Maintaining focus

Communities with historical significance, as our little City of Sonoma can rightfully claim, have endless opportunities to enhance or destroy that cultural heritage. And so, whenever new buildings are proposed in the historic district, careful attention is paid to the matter.

Last night, for example, an Environmental Impact Review was before the Planning Commission to determine if enough preparatory information had been explored before a project goes forward. The proposed project was a multipurpose building adjacent to a state owned building, an historic landmark, of significant value. The Blue Wing Inn HERE is the oldest adobe building for public viewing in northern California. It dates back to the 1840s when California was under Mexican rule.

I attended the meeting, which was standing room only because of the high interest, but was fortunate in that I actually had a seat. Even with strictly enforced time limits the discussion lasted almost 2-1/2 hours and the final vote was 4-3 (EIR refused) so it was a cliffhanger to the end. That doesn't mean the project won't go forward. It only means that the Planning Commission needed more information in some areas that the EIR did not address to the Commission's satisfaction.

I drew the people in front of me - that's all I could see - for the first hour. Later, so my mind wouldn't wander, I drew chickens from the photos on my cell phone. Steve texted me during the meeting that all six had escaped their new run, so he was chasing chickens and mending fences, literally, before the dogs claimed tasty dinners.

Who was it that said life in a small town would be dull?