“LACK OF ENFORCEMENT” Press Democrat Letter to the Editor

EDITOR: Staff Writer Clark Mason’s reporting on vacation rental conflicts in Sonoma County highlights the Board of Supervisors’ lack of action on code enforcement (“Vacation rentals both boon and nuisance,” Sunday).

Wine tasting has become bar-hopping, covering rural Sonoma County on substandard and often-dangerous roads. Tourists from winery events head “home” to vacation rentals and party on. Unpermitted rentals are advertised widely, and farmworker housing is used as high-end guest quarters.

Cashing in on Wine Country is big business with burgeoning vacation rentals, event facilities, commercial kitchens and entertainment on ag land. Under this board’s watch, we face a rapid commercialization of rural Sonoma County and the loss of zoning protections.

Project conditions and citizen complaints are meaningless without enforcement. Code compliance requires inspection, weekend staffing (funded through permits, transient occupancy taxes and actually collecting fines) and a review for permit renewals. The 25 percent share of transient occupancy taxes isn’t covering road repair and the impacts of Wine Country tourism.

As public frustration grows, our county supervisors are giving away the farm.

JAIME ZUKOWSKI

Sonoma”

Violation Complaint FormVCM

CDE-001 Date Received Staff Complainant Phone #

1. Property Address

City Assessor’s Parcel # _________-_________-_________ Zoning Parcel Size Property Owner’s Name Phone # Owner’s Mailing Address

 

2. Nature of the Complaint (Check Box(es) and describe)

�Violation No. ________________________

 

Zoning Code Violation(s)

�Violation No. ________________________

 

Health Code Violation(s)

�Violation No. ________________________

 

Building Code Violation(s)

 

��HAZ/SUBCWOP

�Grading / Fill without Permit(s) Violation No. ________________________ � CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF USE ONLY BELOW THIS LINE �

3. Report of Investigation

Date 

�Letter _____________ �Letter _____________ �

 

Letter _____________

 

�Recorded Other ____________________________________________________________________

Priority ______ �Permit # _____________ Date Violation Closed ______________

Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department

 

2550 Ventura Avenue � 95403-2829 � Fax (707) 565-1103

 

Santa Rosa, CA � (707) 565-1900 �

 

dpw S:Handouts\CDE\CDE-001.cdr rev: 6/17/2008 __________________________ _________________________________ __________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ���������� ����

Code Enforcement Report of Investigation

CDE-001

Date of Inspection Inspector Violation # �Rental �Owner Occupied �

UnknownPermits Required: BuildingConstruction without Permits

�Foundation �Retaining Walls New Detached Structure �Framing �� Siding Electrical Approximate Size ��

Plumbing Mechanical �Roofing �Structural RoofAddition ��Mobile Home Swimming Pool Approximate Size �

Subject to Field Inspection �Non-Engineered Plans �Engineered PlansOtherGrading

�Non-Engineered Plans �Engineered Plans �1108 �

Drainage ReviewZoning �Grading/Fill without Permits �Use ��

Zoning Not AllowedNPDES

�Administrative Design Review Approximate Quantity Observed Septic

Abatement RepairConnect to Sewer

Plumbing Repair Permit

Substandard / Hazardous

�Site Plan Sketch

(not to scale)Inadequate Sanitation

Structural Hazards

Hazardous Electrical Wiring

Hazardous Plumbing N

Hazardous Mechanical

 

dpw CDE-001.cdr 06/17/08

Improper Occupancy Referrals:
�Agriculture Commissioner	�Project Review	Priority Score: (1=Low 20=Highest)
�Air Quality	�Regional Water Quality Board	_____ Threat to Public Safety (1-20)
�Animal Control	�Well & Septic	_____ Effect on Other People/Properties (1-20)
�Army Corps of Engineers	�City:	_____ No. of People/Properties Impacted (1-20)
�Encroachment	__________________________	_____ Number of Complaints (5-20)
�Environmental Health	�Other:	_____ Economic Incentive (1-20)
�Fish & Game	__________________________	_____ Culpability of Violator (1-20)
�County Dept. of Transportation			_____ Total