Editorial

Editor: At the last Planning Commission meeting, on Jan. 8, the Mill District development discussion included many speakers who voiced their concerns and criticisms of the project. Most demanded a significantly higher percentage of affordable housing be included. While I agree with these demands wholeheartedly, I want to bring up the sadly overlooked subject of Heritage trees. All too frequently during project presentations in recent years, including the Mill District, the developers have included in their plans the removal of Heritage trees. I have asked the city council and the Planning Commission before, and I am asking them now, to rethink their position on Heritage trees. The word “heritage” has the same root as inheritance; meaning something to be passed on to future generations. It is our duty to do so. If Heritage trees can be cut down for purposes of convenience and profit, then why bother with a special designation? It follows that the name Heritage tree is a misnomer. If the Council and Planning Commissioners have such little regard for our environment that they let investors get away with the destruction of such trees, then at least be honest and remove the designation “Heritage” from all trees.

Editor: It appears that some Healdsburg businesses who display an American flag have a philosophy of “hoist it and forget it.” U.S. Flag Code requires that the American flag be flown at half-staff for the president or a former president 30 days from the date of death. A presidential order was given on Dec. 1, in honor of former president George H. W. Bush. The code also requires that flags displayed after sunset must have direct illumination on the flag itself.

The planning commission met last week and approved the Replay Mixed Use Project for a 53-room hotel and 206 residential units. They did not recommend more middle income and affordable housing to meet the city’s targeted housing goals. It was very disappointing. Approximately 146 units (70 percent) will be high - end market rate homes, speculated to be over $1 million each. This will encourage out of town and second-home buyers. About 80 percent of the residents will not be able to afford these units. They also recommended 40 affordable units (less than 80 percent median income), and 22 middle-income units (120-160 percent median income) -- very few in the big picture of 208 units. What has been the recent community discussion on affordable and middle-income housing? In the past two years there has been an emphasis on this type of housing by the city council, the community housing committee, ballot measures, and other public processes. This is reflected as follows: Housing Action Plan (HAP), Measure P passage (more middle income rental units) city sponsored community survey (extreme concern on high housing costs), the SDAT (recommendations for affordable and middle income housing), and rejection of Measure N in 2016 (residents not wanting more market rate housing). Replay is well aware of all this. If the community wishes to encourage housing affordability and homes that are “affordable by design,” they need to be pro-active and write letters and show up. This is the largest proposed residential project since the late 1990’s with Parkland Farms. The developer is proposing a minimal number of affordable and middle income housing units. There are recommendations that Replay should provide another 20-40 middle-income units, especially since most of the market rate units (146) will likely cost over $1 million each and are unaffordable to most of the residents. They have a right to make a profit, but the city needs to tell them what also needs to be built in order to meet our housing goals and aspirations. The next step is for the city council to review this in March. All of the council members ran on pledges of more affordable housing. They have both a challenge and an obligation to help the City meet its housing goals with this 208-unit project. Let’s see what they can do.

Each winter for the past several years, local Healdsburg resident Mary St. Clair and her band of volunteers have packed boxes that are sent to our troops who are stationed in remote areas of the world, far away from a post exchange or many amenities. These boxes contain some necessities, like new, clean socks and warm hats, but mostly goodies like homemade trail mix from the Alexander Valley Ladies Aid Society, yoyos donated by the Noon Rotary Club and donations from the local community of candies, nuts and snacks. This is a real taste of home for soldiers who have left their homes to be of service to us and our country. This year on Jan. 24, Mary will once again be leading a packing at St. John’s School Gym at 6 p.m. We will be packing more than 250 boxes, so yes, your help is welcome. Your help is also welcome in the form of cash donations to help cover the cost of mailing the packages to the soldiers. Last year the mailing cost alone was over $4,000. Mary’s nonprofit, Healdsburg SOS, is under the umbrella of Viet Nam Vets of Sonoma County. The Viet Nam Vets pay for shipping the packages. If you can help with the cost of shipping, please donate online at the Vets website. Thank you, Healdsburg for your generosity.