More questions are arising about November's Measure O in Healdsburg

Some say the proposal is too broad and will rapidly shift vibes in a town at the intersection of quaint and tony

photo credit: Marc Albert/KRCB
Looking north toward downtown Healdsburg from the once and future railway depot.

If passed by local voters this fall, Measure O would put the small city on a path to more development.

Retired Healdsburg attorney Jon Eisenberg is vocal with his objections, focusing on the inclusion of a particular area he believes should be left as-is.

"Just in this one block of Center Street, one block from Healdsburg Plaza, the density boost that the city council has in mind and is considering would bring 284-dwelling units in one block, which is currently occupied by a bunch of small businesses," Eisenberg said.

The city's 25-year-old Growth Management Ordinance limits construction of all but affordable housing to 30 units a year.

While the GMO, as it is know locally, has been wildly successful at limiting construction, city officials grouse that it, together with the city's zoning rules, have meant that only luxury and limited affordable housing have been delivered.

"We know what we have now, and we know what we have now isn't working. It's getting us those two unit luxury penthouse buildings," said Councilmember Ariel Kelley at a meeting earlier this month.

According to a city study, housing is so expensive, 85 percent of people with jobs in Healdsburg, commute there.

That can be remedied, up to a point, by allowing more housing construction in town.

City planners feel they can prevent astronomic rents on new units by limiting parking and setting a maximum unit size.

The first step, passing Measure O, would need to be followed by a planning process, followed itself by changes to the zoning code. No matter the strategy, Healdsburg City Manager Jeff Kay said any change won't happen overnight, and will include robust public discussions.

"Even when we find what I think is a relatively efficient, economic approach to doing this, there's still quite a process," Kay said.

If the opinions voiced by members of the public at a meeting last week are any indication, there's much outreach still needed.

Resident Hank Skewis wasn't convinced that parking limits at new construction would achieve the intended results. He predicted most families would still have more than one vehicle.

"If you add hundreds of cars, over a period of time (to the) downtown, it's going to be, I think, a problem, there is going to be much more air pollution, much more gridlock, there's going to be a lot more frustration," Skewis said.

Eisenberg said he fears that the small businesses on Center Street now would be unable to afford higher rents demanded in new construction.

He's been directly communicating his concerns to council members, asking them to remove the area from consideration.