Permit Sonoma announces public meetings seeking input on Sonoma Development Center Specific Plan

Santa Rosa, CA  –  March 15, 2022  –  CORRECTION: This press release has been updated to correct information below concerning the Spanish-language workshop, which has been canceled. Permit Sonoma will be conducting outreach with the Spanish-speaking community to elicit feedback.

Permit Sonoma is announcing three workshops to seek public input on the Sonoma Development Center Specific Plan policies and procedures. Those policies and procedures will guide the redevelopment of the more than 900-acre former state institution for people with developmental disabilities.

The virtual workshops will be held in English on Tuesday, March 22, at 5:30 PM and Saturday, March 26, at 10 AM Members of the public may register at SDCspecificplan.com/meetings.

The March 22 meeting will address policies related to:

• Open space and resources, hazards.
• Mobility and access.
• Public facilities, services and infrastructure.

The March 26 meeting will seek participant feedback related to:

• Land use and development.
• Design and sustainability.
• Implementation and financing.

The Spanish-language workshop that had been planned unfortunately had to be canceled. Permit Sonoma will be conducting outreach with the Spanish-speaking community to elicit feedback on the Specific Plan. 

Permit Sonoma staff will continue to refine the project description and conduct community engagement through the environmental review process. A draft environmental impact report is expected to be available for public review in June. At that time, both the draft environmental impact report and Specific Plan will solicit public comment for 45 days. The Planning Commission will hold public hearings in July to receive public comment on the draft environmental impact report and in August to potentially recommend that the Board of Supervisors certify a final environmental impact report and adopt a final Specific Plan in September. 

In 2019, the County of Sonoma forged a unique partnership with the State of California, which owns the site, to allow local input in charting the future of the property. This was the first time the California Legislature delegated land use planning responsibility to a local agency for the redevelopment of a state psychiatric facility. The Sonoma Developmental Center provided services to people with developmental disabilities for more than 120 years and at one time was the county’s largest employer. The State of California closed the facility in 2018.

For more information about site plans, or general information related to the project, please visit sdcspecificplan.com. 

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