Town Hall Coalition - Committees

Land Use, Development, and the General Plan Update
Wine Factory Invasion and Land Use-

Wine factories and agricultural support services such as bottling plants, dance halls, shopping complexes, and wine bars in rural neighborhoods threaten water, public health, and safety of the residents in these neighborhoods. Wine factories belong in areas that are zoned for industry with infrastructure such as sewer, water, and roads. As Sonoma County updates its General Plan, there is an opportunity to protect our rural neighborhoods from wine factory invasions. For more information about planning, zoning, and wine factory or development in your neighborhood, contact Town Hall Coalition.

As Sonoma County updates its General Plan, there is an opportunity to protect our rural neighborhoods from wine factory invasions. For more information about planning, zoning, and wine factory or development in your neighborhood, contact Town Hall Coalition and Save Our Sonoma County (707- 823-5696) or mail PO Box 587 Graton, CA 95449.

Town Hall Coalition organizes local, county, and regional Town Hall Forums, guest speakers, and movies on a wide range of issues including sustainable agriculture, pesticide reduction, creation of parks and wildlife habitat protection, watershed and water quality and quantity protection, erosion control, forest protection, global warming, election protection, and how to participate in the decision-making process. These forums are run by local community members and non-governmental groups.

Community Organizing-Save Our Sonoma County (SOS)

Town Hall Coalition has organized a network of grassroots neighborhood groups in rural areas throughout Sonoma county who are threatened by the development of wine factories where there is no infrastructure. This network is called "Save Our Sonoma County." SOS supports neighborhood associations in land use conflicts, provides a forum for local land-use issues to gain visibility with the general public, and advocates for responsible land use policies that affect agricultural and forest land areas of the county. Sonoma County is experiencing an increase in the number, size, and concentration of development activities pushing into watershed, forests, and agricultural areas. These activities include: wine processing facilities, long-term bottle storage facilities, resorts, wine shopping complexes, visitor tasting facilities, and special event buildings or areas. Impacts from this kind of development on traffic, noise, and groundwater are significant and can negatively affect the quality of life of residents and wildlife in these development areas. Wine factories belong in areas that are zoned for industry with infrastructure such as sewer, water, and roads. SOS is open to all county residents who support a vision for preserving the character, natural resources, and beauty of Sonoma County's agricultural and forest lands.

As Sonoma County updates its General Plan, there is an opportunity to protect our rural neighborhoods from wine factory invasions. For more information about planning, zoning, and wine factory or development in your neighborhood, contact Town Hall Coalition and Save Our Sonoma County- phone SOS (707) 823-5696 or mail PO Box 587 Graton, CA 95449.

Participatory Democracy- Election Defense Committee, community education project to inform the public how to get elected to nonpartisan boards and commissions.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead.

Town Hall has an ongoing program to educate progressive citizens about non-partisan elections, openings, and how to run for office or get appointed to decision-making boards and commissions. Now is the time to take responsibility and run for your local School Board, City Council, Board of Supervisors, Water District, Community Services District, and Park and Recreation Board.

Town Hall Coalition is proud to be a founding member of Sonoma County Election Defense Committee. Call (707-824-4371) or email the THC office to get involved in defending democracy from election fraud, voter challenge lists, insecure corporate owned and controlled touch screen voting machines, inaccurate vote counts, etc..

Photos from the 'Chainsaw Wine' protest at the Unified Grape Symposium in Sacramento Jan. 2004 here.

Sonoma County's remaining redwood forests are threatened by encroaching development and conversion to vineyards. Town Hall Coalition has been working since 2003 to get a County Ordinance regulating Forest Conversion.

On February 7, 2006, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 for a Timber Conversion Ordinance which gives the County a voice for the first time in conversion applications. March 17, 2006 the Board of Supervisors approved the ordinance on the Consent Calendar (with Supervisor Paul Kelly dissenting).

The good news: This is the first time a County will be able to have a say in land uses resulting from timber conversion applications (Santa Cruz's ordinance was overturned by the California Supreme Court). It is a small step forward, and hopefully the ordinance can be strengthened over time. There was huge citizen involvement on this issue. Thank you to everyone who wrote letters!

The bad news: The ordinance currently has very few teeth, and we have to cross our fingers and hope that the County Permit and Resource Deparment (PRMD) will enforce the ordinance, and be able to deny, rather than just rubber stamp, applications which do not provide public benefit. Other problems: The ban only covers 5% of timberlands (not Site Class III), Public benefit is loosely defined, there is only a 2:1 land swap, with no slope or conservation easement requirement.

Next public hearings on Forest Conversions: The PRMD will be putting together a proposed amendment to the ordinance which will stipulate for "like kind" properties in the 2:1 land swap. More information coming soon, or call the Town Hall office.

If you are concerned about a forest conversion or application for forest conversion in your neighborhood, please contact Town Hall Coalition and Forest Unlimited at (707) 632-6070.

Our message to the Board of Supervisors was: Support Option 3, which offers the best protection for 194,000 acres of forestland from conversions to vineyards. And remove the “No Net Loss” provision from Option 5. “No Net Loss” is a misnomer and a loophole which would allow conversions and habitat destruction.

Town Hall Coalition, Coastal Forest Alliance, Forests Unlimited, Sonoma County Conservation Action, Russian River Residents Against Unsafe Logging, Friends of the Gualala River, the Sierra Club and others carried a united message on August 23rd, 2005.

Town Hall advocates for permanent conservation and protection of critical wildlife habitat, fish spawning streams, native forests, oak woodlands and other native wild ecosystem in parks and "forever wild" conservation easements. THC supports Forest Unlimited. Forest Unlimited monitors logging plans, addresses illegal logging, lobbies to change logging rules, and provides technical support to neighborhood groups facing logging in their neighborhoods. Call Forest Unlimited if a logging plan or illegal logging is occurring in your neighborhood. Phone: 707-632-6070

Click here for an update on this critical effort including information on how to take action and show that the public overwhelmingly supports forest protection in Sonoma County.

Water and Watershed Protection-Community Clean Water Institute-THC founded and works closely with Community Clean Water Institute (CCWI). CCWI has developed a water quality testing program, a team of volunteer water quality monitors, and a laboratory to test ground, surface, and drinking water sources for a variety of pollutants. CCWI makes all of the findings available to the public. Please contact CCWI to find out more about becoming a volunteer monitor or information about water quality near you. Phone: 707-824-4370, Email: info@ccwi.org, Web: www.ccwi.org.