BVCA Voice - November, 1987 (Facsimile)

Bennett Valley Homeowners Association

BENNETT VALLEY VOICE

Vol. 10 No. 3

Bennett Valley Homeowners Association

November 1987

Bha Board Of Directors

David Steiner, President Terry Babineaux, Vice President Nancy Batson, Secretary Michael Bates, Treasurer Tamara Boultbee Marilyn Franc Bill Jacobs Warren Watkins

Memo From The Board

Every year three of the nine member board is up for re-election in the fall. This year those seeking re-election are Bill Jacobs, Dave Steiner, and Bill MacIver. Bill Jacobs and Dave Steiner would like to continue but Bill MacIver has said no. Nominations are welcome.

Elections will be held at our monthly meeting on NOVEMBER 18 at 7:30 p.m. Please contact one of the board members if you are interested or come to the meeting. Everyone should have received a questionnaire from us concerning the Road Safety Issues in the Bennett Valley area.

If you haven't received one and wish please contact Tamara Boultbee at 584-8063. If you have not returned this questionnaire please do so by November 25th. Your comments are essential in formulating a report to Supervisor Janet Nicholas by early December. There has been a great deal of concern about new construction in our Bennett Valley Study District that does not come through the Design Review or Bennett Valley Homeowners Association for recommendations and adherence to guidelines set down in the BV plan and design review.

As a result of a recent meeting of minds of past and present directors of the BHA and Design Review a letter has been sent to Supervisor Janet Nicholas informing her these indescrepancies and expressing the need for more uniform administration in the county offices and the need for referrals to come directly to design review and BHA.

The county all too frequently gives their stamp of approval to plans without the consult of BV concerns.

Addressing The Issue

Over the past few years I have observed increased activity in Bennett Valley - new construction and traffic on our country roads. I assumed that most of the new homes being constructed had been monitored by the BHA Design Review Board to conform to Bennett Valley Plan.

But I began to about some of the new constructhese were not approved. time last year my concern for how well the BV Plan was and feeling a little guilty "Let George prompted me to attend a meeting and volunteer for participation on the Board.

After one year on the Board, I would like to share my observations and predictions I have lived in the valley 1969 and have always been impressed leadership quality of the had the opportunity to witness this leadership in projects that I have been involved in over Demographic Survey for Strawberry School; and before as adhoc committees, working for the better quality education at Bennett Valley rescuing the Sonoma Mountain Water district from financial collapse; and the greatest achievement of all, formulation and adoption of the Bennett Valley Specific Plan.

We were then satisfied that a workable vehicle was in place to assure orderly growth in Valley and to preserve its rural we grew complacent, the very forces we to implement this plan have continued to attack and circumvent its guidelines and specifications. If you love the Valley for what it is and assume that the Bennett Valley Specific Plan will by its existence keep it beautiful as a mixed agricultural and residential area, you are seriously mistaken. Over the past year I have observed dedicated Board members, both on the Design Review and BHA, who have faithfully served many years since inception of the Plan because so few have stepped lorward to participate) try • to cope with the ever increasing attacks on the Plan and the many local issues that come before the Board for resolution.

Let me draw an analogy of the BV Plan to the proverbial story of the little Dutch boy who saved the dike by plugging a leak with his finger. Our Plan is the dike - the waves that pound it and attempt to breach it are the developers, unknowing and uncaring County planners, indifference and misunderstanding within our own ranks, various County departments such as Public Works, Planning, LAFCO, and the many problems that surface within the Valley from violations (both intentional and unintentional of the Plan guidelines.

Not insignificant is the monstrous wave known as the County General Plan, which in itself is worthwhile, but must be monitored in detail to assure preservation of the BV Plan within its overall guidelines specified for County growth. All of these have created leaks in our dike - and guess what - there are not enough fingers to plug the leaks.

Some of these are growing and becoming larger as Board members try to cope with all of the leaks at once, but are unable to. And what does all of this lead to? My prediction is that unless YOU realize that the Plan in itself will not, without our constant vigilance, preserve what we love about the Valley and volunteer to help plug the leaks, then slowly the Plan will crumble from erosion due to our complacency, public pressure for more homes, political favor and County indifference.

One day vou will be shocked to realize that there is more growth, unplanned and unmonitored, than you thought was allowed by the Plan and the tranquility and beauty of your Valley now is polluted with traffic noise and visual deterioration of our hills by structures that have not been subject to approval by the Design Review Board.

