The Sonoma County Airport & Environs Area Plan 2011-2012

The Environmental Studies and Planning Program at Sonoma State University gives senior planning students the task of preparing an Existing Conditions Report and an Area Plan for a pre-determined town or region. For the 2011-12 school year, the selected area is the Sonoma County Airport and its environs. During this year-long class, planning workshop students are able to put into practice the lessons that have been taught during the course of the program. The first semester, Fall 2011, focused on the Existing Conditions Report (ECR), which was presented to the public in early February. The second semester of the class has focused on creating the Area Plan with a horizon year of 2030, and addresses both the current and future needs of the study area. The study area, which includes unincorporated Sonoma County and parts of the Town of Windsor, presents a lot of opportunity for growth that will happen along with the Airport expansion. As we prepared the ECR in the fall semester, we saw great potential for the area in agricultural and open space lands, as well as the vacant buildings and existing infrastructure. We also conducted residential and user surveys that provided useful information on the wants and needs of the study area. For this Area Plan, we have combined the ECR, survey results, and the knowledge and skills we have obtained from the planning program to create the following document. In creating this plan, we acknowledge the ever-growing population of the state of California, and in particular Sonoma County. This growth is accompanied by a need for additional housing, jobs, adequate transportation, recreational opportunities, and protection of the environment. The Sonoma County Airport and environs study area has many diverse opportunities, and if they can be utilized, a distinct creation will emerge and produce a unique experience, a Blend of Sonoma County. Contributors: Nathan Andrews / Michelle Astells / Landen Coffey / Holly Coffman / Fiona Day-Cofer / Ellen Hill / Michelle Johnson / Leslie Knoll / Nicole Martindale / Danielle Martinez / Brent McDowell / Daniel Parenti / Alexander Powell / Katherine Ross / Fiorella Silva / Benjamin Sullivan / Ryan Whalen /Jeff Winn