Santa Rosa council votes to allow Calistoga Road property to be divided

Developers will be able to build three new homes on a disputed property in eastern Santa Rosa after the City Council on Tuesday reversed an earlier decision blocking the project.

The council in September sided with a group of Rincon Valley residents who worried the project at 408 Calistoga Road would erode the rural character of their neighborhood. The council’s 4-3 vote to uphold the neighbors’ appeal represented a rare overruling of a Planning Commission decision.

But a week later, Councilman Gary Wysocky said he wanted to reconsider his vote, saying he believed statements made during the hearing needed further clarification. So late Tuesday, the council took the matter up again.

Residents of Monte Verde Drive reiterated why they felt the city should not allow the 1-acre parcel at the western edge of their neighborhood to be subdivided into four lots by a developer just looking to a make a profit.

Paul Bussard argued that the city promised residents when their neighborhood was being annexed into the city in 2000 that the rural zoning on their properties would be preserved.

“Without these promises, our residents would never have voted for annexation,” said Bussard, whose home abuts the proposed project.

Residents said they worry that carving up the Calistoga Road property into smaller lots would set a precedent that would lead to higher-density development in their neighborhood.

“Our concern is this is going to open up the gates and one by one we’re going to be chopped up,” Karine Villeggiante said.

The preservation of trees, low traffic volumes and ability to keep farm animals have all been cited as reasons neighbors want to preserve the feel of the small pocket of semi-rural home properties, which were built around 1950.

Developer Jeff Komar argued, however, that the property he and his partner want to subdivide isn’t really part of that neighborhood. He stressed that it is unique because it fronts Calistoga Road, not Monte Verde Drive.

He also noted that Monte Verde Drive residents in 2005 rezoned many of their 1-acre properties to pave the way for additional future development.

That rezoning of 18 homes to a slightly higher-density rural zoning gave most property owners the right to subdivide their lots to add another home behind their existing ones, explained Clare Hartman, the city’s deputy director of planning. The new zoning, though still rural, means as many as 15 new homes could be allowed in the neighborhood, she said.

The Calistoga Road property was never included in that rezoning because city planners felt the existing home’s orientation toward Calistoga Road differentiated it from the Monte Verde Drive properties, Hartman said.

Councilwoman Robin Swinth said she remained unswayed by the new information and felt that when the area was annexed in 2000 it was “with the intention and promise that the area would remain very low-density.”

“That is a unique thing in our city. It’s a special thing,” she said.

Councilwoman Erin Carlstrom joined with Swinth in remaining opposed to the project.

Wysocky and Councilwoman Julie Combs, however, reversed their previous votes against the project. Wysocky said he felt Monte Verde Drive was a “unique street” of homes with “great curb appeal.”

“But 408 Calistoga, in my opinion, is not part of that,” he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @srcitybeat.