Sebastopol district's new look debated

On the eve of a key public hearing, Sebastopol's business community is stepping forward to debate an ambitious plan to redevelop the town's old apple packing district.

Some business people suggest the plan is needed because too many travelers pass through town on their way to Guerneville, Occidental or Bodega Bay but never stop. As well, they say, many Sebastopol residents leave town to shop or spend time in cities that have revitalized their downtowns.

"Do we continue on the path of losing more and more customers, more and more businesses, to communities that are offering more options?" asked Sean Taylor, whose family developed and formerly owned the Gravenstein Station retail center near the city's eastern entrance.

But others voice concern that such a large redevelopment effort is too great a change for the city of 7,800 people and that it could encourage an influx of chain stores and restaurants.

"I hear concern over the possibility of Sebastopol losing its charm," said Alain Shaboon, who with his father, Sam, owns the East West Cafe on North Main Street.

The proposed Northeast Area Specific Plan for months has prompted lively discussions between city officials who initiated the planning and critics who worry about the plan's scale and its potential impact on traffic and groundwater.

But in recent weeks, more business people have joined the exchange, signing petitions to express concern or urging the City Council not to delay the plan's adoption.

Council members Tuesday will hold a public hearing on the plan and a related environmental impact report. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Sebastopol Community Center.

The plan calls for a new civic square, 300 new housing units and nearly 400,000 square feet of new business and civic space.

With artistic renderings reminiscent of redevelopment in Petaluma, Healdsburg and Windsor, the plan envisions buildings up to four stories tall with businesses on the ground floor and housing above. The buildings often would be constructed on pedestals, or "podia," to avoid flooding from nearby Laguna de Santa Rosa.

Owners of two local markets have signed petitions expressing concern about the plan. But in interviews they emphasized their sole issue is that Sebastopol doesn't need another grocery store.

Sebastopol already has five supermarkets, plus a large produce stand on the edge of town.

"It's amazing how we're all surviving, to be honest with you," said Mark Hoffman, who with his brother David owns Fircrest Market.

Ken Silveira, an owner of Pacific Market, said that through support of Little Leagues, the senior center and other groups, the local markets have shown "that we care about the community. We're asking for the community to care about us."

City Planning Director Kenyon Webster said a retail study related to the plan found that Sebastopol is "pretty well saturated with grocery stores."

Someone still might want to build a supermarket in the northeast area, he conceded. But under current zoning, that could happen anyway even if the council rejects the northeast plan.

Either way, the store would be limited by city law to 35,000 square feet, much smaller, he said, than the typical Wal-Mart or Target store.

The city's Chamber of Commerce supports the northeast plan. It echoes the view from city officials that the aim isn't to put existing stores and restaurants out of business but to make the current downtown bigger and more inviting.

"We need to expand on our services so we can keep our town alive," said Teresa Ramondo, the chamber's executive director. "It's not about population growth. It's about economic growth."

You can reach Staff Writer Robert Digitale at 521-5285 or robert.digitale@pressdemocrat.

com.