VOTMA's Support for Sonoma Valley Next 100's SDC Efforts

                            VOTMA's Letter of Support for Sonoma Valley Next 100

July 2026

Dear VOTMA Supporters,

Since 2019 when the State legislature enacted legislation for the disposition of the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC), those interested in the welfare of Sonoma Valley have focused on the process and proposals for the property’s disposition. To quote the Beatles, it’s been “a long and winding road”.

The issue is about “to hit the fan”. Before describing the current situation, a brief review-

First, Sonoma County Supervisors approved a plan that was far too large for the community and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that was egregiously deficient. VOTMA and other Valley groups brought suit, and the judge fully agreed that the County effort was deficient and needed to be redone.

Second, recalling the fire evacuation travails of 2017 and 2020, VOTMA wanted to know the effect of building in essence a new city in Glen Ellen without doing anything to improve fire evacuation capability. With the support of hundreds of Valley residents, VOTMA raised $80,000 and commissioned a study of the fire evacuation capabilities by the leading evacuation analysis firm in the nation. That study was provided to the County, and it concluded that the existing transportation infrastructure is inadequate for a reliable evacuation of the Valley’s existing population, and that the SDC development proposal would make a bad situation worse.

Third, as the County was getting ready to follow the judge’s order and prepare a new plan and EIR, the State, a developer (Rogal/Gruppe), and the County engaged in a non-transparent sleight of hand. The State has a “builder’s remedy” statute designed to give developers expedited consideration of their development proposals if the County does not have an approved housing plan. Less than 24 hours before the County was scheduled to approve its housing plan, the State and developer submitted a “builder’s remedy” application to the County to tear down all but two building on the SDC campus, and to erect 990 new residential units, a luxury hotel, and 130,000 square feet of commercial space on the 180-acre SDC parcel. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know the planning behind that stunt!

A new EIR analyzing the submitted proposal is expected to be released by the County in early September. The public will have 60 days to comment.

We will soon be in the midst of addressing the largest development proposal Sonoma Valley has ever seen in a very short time window. What is the approach being taken? There are many things that need to be done:

      1. VOTMA has contracted to update the fire evacuation study to analyze the Rogal/Gruppe proposal and to provide up to date expert analysis for commenting on the EIR. The Sonoma Land Trust is focusing on protecting the last remaining east-west wildlife corridor in the Valley.

      2. Community education and outreach efforts are needed. This has dragged on for so long that most people have lost track of where things stand or what the current situation is. Residents and property owners need to be made aware.

      3. A well thought out and justified alternative proposal for the SDC property needs to be presented.

      4. Funding for the above needs to be raised.

Sonoma Valley Next 100 is a 501(c)(3) organization that has been working tirelessly on an alternative plan for the SDC property. Two of its main features are:

      1. Instead of tearing down all but two buildings on the property and erecting 990 new residences (which in effect would have the effect of putting three Glen Ellens or three Kenwoods on the site), adaptively reuse as many buildings as possible to meet community needs; and

      2. Provide 470 residential units, the majority of which would be for affordable housing.

This alternative plan is not “pie-in-the sky”. It is being supported by architectural, engineering, financial, and environmental planning.

Sonoma Valley Next 100 has also brought litigation against the State and developer for not following applicable law, and to date, has been successful, but that litigation is on-going.

All of this costs a lot of money, but the fate of the Valley is at stake.

VOTMA and other organizations that have cooperated in trying to forge a reasonable future for the use of the SDC property are all supporting Sonoma Valley Next 100’s efforts. We urge you to read the attached SV Next 100 material below and consider making as generous a contribution to Sonoma Valley Next 100 as you can. We have limited time to mount an effective response to a proposal that would have very serious, long term adverse consequences to the quality of life in the Valley and our safety.

For more information about the threat to Sonoma Valley and the community’s response, click on https://votma.org/projects.

             _________________________________________________________________ 

Sonoma Valley Next 100 is providing consistent leadership in support of an alternative solution to the Sonoma Developmental Center.   With your support, together we can make a difference

The alternate solution being developed by Sonoma Valley Next 100 is in sharp contrast to the proposal currently being reviewed by the County in its second EIR.  

The key elements are:     

 •  Retain the historic campus at SDC – committing to a program of adaptive re-use and the re-purposing of existing buildings     

 •  A scope and scale significantly more compatible with the carrying capacity of Sonoma Valley and   preservation of its wildlife and riparian corridors      

•  A village of 470 homes, supporting the needs of a broad range of community members - families, essential workers, elders, veterans, people with developmental disabilities      

•  Among those homes 200 are dedicated affordable and approx. 220 residences will be established in permanent cooperative ownership designed for essential workers and local families      

•  A cultural, business and educational center will be created, featuring performing arts, community meeting spaces, a viticulture center and retail operations to serve residents, workers and visitors      

•  A visitor center, a historic interpretive museum (celebrating 130 years of service to those with developmental disabilities), and a staging area for hiking/bicycling/equestrian will serve as a “Gateway to Sonoma Mountain”

Sonoma Valley Next 100 is seeking funds to support four key initiatives:  

1.  Continued pursuit of the lawsuit against DGS and Rogal/Grupe. In March 2026 (confirmed in May), Judge Broderick of the Sonoma County Superior Court issued a ruling that confirmed all five complaints in SV Next 100’s lawsuit are valid and are cleared to proceed to trial.  Those complaints ask the Court to: 

      •  Set aside the selection of Rogal/Eldridge Renewal as the developer        

      •  Set aside the ongoing Builders Remedy application, and prohibit DGS from signing any other applications for development until a Specific Plan is approved       

      •  Require DGS to obtain legally required measures from the Office of Historic Preservation to protect historic assets at SDC        

      •  Direct DGS to fund necessary maintenance of the historic buildings and landscape until disposition occurs        

      •  Require DGS to rescind the transfer of 52 acres to CalFire  In late June, SV Next 100 filed a writ of mandamus, requesting an immediate ruling on each complaint.  

2.  The development of a solid alternative plan

In anticipation of a transfer to the local community, it is vital that we establish credibility at the State and County level and that we engage consultants to demonstrate an alternate plan of action that is feasible, responsive to the expectations of the local community, and follows a detailed multi-year financial plan  

3.  Continued intervention in the County’s revised Specific Plan and EIR process

Permit Sonoma is now preparing its Draft Environmental Impact Report, with release expected near Labor Day.  A 60-day comment period will follow, during which SV Next 100 and others, ensure a comprehensive challenge to the high-density proposal now under consideration  

4. Community outreach

It is essential that SV Next 100 communicate with the community of the Sonoma Valley, raising awareness and garnering support for a lower scale alternative with minimal demolition, an adaptive re-use solution with a greater percentage of affordable housing, protection of the SDC’s environmental assets, and broader community benefits. Outreach to decision makers in Sacramento will also be important    

Our 2026 Budget forecast is $225,000 – as of the end of June we had $50,000 on hand:    

      • Continued support for the legal campaign against DGS and Rogal/Eldridge Renewal: $100,000

      •  Development of a solid alternate plan based on local control: $75,000      

      •  Pursuit of a comprehensive Communications and Outreach Campaign: $50,000  

                              Please make a donation at:  sonomavalleynext100.org

            Or, by mail: Sonoma Valley Next 100, PO Box 391, Glen Ellen, CA 95442

Or, for appreciated stock/401k RMD, please contact Jon Wilson at 415-200-7250 

        Sonoma Valley Next 100 is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit – Federal ID #93-4799575