Preserve or Protect? The Debate Heats Up

When Larry Barnett launched his effort to gather signatures for what’s now known as the Hotel Limitation Initiative, he anticipated some opposition from the Chamber of Commerce, and probably from the Sonoma Index-Tribune as well. "They certainly can run any number of advertisements in their own newspaper - and I expect that to happen," he told Patch in an April interview.

But as he approaches the legally required number of signatures from City of Sonoma residents to get the measure voted on in a special election, probably this fall, the battle lines are becoming ever more clear, and stark: Either the Initiative is an effort to strangle development in Sonoma and prevent the city from moving into the future, or it’s an effort to salvage the town character that attracts people here in the first place, and makes it a good place to live.

Both sides of the argument will be given a chance to weigh in tomorrow morning between 9 and 9:30 a.m. on KSVY-FM, where the “Morning Show” will present an on-air debate with Larry Barnett, who initiated the initiative effort with the organization Preserving Sonoma in March; and Dana Adams, a broadcast professional who represents the initiative’s opposition, Protect Sonoma.  (Note: This Dana Adams is not the former real estate professional with the same name, as has often been erroneously assumed.)

If you’ve somehow missed the conversation, the comments thread on a Patch article published earlier this week is large and growing, and comparatively civil. Among the key points of argument are that the 80% hotel occupancy rate specified in the initiative is unrealistic and amounts to a ban on new development, versus the response that it’s not a ban at all, but an attempt to slow the growth of large hotel projects (above 25 rooms) not a bad on all new hotels.

Another point of disagreement is whether the City will suffer from the loss of revenue by depleted TID (Tourist Improvement District) tax and the TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) if the measure passes. Proponents of the measure point out that the taxes remain in place and will continue to generate income to the city whether or not the measure passes.

You can read the initiative for yourself at this PDF link.

There’s also the “unspoken” argument, which is getting aired anyway, that Sonoma either does or does not want to be like Healdsburg, another Sonoma County city whose fortunes (if measured in tourism dollars) increased significantly following the opening of a large tourism-based hotel (Hotel Healdsburg) on its Plaza in 2001. Some say if you don’t want growth, move to Ukiah; others say without Darius Anderson’s planned West Napa St. hotel, Sonoma will become like Vallejo.

Sonoma will always have its unique place, not only in California history, but in the perception of travelers from around the world. It is not Ukiah, Vallejo or Healdsburg – or Napa, for that matter – and it will never be.

Whether or not voters pass an initiative to “preserve” Sonoma’s character or reject it to “protect” Sonoma’s future is up to the voters. If you live in the city limits, you could be one of them.

The debate will be broadcast tomorrow, Friday May 31, from 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. on KSVY 91.3 FM and Channel 27 Sonoma Valley Sun TV. Listeners are invited to call in to join in the discussion at 707-933-9133. You can also view it streamed or listen live on the SunFM.tv website.