The August 2nd Santa Rosa Concept Design Review Board meeting to consider this proposed project has been CANCELLED.
We just received the following written confirmation from Santa Rosa:
"This message is to inform you that the proposed Chanate Village project will not be heard as a Concept Design Review item at the regularly scheduled Design Review Board meeting of August 2nd, 2018."
Please do NOT attend this meeting.
This does not mean that Santa Rosa has stopped their consideration of this proposed project, but at least this proposed project will not be considered on August 2nd.
We will keep you updated as we learn more.
Thank you, again, for your continued support!
We agree that it’s confusing: Judge Chouteau vacated the County’s sale agreement with the developer last Thursday, but the City of Santa Rosa is continuing forward with their Thursday, August 2nd Concept Design Review Board meeting.
Although we believe that this meeting – and all Santa Rosa consideration of this project – should be stopped, so far it’s moving ahead.
Attend the August 2nd Design Review Board Meeting:
Please plan to attend the City of Santa Rosa’s Concept Design Review meeting regarding the proposed Chanate project on August 2nd. Your participation and attendance at this meeting is essential. We need a better project and both Santa Rosa and the developer need to hear from us!
The Design Review Board meeting will be held at City Hall, Council Chambers, 2nd floor, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue. The meeting starts at 4:30 pm, and this project is the third item on the agenda. We don’t believe it will be heard before 5 pm, and probably not until later than that. There is limited surface parking at City Hall, but there is also a large parking garage on D Street, right across from City Hall.
The seven-member Design Review Board reviews development proposals in light of Santa Rosa’s adopted design guidelines; they consider the “location, design, site plan configuration, and the overall effect of the proposed project upon surrounding properties and the City in general.”
Concept Design Review is a very early process where the Board will give the developer their tentative reaction to the general design concept.
Your input at this early stage is vital since, as neighbors and concerned community members, the ultimate development will impact all of us.
Proposed Design Review Board Talking Points:
Of course, you can say anything you want, but it is important to keep your comments under 2 minutes and it would be helpful to speak on topics the Design Review Board considers. Some suggestions on what to say or ask would include:
1. Your consideration of this proposed project is premature because last week the Superior Court found that the sale agreement must be vacated.
2. Your consideration of this proposed project is premature because there has been no environmental review of this project, and we therefore have no idea what will be allowed to be built on this property.
3. This proposed project will have a terrible effect on traffic, which will negatively impact surrounding neighbors and Santa Rosa as a whole.
4. This property contains the Rogers Creek fault, as well as other earthquake faults, and is covered with hills. Because there has been no environmental review of this proposed project yet, it is too early to know how the site's geologic constraints might limit any development.
5. This proposed project will interfere with the health and safety of surrounding neighbors, and the new proposed residents, because it will be difficult if not impossible to safely evacuate in the event of another disaster.
A suggested closing comment:
We ask you to make no comments, and to continue this Concept Design Review hearing until the results of the Court decision are better known, and until a full Environmental Impact Report has been completed and certified.
It’s important to attend this August 2nd meeting and speak out! We hope to see you there.
If you cannot attend but would like to send written comments, address an email to (please send a copy to friendsofchanate@sonic.net):
Design Review Board
Michael Burch, Chair, mburch@srcity.org
Warren Hedgpeth, Vice-Chair, whedgpeth@srcity.org
Sabra Briere, sbriere@srcity.org
Eric Goldschlag, egoldschlag@srcity.org
Scott Kincaid, skincaid@srcity.org
Drew Weigl, dweigl@srcity.org
Kevin Zucco, kzucco@srcity.org
Update on Our Lawsuit:
We do not know what the County will do regarding their loss in Court last week, and probably won’t know for a week or two.
We, in fact, are still evaluating the Judge’s decision, but will send all of you an email with what we do understand very soon.
Unfortunately, we still owe attorney’s fees, but feel that it’s worth every penny the lawsuit cost, for obvious reasons.
Anything you can contribute to help Friends of Chanate pay our attorney’s fees would be appreciated. We also are preparing for a possible appeal and/or a fight with the City of Santa Rosa. Friends of Chanate is an all volunteer group – none of us are paid anything; almost every dime we raise goes toward legal fees and costs.
We cannot adequately express our gratitude to each and every one of you who has been supporting us both financially and in other ways. There’s a long road ahead, but together we can make a difference!
Please help us succeed by making a tax-deductible contribution today! Friends of Chanate is a fiscally sponsored nonprofit project of Inquiring Systems, Inc., 94-2524840. Visit www.FriendsOfChanate.org to make a secure, tax deductible contribution, or donate securely on our Facebook page. You can also mail a tax deductible check to Friends of Chanate by making the check payable to “ISI/Friends of Chanate” and mailing it to Friends of Chanate, P.O. Box 1284, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.
Thank you again for your generous contributions to support our efforts to ensure only the best possible development on this property!
Friends of Chanate is a fiscally sponsored nonprofit project of Inquiring Systems, Inc., 94-2524840.
SAVE THE DATE – AUGUST 2nd:
Please plan to attend the City of Santa Rosa’s Concept Design Review meeting regarding the proposed Chanate project on August 2nd. Your participation and attendance at this meeting is essential. We need a better project and Santa Rosa and the developer need to hear from us!
The Design Review Board meeting will be held at City Hall, Council Chambers, 2nd floor, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue. The meeting starts at 4:30 p.m. We will let you know what time this project will be discussed as soon as the agenda is available.
The seven-member Design Review Board reviews development proposals in light of Santa Rosa’s adopted design guidelines, including proposals that have neighborhood compatibility issues. Concept Design Review is a very early process where the Board will give the developer their tentative reaction to the general design concept.
Your input at this early stage is vital since, as neighbors and concerned community members, the ultimate development will impact all of us. We will provide more information as the meeting gets closer, but in the meantime mark your calendars and plan to attend!
Update on Our Lawsuit:
Our lawsuit is entering the final stages: our trial will be held later this week, and we expect that Judge Chouteau will make a decision within a month. Stay tuned!
Our goal with the lawsuit is to void the sale agreement and require the County to comply with the law, including holding hearings allowing the community to more fully participate in the terms of the sale of this property and any future development.
We are feeling positive, and hope to prevail! No matter the outcome, the County and City now know that Friends of Chanate exists, that the neighbors and community members are organized, mobilized, will take action, and we will not be ignored!
Our greatest need right now is for donations to help Friends of Chanate succeed in our legal battle with the County and prepare for the battle with the City. Our attorney has reduced her hourly rate, donated dozens of hours of her time, and we would not be where we are without her efforts. Friends of Chanate is an all volunteer group – none of us are paid anything; almost every dime we raise goes toward legal fees and costs.
We are deeply grateful to all who have contributed, both financially and through their support of Friends of Chanate.
Please help us succeed by making a tax-deductible contribution today! Friends of Chanate is a fiscally sponsored nonprofit project of Inquiring Systems, Inc., 94-2524840. Visit www.FriendsOfChanate.org to make a secure, tax deductible contribution, or donate securely on our Facebook page. You can also mail a tax deductible check to Friends of Chanate by making the check payable to “ISI/Friends of Chanate” and mailing it to Friends of Chanate, P.O. Box 1284, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.
Notifications: If you have not signed up with the City of Santa Rosa to receive notifications about this project, you should do so now by going to: srcity.org/2881/Chanate-Village
Thank you again for your generous contributions to support our efforts to ensure only the best possible development on this property!
Friends of Chanate is a fiscally sponsored nonprofit project of Inquiring Systems, Inc., 94-2524840.