267-acre site adjacent to proposed casino would include golf course, bungalows, homes

Cloverdale is poised to undergo an extreme makeover with an upscale Wine Country resort planned for the southern entry to Sonoma County's fastest-growing city.

City officials are accepting comments on initial environmental studies of the 267-acre Alexander Valley Resort plan until Aug. 4, when the Planning Commission will discuss Cloverdale's largest development since the 400-home Del Webb subdivision opened on the west side of town in 1998.

As proposed, the resort consists of a 100- to 150-room hotel, spa, 60 to 70 resort bungalows, an 18-hole golf course, 140 single-family homes and 25 larger estate homes, retail stores, restaurants, offices and possibly a movie theater and grocery store. It would front Asti Road south of Santana Drive east to the Russian River, just north of the Cloverdale Municipal Airport.

The $150 million to $200 million resort, combined with a casino envisioned by the Cloverdale Pomos immediately north of Santana Drive, would dramatically alter the landscape of Cloverdale.

"It's going to finally put Cloverdale on the map," said Mayor Gus Wolter. "It will bring some identity and recognition to that area of the county. ... It'll be nice to see a destination here in Cloverdale that will attract a considerable amount of tourism."

Cloverdale city leaders have long planned to develop the southern entrance into a tourist destination and golf course, though two other proposals on the same property have fallen through. The Alexander Valley Resort would transform what is now undulating hills and industrial property into a major housing, retail and recreation hub on the banks of the Russian River.