The developer proposing a pharmacy and bank on a 2.4-acre site in one of Sebastopol's most prominent locations will not have to prepare a full environmental impact report, the City Council ruled late Tuesday.
However, the council continued to debate late into the evening whether to require extra measures to deal with traffic and emissions impacts.
The action granted the appeal by the developers, Armstrong Development Properties Inc. of Sacramento, from a June 14 decision by the Sebastopol Planning Commission to reject the so called negative declaration, which was a determination that the project had no significant impacts.
"We ought to reverse that decision, there were no findings made," to support it, said Vice Mayor Mike Kyse.
Armstrong Development is proposing to build a 14,576-square-foot CVS Pharmacy building and a 4,327 square-foot Chase Bank branch where the vacant Pellini Chevrolet dealership sits on the eastern edge of downtown.
Planning Director Kenyon Webster said the proposal fits the city's general plan, follows zoning guidelines and meets the requirements for a negative declaration for its impact report.
Webster recommended the appeal be granted, saying the Planning Commission erred by not making any findings relating to why it had made its decision.
The cost of the project is estimated at $10 million, of which $5.3 million would be for the buildings, curbs and sidewalks and putting the existing overhead utilities underground.
During a three-hour public hearing, the proposal was praised as helping to revitalize downtown and create construction jobs in the short-term.
"I am excited about a company that will give us a stimulus package," said resident Linda Johnson.
Opponents complained it was short-sighted, didn't fit in with Sebastopol's small town character and could leave a gaping hole in the Redwood Market, where CVS now has a store.
"We are at the crossroads of character, we are at the crossroads of traffic, and this CVS doesn't fit," said resident Doug Emery.
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