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Coastal Conservancy approves $250,000 grant to begin plans for Climate Adaptation Center in Sonoma Developmental Center redevelopment
The California State Coastal Conservancy has approved a grant of up to $250,000 to the County of Sonoma for exploring the creation of a Climate Adaptation Center at the Sonoma Developmental Center development. Read full story
Board of Supervisors approves $360,000 contract for wildfire structural hardening assessments
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted today to approve a $361,034 contract with Wildfire Defense Works to provide structural hardening assessments in pre-identified project locations throughout the county. Wildfire Defense Works will perform between 250 to 1,000 structural hardening assessments for Permit Sonoma’s Wildfire Adapted program. The contract is a portion of the $2.6 million in grant funding received by the county as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Read full story
Planning Commission to hold hearing on draft Environmental Impact Report for Sonoma Developmental Center
The Sonoma County Planning Commission will hold a hearing and seek public feedback on the draft Environmental Impact Report and draft specific plan for the Sonoma Developmental Center on Sept. 15, 2022 at 1 p.m. The draft Environmental Impact Report evaluated a proposed specific plan for the Sonoma Developmental Center site, two lower density alternatives, and two scenarios where the county doesn’t proceed with a project in 16 key areas of the property. Read full story
Permit Sonoma announces new revisions to draft well permit ordinance
Permit Sonoma today announced revisions to a proposal the Board of Supervisors will consider on Tuesday, Oct. 4, that seeks to enact new standards for drilling wells in Sonoma County. Read full story
Board of Supervisors to hold draft Local Coastal Plan Update workshop
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is set to hold a workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 30 to review and seek public comment on the Planning Commission Recommended Draft of the Local Coastal Plan Update. The proposed Local Coastal Plan Update will be the first update in 20 years and will be considered for adoption by the board on Oct. 4. Read full story
Permit Sonoma releases draft Environmental Impact Report for Sonoma Developmental Center
Permit Sonoma today released the draft Environmental Impact Report and a draft specific plan concerning the future development of the Sonoma Developmental Center site. The report evaluated 16 key areas of the proposed specific plan, a lower density alternative, a historic preservation alternative, and two alternatives where the County does not adopt a plan and the State leads development of the site. Read full story
Permit Sonoma announces draft Housing Strategy workshop
Permit Sonoma will present its draft Housing Strategy at the August 9 meeting of the Board of Supervisors and seek feedback from the supervisors and public. Permit Sonoma will also seek board approval of a resolution to seek designation of Sonoma County as a “Prohousing” jurisdiction by the Department of Housing and Community Development. Read full story
Board of Supervisors approves comprehensive vacation rental ordinance update
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved updates to the Vacation Rental Ordinance today, including a prohibition on new vacation rentals in R1-zoned (low-density residential) areas, allowing for caps to be placed on vacation rentals in areas of concentration and establishing restrictions on corporate ownership of vacation rentals in Sonoma County. Existing vacation rentals will not be affected by the ownership or zoning changes voted on today. Read full story
Board of Supervisors to consider comprehensive vacation rental ordinance update on August 2
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will consider updates to the Vacation Rental Ordinance at its August 2 meeting. The proposed changes create a new vacation rental license permit program, performance standards, enforcement strategies, and permanent caps on vacation rentals in areas disproportionately impacted by vacation rental businesses. Read full story
Permit Sonoma announces revision to draft well permit ordinance
Permit Sonoma today announced a revision to a proposal the Board of Supervisors will consider on Tuesday, August 9 that seeks to enact new standards for drilling wells in Sonoma County. Under the change, domestic wells that extract less than two acre-feet of water annually would not be required to install meters. Read full story