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Sonoma County receives first $5.7 million of FEMA grant to reduce risk of wildfire
Sonoma County received an award of $5.7 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the California Office of Emergency Services for Wildfire Resilient Sonoma County, a wildfire risk reduction program. The $37 million Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant announced for the County of Sonoma represents one of only two such wildfire resiliency grant projects funded nationally to date. Read full story
Permit Sonoma announces review meetings for Sonoma County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Permit Sonoma, Sonoma County’s fire prevention and natural resources management department, is inviting the public to attend one of two community meetings to learn more about and provide comments on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan or CWPP. The Community Wildfire Protection Plan contains hazard and risk analyses and, using a collaborative model, suggests projects that can efficiently reduce the risk of loss of life, property loss and environment. Read full story
Permit Sonoma announces policy and technical working groups for well ordinance update
Permit Sonoma, Sonoma County’s natural resources management department, today announced the formation of technical and policy working groups to assist staff in revising the county’s well ordinance. The two working groups will have a joint inaugural meeting that will be open to the public on Nov. 17 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Read full story
Planning Commission votes to recommend plans for redevelopment of the Sonoma Developmental Center
The Sonoma County Planning Commission on Monday recommended plans to guide the redevelopment of the Sonoma Developmental Center. The Planning Commission voted 4 to 1 to recommend changes to the SDC Specific Plan. Read full story
County of Sonoma seeks public feedback on newly published draft housing plan
The County of Sonoma’s planning and permitting department is seeking public feedback over the next 30 days on a draft update to the Housing Element of the Sonoma County General Plan. The update represents the county’s goals, objectives and policies that lead to the creation of adequate housing for people of all income levels in Sonoma County for the years 2023 through 2031. Read full story
Permit Sonoma seeking applicants for Equity Working Committee
Permit Sonoma is seeking applications from the public for its new Equity Working Committee. Members of the Equity Working Committee will help shape Permit Sonoma and Sonoma County’s environmental justice policies and risk-reduction planning for wildfire and other hazards by centering the expertise of under-resourced communities. Applications will be accepted until November 4, 2022. Read full story
Permit Sonoma releases final redevelopment plans for Sonoma Developmental Center
Permit Sonoma has released the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Specific Plan that will guide the redevelopment of the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC). The final Specific Plan incorporated public comments to the draft that enhance protection for the more than 700 acres of open space and ensure that affordable housing is built before or at the same time as the market-rate housing. Read full story
Permit Sonoma launches 24/7 vacation rental complaint hotline
Permit Sonoma announced today the launch of a new vacation rental complaint hotline to assist neighbors and ensure compliance with vacation rental regulations. The hotline will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to improve the experience for neighbors and others who seek to report vacation rental ordinance violations. Read full story
Board of Supervisors adopts well drilling moratorium
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today approved a moratorium for new well permits until April 4, 2023 in Sonoma County to allow staff more time to develop recommendations for updating the county’s well ordinance. The board also directed Permit Sonoma, Sonoma County’s natural resources and permitting agency, to establish a Technical Advisory Committee to make recommendations for implementing Public Trust Review requirements. Read full story
Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention to close Chipper Program applications for 2022
Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention Division announced that it will be closing seasonal applications for its Curbside Chipper Program on Oct. 1, 2022. The service supports residents of unincorporated Sonoma County in creating defensible space around their homes, neighboring roadsides and reduces vegetation along access routes. Read full story