An equally controversial proposal down in the Sonoma Valley area is in the spotlight this month, thanks to a new short film by local filmmaker and environmental educator Carolyn Scott.
Carolyn’s half-hour film, called “Small is Beautiful: The Quest to Save the Valley of the Moon,” takes a look at one developer’s wild proposal for turning the spooky, abandoned Sonoma Developmental Center site near Glen Ellen, which used to be a mental hospital campus of sorts, into an entire new neighborhood — complete with 900-plus homes, tons of shops, a luxury hotel and a conference center.
“This region, nestled at the base of Sonoma Mountain and serves as a crucial wildlife corridor, which will be destroyed by this development,” Carolyn’s website says. “Also, this area is in a high fire zone area which has already experienced extreme fires, putting lives at risk during an evacuation.”
The film just debuted last weekend with a sold-out screening at the Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma, and will show again next weekend at the Sacramento Underground Film & Arts Festival. Check out the trailer here.
And here’s the latest on the proposed development at the heart of the documentary, courtesy of the Press Democrat:
In March 2023, the California Department of General Services selected Napa-based developer Keith Rogal and his partner, the Grupe Company, to lead a $100 million project to redevelop the site. These developers then found a loophole that allowed the housing total to increase to a minimum of 930 units.
A coalition of Sonoma Valley citizens groups objected to the plan and filed a lawsuit. After reviewing the lawsuit, in April 2024 Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Bradford DeMeo ruled that the county had violated the California Environmental Quality Act by failing to clearly define he number of housing units allowed; respond to community concerns in the draft environmental impact report (EIR); adequately assess impacts on biological resources and wildlife evacuation; and address the cumulative impact of a project planned at neighboring Hanna Center.
“I was thrilled and delighted to read the judge’s ruling,” [filmmaker Carolyn Scott] said. “Bravo DeMeo! He clearly recognized the duplicity and illegalities in that EIR, and he recognized the need for a plan that actually addresses the environmental sensitivities of this particular region. However, Rogal already submitted another plan on July 2, so the fight is far from over. And we have to look at the big picture of these mandates overriding all environmental laws and local controls.”
