Healdsburg, developer haggle

<p>Healdsburg residents applauded the latest version of a resort and housing project Tuesday, but some said the city shouldn't pay to include a park and fire station.</p><p>Developers gave a presentation to the City Council and a standing-room-only crowd of 150 people, highlighting changes in the proposed Saggio Hills development.</p><p>Most of the ideas were well received. But one that raised hackles was a suggestion that the city reimburse the developers for the cost of a 37-acre park and a fire substation.</p><p>"We don't think they're (hurt) by helping the city build a park," said Bruce Abramson of Healdsburg.</p><p>Abramson is a leader of the group Healdsburg Heart, which has been meeting with developers to hammer out details of the Saggio Hills proposal, which has been revised several times.</p><p>Former Mayor Leah Gold praised much of the plan but said, "Iurge you to drive a hard bargain on behalf of the citizens of Healdsburg."</p><p>Some residents said the park, fire station and affordable homes are too important to risk delay by bargaining for the last dollar.</p><p>"The saddest thing that could happen is the park doesn't get built and the affordable housing doesn't happen," said Tony Cabrera of Healdsburg, a sentiment echoed by several others.</p><p>Saggio Hills is proposed for the city's last large undeveloped parcel , 258 acres on the northern edge of town off Passalacqua Road.</p><p>The city has been considering projects there for about 10 years from multiple owners.</p><p>Robert Green and Tony Korman bought the land in August and have dramatically changed the proposals, increasing the land for affordable housing from 4 acres to 14 acres and boosting the size of the park from 30 acres to 37 acres.</p><p>Their proposal, which they described as preliminary, still includes 49 estate homes and as many as 150 moderate-income homes.</p><p>Green said the park could include multiple sports fields, trails and a wetlands area.</p><p>He offered to pay up-front costs for the park and fire station but wants to be reimbursed from hotel tax revenue.</p><p>While they reacted favorably to the changes, several council members expressed reservations about paying for the facilities, although they were optimistic about a compromise.</p><p>"I think the onus is on the developer to pay for the fire station, especially, and also for the park," Councilman Jason Liles said.</p><p>Councilwoman Lisa Schaff-ner said "my goal is to be thorough but quick" in working out a deal.</p><p>The Saggio Hills project is expected to return to the council next month, but the review process is expected to be lengthy.</p>