Sonoma Council Weighs Options for Sebastiani Winery Property

City leaders consider allowing housing and limited commercial development on historic winery site.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Sonoma City Council discussed the future of the Sebastiani Winery property during a lengthy meeting, weighing options for potential housing and commercial development on the site. While no final decisions were made, the council directed city staff to study the impact of medium-density housing and limited commercial uses, while preserving a portion of the property for agricultural use. Community members raised concerns about the potential impacts on public safety, traffic, and the historic character of the area.

Why it matters

The Sebastiani Winery property is a significant site in Sonoma, and the council's decisions will shape the future development of the area. The community is divided on the appropriate uses for the land, with some advocating for preserving the historic and agricultural character, while others see potential for housing and commercial growth. The council's actions will have long-term implications for the city's land use, economic development, and quality of life.

The details

The Sebastiani Winery property, owned by Foley Family Wines, is a 20-plus-acre parcel currently zoned for wine production and agricultural use. The owner has requested to rezone the land to a mixed-use category that would allow medium-density housing and some commercial development, potentially including a hotel. During the council meeting, city staff stressed that the current decisions would determine what is analyzed in an upcoming Environmental Impact Report, which will assess the potential effects of any development. The council ultimately directed staff to keep a portion of the property designated for agricultural use, while studying the impact of housing at 7-15 units per acre and limited commercial uses.

  • The Sonoma City Council held a lengthy meeting on March 4, 2026 to discuss the future of the Sebastiani Winery property.
  • The city is in the process of updating its General Plan, which will determine the allowed uses for the Sebastiani Winery site through 2045.

The players

Sonoma City Council

The governing body of the City of Sonoma, responsible for making decisions about land use and development within the city.

Foley Family Wines

The owner of the Sebastiani Winery property, which is a 20-plus-acre parcel in Sonoma.

Jennifer Gates

Sonoma's Community Development Director, who stressed that the council's current decisions will determine what is analyzed in a planned Environmental Impact Report.

Pat Summers

A Sonoma resident and Gehricke Road Fire Safe Council board member, who expressed opposition to additional hotel development in the area.

Sonya Karabal

An organizer for Unite Here Local 2850 Hotel & Hospitality Workers Union, who urged the council to prioritize housing over tourism-related development.

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What they’re saying

“We do not need any more hotels … building more hotels is completely unnecessary, in my opinion.”

— Pat Summers, Sonoma resident and Gehricke Road Fire Safe Council board member

“We are in a housing crisis, not a hotels crisis. A mixed-use development would help to ease affordable housing gaps, while a hotel would 'make the problem worse if it creates low wage jobs without creating enough affordable housing to offset demand.'”

— Sonya Karabal, Organizer, Unite Here Local 2850 Hotel & Hospitality Workers Union

What’s next

City staff will revise the land-use map for the Sebastiani property to reflect the council's direction on agriculture, housing density, and limited commercial uses, before sending the revisions to consultants to finish a draft Environmental Impact Report. The draft General Plan and EIR will then be released for public comment, followed by Planning Commission and City Council hearings before a final decision.

The takeaway

The Sebastiani Winery property is a complex and contentious issue for the Sonoma community, with residents divided on the appropriate balance between preserving the historic and agricultural character of the area and allowing for housing and commercial development. The council's decisions will have significant long-term impacts on the city's land use, economic growth, and quality of life.