April 18--The developer of a proposed luxury hotel that has sparked controversy in Sonoma released revised plans Thursday that reflect a smaller footprint and a re-design of the original French theme.

Key changes include shrinking the total project by 7,000-square feet, removing the Lynch building from the project and including one restaurant instead of two. The number of room -- 59 -- is unchanged.

"I am proud of our efforts to engage the community and confident this project will be a good fit for Sonoma," Darius Anderson, founder and CEO of Kenwood Investments, stated in a press release Thursday.

A group calling itself Preserving Sonoma is seeking changes to the city general plan that would cap any new hotel or expansion of an existing one to 25 rooms unless the city's hotel occupancy rate over the previous calendar year exceeded 80 percent. In 2012, the rate was just under 65 percent.

The group contends that the measure is necessary to protect the city's quality of life from what its members consider to be major hotel development. Opponents say the measure would stymie economic growth and result in a de facto ban on most hotels by setting an impossibly high occupancy standard.

Thursday's news release stated that 95 percent of the proposed hotel would not be visible from the city plaza, and that most of what will be seen are the facades of existing buildings.

The Index-Tribune building, an adjacent warehouse and an antique store, all owned by Anderson, will be razed to make way for the hotel complex.

But the new design spares the Lynch building, which is now occupied by Sonoma Bank, offices and apartments.

The project meets the requirements of the city general plan. However, Anderson said Thursday the project will be reviewed under the California Environmental Quality Act and include a full environmental impact report, including the project's impact on traffic.

The studies were recommended by the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation, according to the press release.

The new design also drops the French theme. In a previous interview, Anderson said the new design will celebrate writer Jack London.

Anderson said he hopes to open a bar at the site called "First Edition," and include some of the artifacts he has collected that are related to the famous author's life and works.

Anderson is a principal of Sonoma Media Investments, which owns The Press Democrat.

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