Editorial: Lack of vision

The Healdsburg Planning Commission¹s approval last week of an RV
and boat storage facility on Healdsburg Avenue at the city¹s
southern entrance has prompted at least two members of the City
Council to suggest the council reconsider, and possibly overturn,
the commission¹s 7-0 vote.
That would be wrong for several reasons.
Not the least of which is the land is zoned for industrial use.
And the storage facility is a permitted use. And the developer of
the project made numerous changes at the request of the commission
to make it more acceptable.
Councilmember Jason Liles and Mayor Mike McGuire contend that an
RV and boat storage facility is not what they want to see at the
city¹s southern entryway. That is a valid point. However, that
property, and the entire area has been the site of industrial and
agricultural uses for decades.
McGuire doesn¹t believe the area is appropriate for that type of
use, but that is the kind of use for which it is now designated. If
the city wants to change the zoning, then it should do that, but
not after a project has been approved following numerous
accommodations at the request of the Planning Commission.
It is clear from some of the comments of Planning Commissioners
that they were not thrilled with the idea of an RV storage facility
at the site, but they understood that it was not fair to deny the
project without just cause.
Commissioner Jim Wood said the commission could have denied the
project if there was a vision or a plan for the area, but there is
not. ³The problem is we don¹t have a document that says Œwe
envision our entryways to be like this,¹² said Wood.
We agree with Mayor McGuire that the community should have a
discussion about planning the future of Healdsburg and that the
city¹s entryways should be part of the discussion. If it prompts a
larger discussion about planning and specific uses for the city¹s
few remaining undeveloped areas, this debate on the boat and RV
storage will have served a purpose.
But the purpose of the discussion should not be to deny the
developer of the project a permit.
We are not supporters of RV and boat storage facilities but a
property owner certainly has the right to provide a service to
those willing to pay for it. And the property owner has the right
to develop his or her land in accordance with the rules and
regulations that have been established.
We can¹t imagine that the establishment of an RV and boat
storage facility will be a long-term use, particularly if city
leaders are successful in developing a vision for the city¹s
southern entrance, which we sincerely hope they can accomplish.
With a clear plan and some creative thinking, the southern gateway
to Healdsburg would certainly attract a more lucrative (and likely
more visually pleasing) enterprise than vehicle storage.
The City Council would do well to initiate a long-range planning
process for this area that creates the type of entryway it would
like to see. In the meantime, there isn¹t adequate justification to
reject a project that has followed the rules and was approved by
unanimous vote of the Planning Commission.
‹ Barry W. Dugan.