Railroad Square market plan OK'd

<p>Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit officials unanimously endorsed a development proposal Wednesday that would bring a market hall inspired by the San Francisco Ferry Building to Santa Rosa's Railroad Square.</p><p>Creative Housing Associates, the team selected to develop the 5½ acres owned by SMART, includes Hugh Futrell, a former Santa Rosa school board member who has other building projects in and around downtown.</p><p>The early plans call for a 46,650-square-foot food and wine center, a restaurant, a farmers market and 250 housing units.</p><p>The team has vowed to use green building techniques and offer living wages for employees.</p><p>"I think it will be a trend-setter in the area and a very, very good one for the environment," said Charles McGlashan, a Marin County supervisor and SMART board member.</p><p>SMART board members will enter into exclusive negotiations to finalize development parameters - a months-long process that is likely to change many aspects of the team's early plans.</p>