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Community Design + Architecture was the lead consultant for this project, which began in January 1999, to prepare a Specific Plan and EIR for a 20-acre infill site adjacent to a potential rail transit station in Sonoma County. The project focused on creating a mixed-use neighborhood that provides the flexibility to satisfy changing market demands over time and to support future rail transit while not relying upon it to fully determine appropriate land use types.
The planning effort included resolving the diverse concerns of the City, the property owners in the Specific Plan Area, and surrounding neighbors. The Consulting Team worked directly with the Planning Commission in preparing the Specific Plan. These working sessions included a “hands-on” workshop with Commissioners, property owners, and members of the public creating land use alternatives for the site using icons representing land use increments that can be developed given market conditions.
Several alternatives were developed exploring a variety of land use patterns and intensities that create a mixed-use neighborhood with a balance of housing, retail, office, and cottage business development that will create a vital center of activity that complements rather than competes with the City's existing downtown. The Specific Plan was adopted by the City Council in mid-July of 2000. A development team is currently working towards achieving approvals for the first phase of implementation with construction planned to begin in mid-2002. The city is developing plans for a multi-modal park and ride facility that will ultimately become the rail transit facility.
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