Sonora, CA — Due to the Labor Day holiday, this week’s Sonora City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday.
Early in the meeting, the council will set a later public hearing to hear an appeal of a Planning Commission decision related to the Inn at Knowles Hill property. The owners, Fred and Rhonda Buess, requested a use permit from the city to allow additional activities, including lunch/brunch and special events. The Sonora Planning Commission received several comment letters from neighbors, and they denied the use permit on August 20 by a 4-1 vote.
The owners are requesting the city council to review the matter and potentially overturn the earlier decision. The Inn at Knowles Hill, encompassing 12,500 square feet, was rezoned in 1983 to allow it to operate as a bed and breakfast. However, it did not serve in that capacity until 1999, following a change in ownership. The property was purchased by the current owners in 2005. The meeting documents note that Tuesday’s item is solely to formally accept the appeal request and set a hearing to review it on October 19.
In other business, the council will vote on approving contracts related to the reconstruction of two parking lots (at Lyons Street/Stewart Street and Church Street/Stewart Street. Taylor Backhoe Service had the most competitive bid of the six submitted, $703,000. The council will vote on approving the contract, as well as whether to add $105,000 extra to include solar street lighting. There will also be a vote on increasing the existing contract with Dewberry Engineers in the amount of $149,000 for construction management-related services. Money for the parking lot upgrades is coming from the Measure Y (1% sales tax) measure.
Tuesday’s meeting starts at 5 pm at Sonora City Hall.
