Six regional housing experts spent a day in Sonoma Valley last week to vet strategies that could most effectively achieve Sustainable Sonoma's goal to increase, improve, and preserve housing that is affordable for people who live or work in the Valley, within already developed areas, to create diverse, safe, complete neighborhoods.

The experts were tasked with prioritizing housing strategies that the Valley as a whole should pursue, as well as specific actions that Sustainable Sonoma could lead.

A set of "side-rails" were provided to align the experts team with Sustainable Sonoma's housing goal and vision for Sonoma Valley. The housing recommendations must:

• Improve the economy, improve the environment, AND increase equity. 

• Align with housing values supported by the Sustainable Sonoma Council.

• Consider Sonoma Valley’s challenges and assets as a semi-rural, agricultural, economically and demographically polarized community, with few elected representatives and a visitor-serving economy. 

The consulted experts advised that Sonoma Valley take steps on a number of fronts. We should direct engage with planning and policy processes to make it easier, faster, and cheaper to build new housing that meets community criteria. The community should mobilize to build public will for a better housing future. And we should support and expend services that help lower- and middle-income people stay in their homes. 

Sustainable Sonoma staff are now summarizing the experts’ recommended strategies into a draft report for review by the Sustainable Sonoma Council in early January.

The participating experts are Cassandra Benjamin of CSB Consulting, Joshua Abrams and Brandi Campbell Wood of Baird + Driskell Community Planning, Margaret Van Vliet of Trillium Advisors, Walter Keiser of Economic and Planning Systems, Ali Gaylord of Midpen Housing, and Libby Seifel of Seifel Consulting. Sustainable Sonoma is also working with Jane Riley at Permit Sonoma (County) and David Storer at City of Sonoma.