History
The site for Cottage Glen has long been recognized by the city as an appropriate place for housing and was one of twelve sites so designated in the 2003 General Plan. Unfortunately there has never been agreement with some neighbors on the appropriate density or type of housing, resulting in the failure of at least four earlier attempts to build much-needed housing on the site.
- The current owners proposed a small subdivision for a few luxury homes when they bought the site in 2000 but decided to build elsewhere in Calistoga when they encountered neighbor opposition to including a tennis court as part of their property.
- The O'Brien Group, a well known Bay Area housing developer, proposed 30 homes in 2002, a proposal that was referred to in the city's General Plan since negotiations were underway with the developer to include more than the usual 20% moderate-priced units in return for additional density—this never came to fruition.
- Pacific Housing, a developer from Sacramento, proposed a 43-home planned development in 2004 (with 8 or more affordable homes), which raised neighborhood objections regarding density, traffic, and other issues.
- Homecoming Development, a Sebastopol homebuilder, proposed several designs in 2006-2007 most of which were 30 or 31 houses in various configurations. Although a Growth Management Allocation for 30 new houses was granted in late 2007, the developers withdrew due to neighbor opposition and market conditions, and a final design was never agreed upon.
Homeowners