Planning Commission, and Board of Zoning Adjustments Combined Meeting
Date: July 31, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Webinar:
Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting by calling in or by using the Zoom application:
Zoom: Join Meeting »
Phone: +1 (669) 900-9128
Webinar ID: 880 9254 0311
Password: 463584
Registration Required: No
Attachments:
The Planning Agency is made up of the Commissioners on both the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments.
Roll Call Item 1
Commissioner Kapolchock, District 1
Commissioner Reed, District 2
Commissioner Striplen, District 3
Commissioner Koenigshofer, District 5
Commissioner McCaffery, Chair, District 4
Roll Call Item 2
Commissioner Kapolchok, District 1
Commissioner Reed, District 2
Commissioner Striplen, District 3
Commissioner Marquez, District 5
Commissioner McCaffery, Chair, District 4
Staff Members
Cecily Condon, Permit Sonoma Division Manager
Eric Gage, Project Planner
Derik Michaelson, Project Planner
Crystal Acker, Supervising Planner
Tasha Levitt, Administrative Assistant
Ivan Jimenez, Deputy County Counsel III
Jennifer Klein, Chief Deputy County Counsel
Disability Accommodation
If you have a disability which requires an accommodation or an alternative format to assist you in observing and commenting on this meeting, please call (707) 565-6186 or email PlanningAgency@sonomacounty.gov at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting to make arrangements.
Materials
Available digitally through the link in the Agenda and on the Planning Commission website. You can also email PlanningAgency@sonomacounty.gov or the project planner to request materials.
Agenda
1:00 PM Call to order, Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance.
Correspondence
Board of Zoning Adjustments/Planning Commission/Board of Supervisors Actions
Commissioner Announcements
Public Appearances for Non-Agenda Items
Items scheduled on the Agenda
Planning Commission Regular Calendar
View documents for all items listed digitally »
Item No.: |
1 |
---|---|
Time: |
1:00 PM |
File: |
ZCE24-0009 |
Applicant: |
County of Sonoma |
Owner: |
N/A |
Cont. from: |
July 10, 2025 |
Staff: |
Eric Gage |
Env. Doc: |
Permit Sonoma has determined that the proposed amendments to Chapter 26 to implement Housing Element program 15g are consistent with development density analyzed in the 2020 General Plan EIR and exempt from further CEQA review per Section 15183 of the CEQA Guidelines. Proposed amendments for Employee Housing Act compliance are considered administrative updates to implement and remain consistent with provisions of state law that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment, and are therefore not a project subject to CEQA pursuant to Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines. |
Proposal: |
The Sonoma County Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing to consider a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors on a proposed ordinance amending Sonoma County Code Chapters 26 (Zoning Regulations), 30, 40A, and 40D relating to agricultural employee housing allowances to comply with the state Employee Housing Act (Cal. Health & Safety Code, Div. 13, Pt. 1). Additional amendments are proposed to implement Program 15g of the 2023-2031 Housing Element to reduce criteria thresholds for agricultural employee dwelling units under Zoning Code Section 26-24-040. |
Recommended Action: |
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt a resolution recommending that the Board of Supervisors amend the text of the Sonoma County Municipal Code for consistency with the California Employee Housing Act and the adopted 2023-2031 Housing Element. |
Location: |
County of Sonoma |
APN: |
Various |
District: |
All |
Zoning: |
Countywide (unincorporated areas) |
Action: |
|
Appeal Deadline: |
|
Resolution No.: |
25-0_ |
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain
Board of Zoning Adjustments Regular Calendar
Item No.: |
2 |
---|---|
Time: |
1:05 PM |
File: |
UPE19-0072 |
Applicant: |
Kamal Azari |
Owner: |
Kamal Azari |
Cont. from: |
March 28, 2024 |
Staff: |
Derik Michaelson and Crystal Acker |
Env. Doc: |
N/A |
Proposal: |
A Use Permit to construct a new 2,809-square-foot tasting room on a 16.6-acre parcel. A total of 4,973 square feet of patio/walkways and a 2,000-square-foot viewing terrace are also proposed. Tasting room hours of operation would be 11:00am to 5:00pm, Thursday-Sunday; no more than 20 wine tasting guests allowed per day. Seven winery events per year are proposed for a total of seven event days, all on Saturdays from 11:00am to 5:00pm, with a maximum of 125 guests per event. A new 30-space parking lot is proposed adjacent to the new tasting room and an overflow parking area is proposed to the east. Two new driveways onto Spring Hill Road are proposed. No final action will be taken at the hearing; instead, new information will be presented related to potential project revisions to allow the BZA to provide direction regarding continued processing of the use permit application. |
