The Sonoma Planning Commission has hit pause on big changes for the Sebastiani Winery property. In a unanimous vote Thursday, commissioners backed a “go-slow” strategy that keeps the site’s agricultural zoning in place until a concrete project is actually on the table. The recommendation follows weeks of public workshops and now heads to the City Council, which is expected to take it up in early March.
Instead of immediately switching the site to a new mixed-use category, commissioners said they want the rules clearly set first under the city’s ongoing General Plan Update, according to Sonoma Valley Sun. They described the move as a deliberate pause, not a denial, to avoid greenlighting broad development types before environmental review and detailed zoning standards are nailed down.
Neighbors warn about fire and traffic risks
Neighbors have made it clear they are nervous about what a denser project, or a hotel, could mean for safety. Residents who spoke at public hearings argued that more intense development could clog narrow evacuation routes and worsen risks in a high fire-hazard area. As reported by the Sonoma Index-Tribune, they pushed the city to fully account for circulation and emergency access before making any land-use decisions for the site.
What’s on the ground now
The roughly 20-acre parcel is part of the Foley Family Wines portfolio and currently includes historic vineyard acreage and related buildings, according to local coverage. City planning materials show the land mapped as agriculture in the draft Land Use Element, so any shift away from that designation would trigger additional, project-level review under the General Plan and CEQA. The draft framework is laid out in the draft Land Use Element.
Next steps and timeline
The commission’s recommendation now moves to the City Council, which is expected to take it up at its first meeting in March. Community Development Director Jennifer Gates told commissioners the goal is to wrap up the General Plan Update by fall 2026, per Sonoma Valley Sun. If council members agree with the go-slow approach, the city would proceed with any required environmental review and additional public hearings tied to specific project proposals…