The second half of the calendar year is bringing a number of significant planning issues to the forefront, including the completion of the Foley Family Community Pavilion, increasing the scale of events at Seghesio on Grove Street, reimagining The Ruse from a luxury resort to a luxury dependency treatment facility and others.
Upcoming, too, is a low-income housing project that will soon begin construction on Dry Creek Road, and another at Saggio Hills on Bridal Path. The long-awaited Splash carwash is nearing construction as well, adding up to a busy agenda until the New Year and beyond.
Nearly every project or development of consequence comes up before the Planning Commission at one point or more during its application and development, making a fully seated and educated commission essential to sound civic planning.
The process of selecting a new member of the Healdsburg Planning Commission continued at last week’s City Council meeting, as two council members were selected to review the total of six applicants for the two-year term. The term would fulfill the term formerly occupied by Carrie Hunt, who moved outside the city limits and was thus ineligible to continue.
The Planning Commission is one of the city’s most influential, holding up to two monthly public hearings on proposed development plans, conditional-use permits, subdivision maps and other land-use matters, among other responsibilities. There are seven members of the commission, appointed by council members to four-year terms.
Upon Hunt’s resignation, the city embarked on an application process that began on Aug. 1. It initially had a two-week application period, until Aug. 14. However during that first filing period only three candidates filed, so the deadline was extended another two weeks to Aug. 28.
The first to file an application was Mat Humphrey, development manager of the Mill Street Row business park at Mill Street and Healdsburg Avenue. An eight-year resident, he applied Aug. 5.
James P. Gentry, a self-employed business consultant and a 25-year resident per his application, filed next on Aug. 12, followed by Megan Mokri on Aug. 14—the first deadline for filing. Mokri has a landscape design, build and maintenance firm called Geared for Growing and has lived in Healdsburg for five years, according to the application.
Three more applicants filed during the extended period, including Henry (Hank) Scotch, a four-year Healdsburg resident who is a managing editor for the University of Chicago Press. He filed on Aug. 21.
Christine Schadlich, a retired partner of Carmel Partners real estate firm and a 21-year Healdsburg resident, applied on Aug. 25. Last to apply, on Aug. 26, was Janice-Kay McCarten, also a four-year resident and a planning director for a footwear company.
The council discussed whether they needed to ask standard questions, possibly among others to come from the two council members appointed to review them. Raina Allen, the city clerk, said she could summarize the council members’ concerns into questions for the two chosen to interview the applicants. Ariel Kelley and Vice Mayor Chris Herrod both agreed to serve in that role.
They are expected to meet with all six of the candidates separately in the next couple of weeks, in preparation for a presentation and possible recommendation to the City Council at the next regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 15.
