Strap on your seatbelt and get ready for a whirlwind year in which many of the issues that merited headlines in 2012 come around again — in the case of Napa Pipe, perhaps finally — while new projects come to the fore.
The Napa Pipe project will have a meeting before the Napa County Board of Supervisors Jan. 14 that could provide a long-awaited vote on the developers’ request for General Plan and zoning amendments. Those amendments, if approved, would allow for the project to eventually seek building permits and begin construction on more than 700 housing units and a Costco discount store.
The now-vacant Cinedome building in downtown Napa could be demolished early this year, setting the stage for private redevelopment once the flood control project protects the site from inundation.
This could be the year that one of the city’s oldest landmarks, the Borreo building at Third Street and Soscol Avenue, is restored for contemporary uses. The Land Trust of Napa County is negotiating with the city to purchase the structure, which may house the trust’s offices and a boutique winery.
In the coming year, the city plans to construct the China Point Overlook Park at the southwest corner of Soscol and First Street. And next summer, it plans build a million-dollar boat dock in front of the Riverfront mixed-use project.
On a smaller scale, the city is planning to build a more aesthetic trash enclosure at Dwight Murray Plaza and repair sidewalks in the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church area.
Opening up First through Fourth streets to two-way traffic in downtown could also begin this year, ending years of debate over traffic flow and what works best for merchants and the public.
A citizens group, with some city financing, may build the Napa 9/11 Memorial Garden in 2013 after overcoming financial issues.
The former Copia and future Ritz Carlton sites on First Street near Silverado Trail could also see development progress in 2013, assuming the city likes plans for the Copia site and financing for a high-end resort across the river is finally forthcoming.
The focus of attention at Lake Berryessa in 2013 will continue to be on the resorts’ operations and the number of tourists they are able to draw, as the Bureau of Reclamation seeks to line up new short- and long-term concessionaires.
It will be worth keeping an eye on the Mishewal Wappo Tribe of Alexander Valley’s pursuit for federal recognition; the tribe successfully ousted Napa and Sonoma counties from its lawsuit last fall, and the counties have appealed.
The counties fear that the tribe would pursue building a casino by wielding recognition as a means of taking some land into trust, thus exempting it from local land-use and zoning laws.
More developments on the appeal and the tribe’s attempt to settle the suit — which could result in it regaining recognition — are expected this year.
The Lincoln Theater in Yountville, dark for nearly all of 2012, will reopen in 2013 with a new game plan.
Michael Madden, interim managing director, and Barbara Brogliatti, president of the new Lincoln Theater Foundation board, announced in November that an infusion of support from IMG Artists, as well as residents, had pulled the theater back from the brink of bankruptcy. After moving back into the theater Dec. 1, a year after the theater closed, they said they would have a preliminary schedule in January and a more detailed schedule by March.
“Our goal is not to compete with the Opera House or the Uptown Theatre (as presenters),” Madden said, although he noted that IMG may also be presenting artists from its roster at the theater. IMG artists include violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, who have performed in the valley as part of the summer Festival del Sole, an IMG production.
Madden said the response from locals so far has been enthusiastic and encouraging. “As we take time to explain that this is everyone’s theater, suddenly organizations — not just arts groups — are coming forward with really cool ideas,” he said.
Passage of a state revenue measure, Proposition 30, in November is expected to prevent deeper cuts to local schools, including Napa Valley College, and may allow education officials to restore some services.
Proposition 30 raises taxes to pay for education. As a result, Napa Valley College and the Napa Valley Unified School District will be left with flat funding instead of undergoing deeper cuts.
By January, after the governor’s budget is released, the school district and college will have a clearer picture of their budgets for 2013-14.
Napa Valley College plans to hire a permanent president by May. Ronald Kraft, who has more than 20 years of experience in higher education leadership, has served as interim president since August.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center’s new Herman Family Pavilion is estimated to officially open in the fall.
The three-story, 72,000-square-foot facility includes six operating suites, 20 private intensive care rooms, and a clinical pathology laboratory.
Private philanthropy is expected to contribute 20 to 30 percent of the funds to complete the surgical pavilion, which is estimated to cost $122 million.
American Canyon
Ongoing litigation, new development and transportation improvements are on the horizon for American Canyon in 2013.
The battle between the city and its card room, Napa Valley Casino, over a $2-per-visitor admission tax will continue, with pretrial motions in the criminal case scheduled to be heard later this month. Card room owners have repeatedly argued the tax, passed by American Canyon voters in 2010, is unconstitutional, despite court rulings otherwise. In October, the state Supreme Court declined to review the case.
American Canyon likely will see new development this year. Two proposed apartment projects, both roughly 200 units, could begin at the intersection of Silver Oak Drive and American Canyon Road, and on Oat Hill in the city’s northwest section. Also, construction should begin on a 70-unit affordable housing complex for seniors on Theresa Avenue at the foot of Oat Hill later this year.
After languishing for several years, the third phase of the Napa Junction shopping center development, which would include restaurants and more retail tenants east of Highway 29 at Napa Junction Road, may finally move forward.
As part of its transportation goals, American Canyon plans to update its traffic circulation plan, and work with Caltrans to make any possible improvements to Highway 29, such as traffic signal timing and landscaping improvements.
American Canyon and county officials are trying to put the Devlin Road extension on the fast-track. Once completed, Devlin Road could alleviate traffic congestion on Highway 29 between Green Island Road and the county airport.
American Canyon officials hope to have a draft environmental impact report for a long-desired town center project sometime this year.
Chantal Lovell, Michael Waterson, Isabelle Dills, Sasha Paulsen and Peter Jensen contributed to this story.
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