Eldridge For All - Save Our Space

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will hear an update from County staff on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 2:30 pm regarding progress on the SDC Specific Plan. This virtual meeting is "informational only." Supervisors are not expected to vote on anything. Access meeting materials by clicking on the SDC Specific Plan graphic to the right. Make sure to read the Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles. The Community Profile and Background Report (Attachment 1) is extensive and informative. Since oral comments will be limited to a few minutes per speaker,  submit written comments by email (NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, JAN 22) and summarize them orally during the meeting (bos@sonoma-county.org). Meeting details to be posted 72 hours prior on https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

As the SDC Specific Plan process moves forward, consider the following:

1. What’s missing?

A key principle included in the 2019 Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles (developed by a coalition of community organizations) but omitted from the 2020 Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles (drawn up by Dyett and Bhatia and presented to the public during the Nov. 14, 2020 Community Workshop) reads:

Principles of sustainability for the future use of Eldridge: Planners and decision-makers will use recognized principles of land use sustainability to gauge how well proposed land uses protect public trust resources and fit the character and values of the site and surrounding area, as well as benefit local communities and residents. The density, scale and design for new development or redevelopment of Eldridge must be compatible with surrounding communities and Sonoma Valley’s constrained water resources and transportation system, and all development must be supported by sound infrastructure and appropriate public services.

****The first sentence (in bold) of this missing principle was added to the 2021 Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles on Jan. 11, 2021 as Guiding Principle #4.

2. Should the second sentence of this missing principle be added to the 2021 Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles?

a. The local community has voiced strong support for redeveloping the SDC campus and for affordable and disabled housing at a reasonable scale. This support is reflected in the 2020 Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles drawn up by Dyett and Bhatia. However, the fact that the redevelopment site sits in the middle of Glen Ellen, which is not a designated urban growth area, is not fully addressed. Insist that planners and decision-makers be mindful of the surrounding village and existing General Plan policies in regards to density, scale, design, infrastructure, and services. 

b. The concept of “community character” is an important one. Share with the Board of Supervisors the elements of Glen Ellen’s community character you want to see incorporated into redevelopment plans. For an interesting article on community character, look for the Community Character pdf near the top of the eldridgeforall.org Downloads page. 

c. The concept of "quality of life" is equally important. Share with the Board of Supervisors the ways in which quality of life throughout Sonoma Valley could be enhanced via properly scaled and moderate density redevelopment of SDC, and point out ways quality of life could be negatively impacted by overdevelopment.

3. Do we have enough time? 

More time is needed to complete the Specific Plan process. COVID and wildfires have heavily impacted the timeline, yet the State has not extended it. The amount of time allotted for Development and Presentation of Project Alternatives has been compressed from 11 months (original schedule) to 5 months; an alarmingly short amount of time given the complexities of the site, including its location in the middle of Glen Ellen, and the need to fully engage the local community to get buy-in for a preferred alternative. To truly create a community-driven plan, ask the Board of Supervisors to work with the State to obtain a time extension. 

4. Is protection of the SDC’s open space guaranteed?

While permanent protection of the SDC’s open space acreage is generally assumed to be a given, the actual legislation from the April 19, 2019 Budget Amendment reads:

The department recognizes the property’s exceptional open space,  natural resources, and wildlife habitat. The disposition of the property or property interests shall provide for the permanent protection of the open space and natural resources as a public resource to the greatest extent feasible and shall be upon terms and conditions the director deems to be in the best interest of the state. (Section 2, 1.2 (c))

To protect the SDC open space, urge the Board of Supervisors to work with the State to transfer the open space to Jack London State Park and Sonoma Valley Regional Park.