There was a packed auditorium at San Miguel School on Thursday evening, June 14. The Banke-Jackson family had invited the community to come and share their ideas on repurposing the former Wikiup Golf Course. They were certainly impressed with how many people showed up.
Katie Jackson, representing her family and Tony Korman, Korman Development, Inc. hosted the meeting. Korman has been managing the property since the Banke-Jackson family purchased it in 2015. Their joint message was that they didn’t have plans yet and they really wanted to hear the wants and needs of the community.
The community responded enthusiastically, if with a certain amount of skepticism. Initially only a few spoke and then one or two added to their message that they felt the Banke-Jackson family must have some idea of what they plan to do and the community really wants to know what that is.
Both Korman and Jackson stated that though they’ve knocked around ideas they really did not have plans and couldn’t make plans without hearing from the community. They were aware that they would never be able to make everybody happy. They reiterated that they know the general needs but they wanted to hear from the actual neighbors, about what they wanted and didn’t want. And they were there to listen.
Katie Jackson also took the opportunity to state that her family was very environmentally conscious and they would be considerate that way no matter what they ended up doing.
Korman gave out the website www.wikiupcommons.com. This is where you can read about the project and leave all your comments.
They also had a large picture of many of the acceptable purposes for K zoning, which is what this property is. At this point, Korman stated that, from what he’s learned and what he’s heard that evening, so far he could not see that any of those items would work.
The community applauded and the hands went up much more rapidly.
Open space and walkability throughout the area were definitely highest on the list of priorities. They wanted to preserve the animals and their way of life as much as possible. A walking bridge to Larkfield was mentioned a few times, as a safety measure.
Many people asked for a park and several suggested using the whole north side of Wikiup Drive. They were after a park where people could gather.
Second only to that was a community center of some kind. Again, people want a place to gather. Some said “senior community” but most were open to any kind of center.
Protection and preservation of Mark West Creek was also high on the list of concerns. With development comes much more stress on the creek and many were concerned that, in spite of required mitigations, the health of the creek would be damaged and even some flooding would result.
Not far behind any of this was traffic and escape routes. Wikiup Drive is the only way in and out of the area. The fire only made that more apparent; and adding more traffic certainly has the community concerned. They want another way in and out and they don’t want Wikiup Drive to become a “superhighway.”
Water supply was a concern as well. Would Cal American have the ability to supply what was needed? And, of course, emergency water. People have learned a tough lesson and they want these issues dealt with up front.
In general it was clear that they wanted no high density housing but wanted it to remain residential, not commercial at all. Someone summed it up by saying, bottom line; they would like to see the Jackson family “do something that fits the community.”
Another potential development in the Wikiup community is in the works. There is a planning permit application being considered to subdivide an existing two parcels at 1100 Wikiup Drive to create four total parcels.
This came before the Mark West Citizens Advisory Council (MWCAC) this month from the Sonoma County Permit and Resource Department.
Andrew Willis, representing BC Engineering Group, presented the project to the MWCAC this month. If you want to know more about this go to the MWCAC meeting on July 9, at 6 p.m. at the Learning Center at the Mark West Union School District. Or check out www.permitsonoma.org
On a lighter note: Tierra Vegetables is open for summer hours. You can now get fresh, local produce six days per week, Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Aggie Maggio is a local Realtor and member of the Mark West Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at [email protected].
