Sonoma Supes OK Sale Of Hospital Site For Controversial Housing Project

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- Before an overflow crowd Tuesday, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors tentatively agreed to proceed with the sale of county-owned land where a developer wants to build 800 rental units.

A final vote is scheduled for July 11 on the county's proposal to sell the 82-acre site near the former Community Hospital on Chanate Road to developer Bill Gallaher for between $11.5-12.5 million.

The land is located in Santa Rosa, and the city will hold hearings within the next 18 months on the building, zoning and planning requirements of Gallaher's proposed development, which includes 50-60 units for qualified homeless veterans.

Not less than 20 percent of the 800 units will be for very low-income households for at least 55 years. Very low-income in Sonoma County is an annual salary of $41,300 for a family of four that would pay $1,033 a
month.

Between 200 and 250 residential units would be for senior households for at least 55 years, and not less than 20 percent of the senior units will be for very low-income households.

The proposal also includes maintaining three parcels totaling 45.5 acres of existing open space land. Only 13 of the 82 acres will be developed, according to Gallaher's proposal.

Sutter Health vacated its hospital on the site in 2014 rather than pay for costly seismic and environmental upgrades to improve safety. Sutter Health opened a new regional hospital off of Mark West Springs Road north of Santa Rosa, and the best use of the site became the subject of debate.

Opponents of Gallaher's proposal and the county's sale of the land said they were not given enough time to determine the development's impact, including traffic, on their neighborhood. A lawsuit to stop the sale has been filed in Sonoma County Superior Court.

County supervisors were resolute Tuesday to proceed with the sale of the land to mitigate in part the dire need to provide affordable housing in the area.

"Are we becoming Marin County, closing the gates because we don't want any growth?" Supervisor David Rabbitt asked.

Supervisor Lynda Hopkins told the packed chambers she has been accused of "pursuing the almighty dollar" by approving the sale.

"I am not 'pursuing the almighty dollar.' I am pursuing the almighty roof," Hopkins said. "This is a fantastic opportunity. I am not going to sit around and do nothing because I am afraid of pissing someone off."

By Bay City News Service

Image via County of Sonoma/Chanate Complex Information Page