Unless the BHA Board of Directors receives more help and participation, the pressure to develop in a desirable area close in to Santa Rosa will prevail Remember "all that it cakes for evil t triumph is for good men to do nothing." Terry Babineaux

Bennett Valley Day 1987

One of our hottest days of the summer was again celebrated at the Matanzas Creek Winery with good neighbors, an abundance of food, excellent wine tasting, entertainment, agricultural displays arts and crafts out on by the cooperative efforts of the Fire Department, the Grange, 4-H'ers, garden club, homeowners associations, grape growers and wineries, and farmers.

Bennett Valley T-shirts are available from the Fire Dept. during working hours monday thru friday. This years shirts were burgundy on beige. Adults $7.00 - $5.00 Childrens sizes. There are some small sizes left over from last year in the all over burgundy color with white printing.

Look for Bennett Valley day to be held in late Sept. or early October next year. Anyone interested in participating in the organization of this event or in sharing their craft please contact Jerry and Joan Wachowiak at 526-0191. Thanks to all the hard workers who help to make this a successful event and the residents whose interest and attendance make this an ongoing annual attraction for the and enjoyment of agriculture in Bennett Valley.

Additions To

The Membership List

Phil & Louise Linda & Phil Penna Sevier Pat Sherman Dick & Mary Sibbet Mark & Lynn Trombetta Bill and Nancy Murray Barbara Blair & Suzanne Doherty Miriam E. Carolin Mr. and Mrs. Ed Klein David J. Tierney

Sonoma Mountain Slide Repair

The Dept. of Public Works did it! the long awaited repair of the slide at 6471 and 6480 Sonoma Mtn. Road is completed to the residents who had much longer detours destinations while the work was being done.

Bv Fire Dept. News

Proposition B passed by a wide majority. The much needed revenues will be used to upgrade and replace outdated equipment and to make overdue repairs to the firehouse. We also have a new fire chief, Greg Martin, department who has been with the for over 6 years.

Outgoing chief Tom Clark will continue on as the longest serving volunteer. BULK RATE

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 488

Santa Rosa, Ca

AOT

Bennett Valley

Homeowners Association

P.O. Box 2666 Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Bennett Valley Homeowners Association Road Safety Survey

Many people are concerned about the traffic problems throughout Bennett Yalley--primarily the speed and improper passing. Pould you please take a few moments to answer the following questions? Please feel free to make comments as we need to know precisely what B.V. residents feel on this issue.

Thanks! Do you feel the current speed limits in Bennett Palley are too high? On Bennett Falley Road Yes No Grange Road Yes No Crane Canyon Road Tes No Sonoma Mountain Road, upper Yes No Sonoma Mountain Road, lower Pressley Road Tes No Enterprise Road Yes Yes No No If yes, what do you feel would be an appropriate speed limit on those checked?

50 MPH (Where?_ 45 MPH (Where? 40 MPH (Where? 35 MPH (Where? Lower (Where? If No, how do you think we could make our roads safer? It has been suggested that roads should be double striped to prevent passing. in whole or in part. Do you agree?

If Yes Yes, which areas do you feel should be double striped? All roads Bennett Yalley Rd., entire length Bennett Yalley Rd., curves only Grange Road, entire length Grange Rd., curves only_ Crane Canyon Rd., entire length Crane Canyon Rd., curves only. Sonoma Mtn. Rd..

entire length * Indicate whether upper or lower Sonoma Mtn Rd., curves only. * Pressley Rd., entire length Pressley Rd., curves only_ Enterprise Rd., entire length_ Enterprise Rd., curves only_ Comments Area in which you live: (Helpful, but not required) Please complete and return this questionnaire by NOVEMBER 18, 1987, if possible, but no later than November 25th. We hope to have the results and comments tabulated and a report ready to give to Supervisor Nicholas in early December.

This flyer is pre-addressed: simply refold so that the BHA address is on the outside, stamp and mail.

Place Stamp Here To:

Bennett Valley Homeowners Assoc.

P.O. Box 2666 Santa Rosa, CA 95405 GETTA TO 002463 0575 IT LONgE ROsOR 32 15н 30 дон 4E 109 20.054 прескота TOTES 129100 BULK RATE