Hotel Project Sonoma gets its approval

Sonoma's Planning Commission has finally approved the 62-room hotel proposed by Kenwood Development after a 12-year journey. Originally planned with two restaurants and an event center, the final design features an 80-seat restaurant, no event center, and eight residential condominiums, two of which will be Affordable in perpetuity. To meet Development Code requirements, Kenwood will pay over $2 million into Sonoma's Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

The approval process involved overcoming obstacles such as Environmental Impact Reports, a ballot measure limiting room numbers, and design changes to align with the community's focus on housing needs. Kenwood addressed public concerns, leading to a "greatly improved" project, though changes were necessary for likely approval.

The hotel's construction, estimated to take 18 months, includes a 113-stall underground parking garage. Public attendance at the meeting was light, with most speakers favoring the project. Notably, the developer agreed to employee unionization, a rarity in the area.

The undisclosed room rates are expected to be "five-star," contributing an estimated $1.5 million annually in Transient Occupancy Taxes to the City of Sonoma. The approval vote was 5-1, with a potential appeal period of 15 days to the City Council.