We believe that our community reflects ourselves. Making a community better makes us better.


November 2005

The Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association (BASMAA) published the Northern San Francisco Bay Area - Site Design Guidebook for stormwater management strategies by author Friends of the San Francisco Estuary, featuring the East Side Phase III new home development.  Imagine Sonoma developed front yard stormwater management strategies that work with the landscape, look great and cost a fraction of what engineered solutions might cost.

View guide PDF (2.91mb)

June 2005
Sunset Magazine features two Imagine Sonoma properties that show how living outdoors is done in the Valley of the Moon. The story features how landscape can define spaces for intimate family gatherings as well as larger ones for entertaining friends. The first property simplifies outdoor living for those who don't want to be bothered with cutting grass by using a crushed-stone mulch, a technique Imagine Sonoma refers to as kansei (peaceful simplicity in Japanese). The second property shows the firm's transformation of a 3-acre nursery into a series of outdoor rooms for four kids to play and swim, for hosting casual parties and cooking outdoors. Architects at M2 Studio worked with Imagine Sonoma to design the trellis and wooden pool house for this property.
View article PDF (2.3mb)


April, 2004
Imagine Sonoma is included in a design round-up in 7x7 magazine. From Werner Aisslinger's portable loft to a cappellini chair, Imagine Sonoma's Sonoma Estate is featured as an example of mixing modern elements with the natural environment.
View article


November 27, 2003
Imagine Sonoma now offers LEED expertise that can direct your landscape design to more efficient design choices, reduce operating costs, and most importantly, lessen our impact on the Earth.

Principal Paul Harris, ASLA, is certified as a LEED Accredited Professional. LEED is a point-based rating system developed by the US Green Building Council to objectively quantify how environmentally sensitive or "green" a development is. Many projects throughout the country now meet some level of LEED certification.


October 27, 2002
Sonoma: City of Sonoma Landscape Irrigation Policy. Imagine Sonoma reviewed and helped shape the Chapter 14.32, Water-Efficient Landscaping ordinance. Imagine Sonoma provided the first test case and was also the first to submit landscaping plans for the Sonoma Eastside Estates project under the new ordinance. Key elements of the ordinance require developers to reduce water-use while giving the designer flexibility in how to accomplish that goal. Particular attention was paid to planting that requires the greatest amount of water - lawns. We successfully argued for granting exceptions where it was shown that greater water-use benefited an unusual number of people such as multi-family common lawns, in addition to public parks.


October 23, 2002
Paul Harris selected to serve on the Sonoma County Economic Development Board's (EDB) Business Environment Alliance (BEA)


June 06, 2001
Santa Rosa: Paul Harris is selected to serve on the Sonoma County Business Resource Conservation Focus Group. Imagine Sonoma contributed expertise on landscape water use in residential construction (50% of summer water use) suggesting ways that developers could be encouraged to significantly reduce new, water-intensive designs through density bonuses and direct incentives while improving the environment and reducing long-term cost. These initiatives were included in the final draft resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors.


May 26, 2001
Santa Rosa: Press Democrat Article, "SUBURBAN OASIS A FEW OPTICAL ILLUSIONS AND JAPANESE SPACE-SAVING TECHNIQUES HELP CREATE A MANSION ON A SUBDIVISION LOT," Meg McConahey.
Press Democrat Archives Search
(enter 'SUBURBAN OASIS', then click on Article ID #0105260288)