Main Street: Fairness

The next phase of the Saggio Hills annexation process has begun.
The plan is to build up to 70 estate homes at the north entrance to
Healdsburg, with a five-star resort hidden in the foothills to the
east.
The project got our attention about six years ago, when a
Colorado developer named Don Beauregard assembled 350 acres of land
and came to the city with a vision for an exclusive enclave for
wealthy refugees from the wear and tear of their busy lives. Don
called it a ³Rural Renaissance,² predicting what we¹ve all come to
realize ourselves ­ that rich folks like to live in Healdsburg.
Don got worn and torn himself going through the planning
process, what with us uppity Healdsburgers demanding this and that,
and he sold the project last year, to another development group
represented by Robert Green and Tony Korman.
Compared to the last six years, Saggio Hills has been on a fast
track lately, and the developers unveiled their plans Monday night
at the City Council meeting. They offered a deal to the city that
has a lot of good points, but needs sweetening.
The developer¹s proposal includes the donation of 14 acres for a
moderate income housing project, which is good. They¹ve also agreed
to help the city with the planning process for that project, even
better. Most folks are happy with the moderate housing project
idea. If it gets built out at maximum density, the Parkland Farms
neighbors will be concerned, but we don¹t know yet if that¹s an
issue.
In addition, the development proposal calls for Green and Korman
to pitch in 37 acres of land and $3 million towards an estimated $8
million community park. Adjacent to the park would be a Fire
Department sub-station, with the first $1 million in construction
costs borne by the developers.
It should be noted that not all the concessions offered by Green
and Korman have come from the goodness of their hearts. In fact,
Korman and Green actually haven¹t ³offered² to give the community
anything at all for the rights to annex to the city and build their
$200 million project. What is on the table and is being described
as an ³offer² is the result of months of closed-door negotiations
with them and the city. What we really have here is a deal, not an
offer.
The city wants to keep the planning and building machine fed
through the impact fees from the project, collect big bucks in bed
tax from the resort, and enjoy increased sales tax, property tax,
etc. The developer plans to build a world-class project, and walk
away with a handsome profit.
Development companies don¹t succeed by giving stuff away. They
succeed by getting more than they give, and it¹s that ratio of give
to get that interests me. I say they¹re not giving enough. The
entire discussion to date has centered around horse-trading. You
pay for a study and we¹ll cover an impact fee. You donate this and
we¹ll discount that. My concern isn¹t about the give and take of
the negotiation. It looks to me like the city coffers will benefit
from this project, and the developer will, too.
My concern is about fairness. This project isn¹t being built in
Willits. No one would build Saggio Hills in Modesto. The project is
happening here because, for 150 years, we¹ve busted our butts to
make Healdsburg a great town. From Josefa Carrillo and Harmon
Heald, through Cheryl Tarter and Gary Plass, a dozen generations of
us have poured our heart and souls into making this a great
town.
Drive around and look at the street signs. Colonel Matheson,
Captain Fitch, Mary Grant, Paul Wittke, Ed Langhart, Ransom Powell.
The families and their heritage are all around us. The Brandts, the
Cuneos, the Passalacquas, the De Lunas, the Badgers, the Cadds, the
Havilands. Look at Art McCaffrey Field, Byron Gibbs Park, and Smith
Robinson Gym.
All those folks, and all of us now, have busted our butts to
make Healdsburg the kind of place where, if you have a big enough
piece of land, you can just about print money. We set the stage, we
did all the groundwork, for Korman and Green to come in here and
get richer.
I don¹t dispute their right to develop. But I want Robert Green
and Tony Korman ‹ and their financial backers ‹ to acknowledge all
the hard work we¹ve done. I want them to pay more towards the park,
which will be a gift and a resource to the whole community. I want
them to treat us with fairness.
Ray Holley wants everyone to give a little. He can be reached at
ra*******@gm***.com.