, agricultural conservation and evacuation routes, and suggested precedents such as Farmstead (St. Helena) and The Barlow (Sebastopol).
During the public‑comment period at the Oct. 16 Planning Commission meeting, Sonoma resident Carrie Gerster addressed the commission about a proposed land use designation for the Sebastiani site and raised questions about the city’s "Sonoma mixed use" land‑use definition.
Gerster told commissioners she believes the proposed dense land‑use designation conflicts with the draft general plan goals to maintain Sonoma’s historic character, conserve agricultural resources and maintain safe, coordinated evacuation routes. "The proposed land use proposal does seem to conflict with some of the key elements of the draft general plan," she said.
She suggested alternatives and precedents that preserve agricultural land or reuse existing buildings — citing Farmstead in St. Helena and The Barlow in Sebastopol — and asked several specific questions for staff: whether the city could designate a percentage of a large site to be preserved as agriculture or open space rather than applying a uniform minimum density to every acre; whether a minimum density (for example 7 units per acre) applies per acre or in aggregate across a site; and whether there is a timeline for revised language for the Sonoma mixed‑use definition.
Gerster said she has provided written feedback to the general plan process and asked staff (specifically Jennifer) to respond to the questions. No formal action was taken during the meeting on the Sebastiani site; the comment was entered into the public record for the general plan process.