Readers respond to housing question

Brian Burke, president, Praxis Residential of Santa Rosa:

“The governor is right. We don’t want housing. … I’ve built my share of houses but never in Sonoma County. I grew up here, went to Rancho Cotate High School and spent over a decade protecting the citizens of Rohnert Park as a member of public safety … But it makes little sense to do business in my own community. Building permit fees here are sky high.”

Bob Combs, retired cardiologist, of Healdsburg:

“Well-intentioned efforts to maintain our lovely air, protect the rivers, wetlands and coastal ocean, reduce traffic, help our forests thrive and blunt the impacts of overcrowding have had some unintended consequences. I don’t feel that there has been an intentional effort to make housing expensive. However, I’m pessimistic that we can improve these housing challenges for more than a few.”

Jack Tibbetts of Santa Rosa:

“I do not think that our community is opposed to housing and growth. … I just think that the layer-caking of regulations and fees over the past few decades now makes building nearly impossible for anyone other than the major players. To grow enough to meet pent-up demand, the county will have to streamline these regulations and fees…We can grow up, or we can grow out.”

Kristen Cutler of Santa Rosa, 35-year resident of the county:

“I agree with Governor Brown that we do not need more housing in Sonoma County. We need to work to control population growth so we keep our county the beautiful place it is.”

Barry Hirsh, retired framing contractor, Santa Rosa:

“I ended my business after 30 years in 2011 in response to the economic downturn. The characterization by some progressives of developers as sleazy, money-grubbers is insulting and misinformed. … I feel that as a county we can’t be stagnant - times change. We have to find a way to supply good paying jobs and housing for the broad spectrum. How can we attract young professionals here?”

Steve Beck, Sebastopol:

“I have to agree with Governor Brown that, collectively, the people of Sonoma County have a major responsibility for the lack of affordable housing. … Sebastopol claims to have sufficient properties to meet all housing needs for the next 10 years.

However, almost every single high-density housing development in the past 20 years has had to fight against neighbors’ objections. Too often, city councils give in to the vocal opponents.”

Joe Lilienthal of Santa Rosa:

“Continuing to require superior design that’s sensitive to surrounding structures and green building criteria contributes to preserving the quality of life we all want in Sonoma County. All these guidelines are in place for good reason and should not be rolled back because of a knee-jerk reaction to the current housing crisis.”

Allen Henderson and Mike Gasparini:

“We are two utterly frustrated small-time local developers of the Paseo Vista subdivision, a 100 percent affordable infill project (132 single-family homes and 45 rental units) almost ready to be built on an auto yard we rehabilitated in southwest Santa Rosa. … Since project approval in February 2012 by the Board of Supervisors, we’ve been stuck in the pipeline, bouncing back and forth between the county and the city. … We now find ourselves permit ready to build three model homes except for one unexpected twist – money to U.S. Fish and Wildlife for tiger salamander remediation - a very dubious federal requirement.”