Recommended Action: |
Staff recommends that the Board of Zoning Adjustments re-open the public hearing to accept new information related to potential project revisions and provide direction to staff regarding continued processing of the use permit application. Final action on the use permit will be considered at a later hearing, which will be noticed in advance. |
Location: |
1321 Spring Hill Road, Petaluma |
APN: |
020-050-026 |
District: |
Second |
Zoning: |
LEA (Land Extensive Agriculture) B6 100, RC50/50 (Riparian Corridor Combining District) |
Action: |
|
Appeal Deadline: |
|
Resolution No.: |
25-0_ |
Commissioner Kapolchok
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain
Permit Sonoma Hearing Waiver Calendar
This calendar serves only to notify the public of hearing waiver projects. The projects listed below are not on the current agenda.
None
Procedures
PA meetings begin at 1:00 PM and are recorded. Presentations on the scheduled topics are given, followed by commissioner questions and discussion. A public hearing is then opened and the applicant gives a 10-minute project presentation followed by public comments. The time limit for public comments is at the Chair’s discretion and is typically 3 minutes per speaker. Please state your name for the record when you are called upon.
Questions raised by the public may be answered after all public comments are given. The Commission may request staff to answer questions
Uncontested Calendar: All items listed on the uncontested calendar are considered to be routine. The Chair will open the public hearing on all items simultaneously. If no one from the public addresses the PC, the hearing will be closed and the items may be acted upon with a single majority vote.
Public Appearances for Non-Agenda Items: Shortly after the hearing begins, the PC invites public participation regarding the affairs of the County. Any person desiring to speak on any matter which is not scheduled on this agenda may do so. Comments may be limited to three minutes, or as imposed at the discretion of the Chair. Under State Law, matters presented during public appearances cannot be discussed or acted upon by the PC commissioners.
Public Comments
Please follow the instructions below to submit a Public Comment in writing, email or in person. The PA invites interested persons to submit comments which are entered into the permanent record. Written comments received prior to and during the hearing are distributed to the commissioners, staff, and are available to the public via the public copies link in the calendar section of this agenda. Written comments received after the package is made public may be read into the record.
Mail Public Comments
Address letters to: Permit Sonoma, 2550 Ventura Avenue, Attn: Planning Agency Secretary, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 and include the project number.
Email Public Comments
Email comments to: PlanningAgency@sonomacounty.gov. Please provide your name and the project number. It is advised to email comments prior to the hearing date to give commissioners and staff review time.
Public Comments Using Zoom
Comments are not accepted through Zoom at this time. If you wish to provide comments, please follow the instructions provided on this page for mail, email. Or in-person comment.
Speaking In-Person on an Agenda Item
If you wish to speak in-person on an item which appears on this agenda, please fill out a speaker card and drop it in the box near the staff table. You will be called by the Chair in the order received. Your name, will be announced when it’s your turn to speak (1 public comment is allowed per person). The meetings are recorded and all in person testimony must be given through the microphone. Please state your name upon approaching the microphone. Each person may speak only once and is usually granted 3 minutes. Time limits are at the discretion of the Chair. Questions raised by the public are to be directed to the Commission. At the end of the hearing, the Commission may ask staff or the applicant to respond to any questions raised during the hearing.
Be Respectful
Please Be Respectful of others and the varying points of view. No clapping, booing, or speaking out of turn.
Be Courteous
Please Be Courteous turn off cell phones and pagers while the meeting is in session.