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Sonoma council accepts General Plan progress report; staff outlines housing projects, SB9 lot split and RHNA status
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Summary
The council unanimously accepted the 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report. Planning staff described progress toward RHNA goals and several projects in the pipeline, including Montaldo Apartments (13 affordable units) and multiple larger developments at different stages of review.
Diane Levine, associate planner, presented the City of Sonoma’s 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report and the Housing Element Annual Progress Report, both required submittals to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI). Levine said the reports track the city’s progress toward RHNA allocations and summarize planning and permit activity over the previous year.
Levine outlined recent project activity: the Montaldo Apartments, approved last fall, will include 13 affordable units (3 extremely low, 5 very low and 5 low); a 120-unit project at 20540 Bridal shows a 5% affordability commitment; a Broadway project is advancing through CEQA conversations; a proposed 51-unit project at 20455 5th Street would carry a 10% affordability component; and a new submittal for 254 1st Street East proposes 41 units. Levine also said staff processed 50 entitlements and more than 500 building permits over the reporting year, and the city completed its first SB 9 lot split.
Council members asked staff whether the projects would be counted toward RHNA and how HCD/LCI would respond to the submittal; Levine said the report follows prior submissions and staff does not anticipate issues with HCD. Council discussed affordability mixes and concessions developers receive for various affordability levels. A council member asked whether the city could be penalized for not meeting RHNA numbers; the city attorney said the requirement is to plan for development and that the legislature enforces compliance in a variety of ways, and the progress reports must be filed.
A public commenter raised concerns about the Sebastiani property and whether a hotel designation should be removed from land-use examples; other commenters urged the council to consider retirement or senior-living uses and to prioritize housing that local workers can afford.
A motion to accept the Annual Progress Report and direct staff to submit it to HCD and LCI was moved and seconded; the roll-call vote was unanimous.
