Sonoma County To Host General Plan Workshop In South County

SONOMA COUNTY, CA—Residents of Sonoma County are invited to share their ideas and priorities for the future at a series of in-person and virtual community workshops for the Sonoma County General Plan Update.

The plan serves as a critical guide for future growth, fostering healthy, resilient communities, protecting natural resources, and promoting social and economic equity.

In-Person Workshops

Each workshop will offer the same basic content and opportunities for input. Attendees will be asked to engage in interactive activities, small group discussions and collective visioning exercises to provide feedback on key topics including housing, transportation, economic development, open spaces and more. Food, Spanish translation and family-friendly activities will be available. No registration is required for the in-person events.

• Sonoma Valley High School Library, 20000 Broadway, Sonoma, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 6-8 p.m.
• Forestville Community Library, 7050 Covey Road, Forestville, Thursday, Jan. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Healdsburg Community Center, 1557 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, Monday, Feb. 3, 6-8 p.m.
• Penngrove Elementary Multipurpose Room, 365 Adobe Road, Penngrove, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6-8 p.m.

Virtual Workshops

The public can also attend one of two virtual workshops: 6 -8 p.m. Jan. 23 or noon-2 p.m. Feb. 19. Registration is required for the virtual events; participants may register here.

Updates Needed In Climate, Housing Affordability, More

The current General Plan, adopted in 2008, needs updates to address changes in public health, climate, equity, housing affordability and state laws. State guidelines recommend updating general plans every 5–10 years to ensure relevance and responsiveness to evolving conditions.

"Sonoma County is committed to an inclusive process that captures the diverse voices of its residents," county officials said. "The project’s community engagement plan outlines strategies to educate the public and address barriers to participation, including language accessibility and accommodations for underrepresented groups."

The community can stay informed about and engaged with each step by going to the General Plan website or by signing up for the General Plan Sonoma Newsletter.