Healdsburg is on the path for real growth and there is a critical need to control this growth in best interest of the town.
Growth is truly in the wind and we must be in front of it. Saggio Hills has been approved in the North part of town. In the South, NuForest will eventually be moving, the rail line and depot will be activated and the antique mall will be upgraded along with other properties. The challenge will be to grow these areas without impacting the viability of the Plaza and the downtown businesses. Up front planning will ensure that the proper mix of business and residential is maintained in these areas and provide developers with an accepted road map for development. Failure to offer such a vision will result in isolated projects that are not coordinated and do not fit into the Healdsburg architecture. Work is underway to evaluate development options and this effort must be supported now and in the future. This is very important work and every member of the town has a stake in these developments. It is imperative that the city council be directly involved in these studies and be the final reviewer to ensure that the town objectives are met.
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