Sonoma City Council denies permission for Williams-Sonoma to hold events

Williams-Sonoma won’t be allowed to host special events in the store where it was founded 59 years ago in its namesake city.

The Sonoma City Council voted 5-0 Monday night to deny the company a use permit for up to 15 annual cooking demonstrations and corporate events at the original Broadway location where the company re-opened a store last year.

The decision, which reversed a previous approval by the Planning Commission, came amid concerns over valet parking and disabled access at events drawing up to 80 people.

“In the end, we felt we need further study before we would issue a use permit under these conditions,” Mayor David Cook said Tuesday.

Former Sonoma Mayor Larry Barnett, the chief opponent of the company’s plans, said the project was not analyzed for effects such as noise, traffic and its encroachment on Highway 12.

Barnett said part of the problem is the lack of any formal policy governing special events in the city’s development code. The council agreed, vowing to amend its regulations at a future date.

“How can you approve something if you don’t have a body of rules and regulations to evaluate the application?” said Barnett, who served on the council from 1994 to 2006. “This is how we function as society. Otherwise, it’s just anarchy.”

A Williams-Sonoma spokeswoman did not return a call seeking comment Tuesday.

The 605 Broadway store, opened in October, is where Chuck Williams launched the business in 1956.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. ?On Twitter @ppayne.