1 To: Cotati Planning Commission
Monday 7, 2022: Agenda item F2 - General Plan Annual Progress Reports for 2019, 2020 and 2021
The progress report on Cotati’s General Plan 2015 (GP) is inadequate because the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan has not been updated since 2014, and does not synchronize with the General Plan or the County’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, and these facts are not mentioned in the report.
It is disappointing that the Bike & Pedestrian Master Plan was not updated during 2019, 2020 or 2021, or even, as announced in 2021, in 2022. I hope that the City can make this a priority for 2023.
Cotati’s GP GOAL CI 2 is to: Maintain and Expand a Safe and Efficient Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Transit Network That Connects Neighborhoods With Key Destinations to Encourage Travel by Non-Automobile Modes While Also Improving Public Health.
On Packet Pg. 57, Action CI 1h status “In progress”: The City has a current bike/ped master plan and includes improvements from that plan in its street paving projects. On Packet Pg. 140, Action CI 2a: New development are conditioned to include Capital projects identified in the Bike/Ped MP – but:
From a regional perspective, the Sonoma County Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan shows the potential for connections from Cotati along the Laguna de Santa Rosa to Stony Point Road and the Southern Laguna Discovery trail, to Sebastopol and beyond, including to the Joe Rodota trail and the West County trail to Forestville. https://permitsonoma.org/longrangeplans/adoptedlongrangeplans/bicycleandpedestrianplan/bikewaysmap From a local bicycle and pedestrian point of view, Hwy 101 divides Cotati east/west, apart from the School St. tunnel which is a very significant asset and connecting point. It is good to see the recent signage program now highlighting this connection.
But Hwy 116 forms a significant north/south barrier. Traffic improvements currently projected for the Caltrans Highway 116 don't adequately take into account the potential non-vehicular connections from south to north across Gravenstein Hwy from W. Cotati Ave. and from Madrone Ave. to the northwest quadrant of Cotati (west of Hwy 101, north of Hwy 116); to existing trails 2 alongside Water Agency access roads on Gossage Creek and Washoe Creek; or to a potential future trail along the Laguna de Santa Rosa to Sebastopol, to connect with the existing Southern Laguna Discovery Trail west of Stony Point Road – see http://lagunadesantarosa.org/pdfs/Southern_Laguna_Discovery_Trail_Map.pdf and http://lagunadesantarosa.org/about_recreation.html and
https://www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/us/california/southern-laguna-discoverytrail?u=m 3 Above: https://permitsonoma.org/longrangeplans/adoptedlongrangeplans/bicycleandpedestrianplan/bikewaysmap Even the City's Bike & Pedestrian Master Plan Update page https://www.cotaticity.org/201/Bike-Pedestrian-Master-Plan-Update https://sonomacounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/interactivelegend/index.html?a ppid=2b2a364e481c4367b21e4dda534c85d0
isn't showing the potential for connections to the northwest quadrant:
4 In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and vehicle miles traveled, and to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety, it is essential that the City update infrastructure improvements to facilitate safe, accessible, convenient, connected, access for bicyclists, pedestrians (plus scooters, etc. and other non-motorized transportation) in Cotati. Updating the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan would help ensure that the City's plans and designs for road improvements not only take into account but actually help prioritize improvements and connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists, etc.
I request that the Planning Commission request that the City Council direct staff to align the Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan, and General Plan, with the County’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan, and include appropriate safe crossings at Hwy 116 to connect with both existing and future potential trails to the north of Hwy 116.
Jenny Blaker