On Opposing the North Villiage

( a letter to "anti-growth" activists)

I am opposed to a black and white anti-growth stance. It is naive, philosophically orthodox and simplistic. Let's not expend our political capitol and our reputation by shouting down growth when that effort shows little possibility of a constructive outcome.I am also opposed to name-calling (greedy and incompetent) though I admit I have been guilty of it at times.

What if the North Village property were to include only much needed affordable housing, miraculously allowed outside the GMO? Would our congestion concerns still stand? Or could we accept them in the knowledge that increased affordable housing would achieve a greater overall good? Are,we offering an alternative, comparable plan for more housing? Sadly, many of us concerned with excess growth are empty handed when it comes to new ideas for housing.

We have to keep in mind that there is a compelling argument that claims that development agreements are our best way of increasing housing without asking for money to come from tax payers (many of whom, are looking for said housing). I'd rather see the money come from developers, similar to what we have seen with the Trio and the Mill project.

It sounds like some are hoping the Planning commission might completely stop the North Village project. Vote it down. Wishful thinking and too late.

I see no need for more hotels, but I prefer them on the outskirts of town, if they must be. We need to focus on leveraging these inevitable projects towards the community good. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think the city can suddenly "re-think" it's zoning (a la the North street gun shop) once a project is in development without eventually facing legal repercussion. This was an argument we made for hastily adopting the downtown hotel restrictions. Act now, before it's too late. We can not battle each hotel, restaurant and tasting room as it arises. It's too late in North Healdsburg with this project already two steps down the road.

 If we can not change course entirely, let's make sure we do our best to push for a development agreement from Comstock that serves us. In addition to housing, an environmentally sensitive design, TOT, and in-lieu fees for parks, I would like to see some neighborhood-enhancing small retail to serve Parkland farms, Montage and other North Healdsburg residences. This was an idea presented in the SDAT report; we need to build neighborhoods, not housing projects.