SONOMA VALLEY, CA — A group fighting plans to turn a prized property in a tiny Sonoma County town into a private housing and hotel development has intensified its push for an alternative for the sprawling property that includes some of the North Bay's most scenic and valuable land.
The campaign seeks up to $200,000 for discovery, legal work, and an alternative development proposal for the former Sonoma Developmental Center, the Sonoma Index-Tribune reported.
The state closed the 127-year-old institution nearly a decade ago, leaving the future of the property unresolved.
Sonoma Valley Next 100 is using small community gatherings to raise between $150,000 and $200,000 for the next stage of its lawsuit challenging the proposed redevelopment of the 900-acre site, according to the Sonoma Index-Tribune.
During the meetings, Sonoma Valley Next 100 members update residents on the lawsuit, describe the next steps, and answer questions.
Sonoma Valley Next 100 sued the California Department of General Services in 2025 over the agency's sale of the property to Eldridge LLC.
The state agency oversees the Sonoma Developmental Center, according to reports.
Eldridge LLC proposed redeveloping the property's 180-acre core campus with 990 housing units, 130,000 square feet of commercial space, and a 150-room hotel, according to reports.
Residents raised concerns about the proposed housing-hotel development including traffic, evacuation routes along the two-lane Arnold Drive, the loss of a wildlife corridor, and threats to Glen Ellen's small-town character, according to reports.
Sonoma Valley Next is asking residents to host or attend a gathering, learn about the lawsuit, and contribute to the fundraising campaign, the Sonoma Index-Tribune reported.
"I think people in Sonoma need to be more aware of what a huge impact this is going to have on the town of Sonoma," Bean Anderson, one of the organizers of Sonoma Valley Next 100, told the Sonoma Index-Tribune.
The lawsuit alleges that the Department of General Services violated the Enabling Legislation and established historic preservation laws. It also accuses the agency of failing to protect the property's natural resources under the Public Trust Doctrine.
As the case enters its next phase, Sonoma Valley Next 100 plans to use the money for discovery, continued legal work, and development of an alternative proposal for the property.
The next gathering is scheduled for Sept. 26. People interested in hosting a meeting can contact the organization at sdcnext100@gmail.com.
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