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Sebastopol Commons

“Building the Commons” is a community development project to be located within Sebastopol city limits and inclusive of Sonoma’s West County residents. The Commons will be a centralized hub that blends civic, economic, cultural and social resources to foster engagement and economic vitality.

How

A Committee made up of Sebastopol and West County community members will explore a range of options for new development or revitalization of existing structures, and will gather community input from the region to inform planning and goal development.

Why

Sebastopol plays a central role in West County civic, economic, cultural and social activities. Currently, government and leading community organizations occupy a variety of buildings and locations throughout the larger Sebastopol area. Each independent entity is experiencing a mix of successes and challenges. The Sebastopol Regional Library is too small to serve both the Sebastopol and West County communities that currently access its resources, and the Sebastopol Senior Center is in need of more space to serve a growing population of seniors with an increasingly varied range of services. This committee is envisioning an inclusive, and multi-functional hub that can bring services and resources to Sebastopol and West County citizens, while also supporting community-building and civic participation. This hub will complement a sustainable, walkable and future-focused community plan that addresses the needs of multiple constituents.

When

The Building the Commons Committee was appointed by Sebastopol’s City Council to give actionable definition to The Commons concept. By Q3 2026, we will identify and assess potential leading occupants, their specific needs, places to locate The Commons, estimated costs, and funding sources. The Committee began discussions in September of 2025, and will continue through August 2026. All meetings are open to the public and agendas are posted online. The Committee will deliver a first progress report to the Sebastopol City Council in January.

Committee Members

City Council: Stephen Zollman
City Council: Phill Carter
Senior Center: Kent Jenkins
Gravenstein Health Action Coalition: Mary Lou Schmidt
Sonoma County Library: Open
Sonoma County Library Foundation: Naomi Hupert
Business: Copperfields: RM Horrell
City of Sebastopol Library: Fred Engbarth
Measure W Oversight Committee: Sarah Glade Gurney

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February 2019

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