Healdsburg Gives Thumbs Up to Chiquita Grove Project

Healdsburg Planning Commission unanimously approved plans on Tuesday for a 28-home development on 2.79 acres  at the intersection of Grove Street and Chiquita Road.

Commissioners, after reviewing revised plans at a continuation of the public hearing on the project, voted 6-0 to approve the negative declaration of environmental impacts. Also receiving unanimous approval were the residential master plan, the tentative subdivision map and the heritage tree removal permit.

will be in three phases, and is expected to begin within two years

The project, meeting, was not universally well-received at that time. Neighbors commented on traffic issues, density, tree removal and open space.

Commissioners also had concerns, directing staff to consider the following items: reducing the number of construction phases; expanding the common area; and clarifying the role and duties of the homeowners association.

Those recommended revisions were made and incorporated into the project, and were presented to the commission at Tuesday night's meeting.  Less than a dozen people were in attendance, in contrast to last month's meeting where about 40 people attended.

Changes were made to the original project common open space of 774 square feet, which was universally deemed to be insufficient. The current proposal expands that area to 3,047 square feet.

In addition, the driveways have been realigned and moved further from Healdsburg Avenue to provide greater visbility for drivers turning onto Grove Street.

At the previous hearing, several neighbors expressed concerns about the viability of the homeowners association. The project revisions now allow for city enforcement of the CC&Rs -- the governing documents for the homeowners association.

One nearby resident of Chiquita Road, Vern Simmons, spoke critically of the project at the May 8 meeting. On Tuesday night, however, he acknowledged that the developer had done a good job of addressing some of the issues raised, and that the project is better for it.

The lot has been designated in the city general plan as suitable for high-density housing. The project as proposed has a density of 10.4 units/acre.

"The state tells us how much housing we should accommodate, and that often comes in conflict with the desires of neighbors," said Commissioner Jeff Civian.