Controversial Sonoma hotel faces another hurdle

A hearing for a controversial hotel proposed a half-block off the Sonoma Plaza has been canceled after opponents challenged its environmental impact report.

A group opposed to the 62-room hotel, spa and 80-seat restaurant claim the environmental study approved April 13 by the Planning Commission is flawed and the City Council should require more analysis.

In particular, they claim it did not look at sufficient alternatives, such as including housing on the site, or adequately scrutinize traffic impacts on First Street West and other Plaza intersections.

As a result, a Planning Commission meeting scheduled for today to consider a use permit and design review for the project has been called off until the City Council considers the appeal.

“When a project is this big, with the kind of potential impacts on the community - located where it is - it is imperative the EIR be as complete and accurate as possible,” said Larry Barnett, the former mayor, who was among the half-dozen Sonoma residents who filed the appeal.

The developers, Kenwood Investments, took the challenge in stride.

“We disagree with the basis of the appeal, but expected it,” said Bill Hooper, president of Kenwood Investments.

He said the company respects the appeal to the City Council and “we’re ready to make our case there.”

The $40 million project is planned on an L-shaped site behind the Lynch and Sonoma Index-Tribune buildings.

The chief executive officer for Kenwood Investments is Darius Anderson, a principal in Sonoma Media Investments, which owns The Press Democrat and The Sonoma Index-Tribune.

Initially, Anderson proposed a project with almost twice the square footage, sparking a ballot measure pushed by Barnett to limit the size of new hotels to 25 rooms.

After the measure was narrowly defeated in 2013, Anderson returned with a revised project that eliminated an events center and second restaurant.

More recently, Caymus Capital proposed a 30-room hotel, spa, cafe and 32 residential units a few blocks away, off First Street East, which also has drawn staunch opposition as it undergoes environmental review.

It is proposed on the 3.4-acre site across the street from Hughes Little League field.

Opponents of the West Napa Street hotel contend cumulative impacts from projects such as the First Street East proposal are being overlooked.

You can reach Staff Writer Clark Mason at 707-521-5214.