DOWNTOWN COTATI COMMUNITY SURVEY OPEN QUESTION RESPONSE SUMMARY What do you like most about Downtown Cotati?
That it’s walkable.
The small town feel, convenience, feels “original”
Variety of local restaurants and shops, and all the community events I like the walkability of some parts of the corridor and access to restaurants and a few of the services I need.
Walkable, the history, the friendliest
Walkability. I walk my dogs through downtown all the time, and I enjoy seeing people about. The areas with wide sidewalks are great. I also love having some great restaurants close enough to walk to.
I like that it is small, walkable and that the few open businesses are owned by locals.
Being able to walk easily to and around businesses and La Plaza Park; bus service; native plant garden; older buildings e.g. Ner Shalom; Frogsong cohousing community; access to creek trails. Bulletin boards for community info. Local, independently owned businesses e.g. Redwood Cafe, China Chef, Tiny Thai, Cafe Salsa, etc. Hub Cyclery. Stone's Throw gifts.
The focus on small town values, like a hallmark movie come true Restaurants
Everything
I like that it has a strip that is cute and fun and clean. I love the park and being close to Oliver’s. I love a couple of the restaurants.
The small town feel, the free parking, the events in the park. I love my town! The restaurants and cafe
It’s walkable, charming
Easy to get to. A big grassy area for events. You can walk.
Somehow there's usually enough parking. Also, the restaurants aren't absurdly overpriced like so many downtowns. And the convenience store being open so late is great.
Very walkable.
The walkability and range of great local businesses.
I like the ability to walk through nature along the creek to get there, and the variety of restaurants, many with outdoor seating. I like that the sidewalks feel very pedestrian-friendly in the southern downtown area.
Small town character
The charm
Bow and Arrow
Sideways
I like that Cotati is quaint and small. I like that there is t an abundance of traffic. I do not want it turning into to another city like Petaluma.
The restaurants.
The park & restaurant/retail area. I think the Holiday/Christmas event is exceptional. Maybe bring more of that activity to the summer Farmers Markets.
It’s quiet and not too busy.
Walkable
Music in the park during the summer. Enjoy eating at all the restaurants downtown.
DOWNTOWN COTATI COMMUNITY SURVEY OPEN QUESTION RESPONSE SUMMARY Restaraunts, Bars
That it is a "Downtown" with at least semi-historic buildings that have been here for awhile.
The community. We keep it small town but grow our community opportunities.
That we actually have one.
Nice little strip
Walkable to home. Park activities in the summer.
Small, free parking
The small consolidated area with a narrow street through it. The outdoor seating for the various restaurants is very pleasant.
Quiet
Restaurants and music venues
Small town scale brings small town charm. Generally vibrant atmosphere. Traffic is slowed and truck route doesn't go thru downtown allowing people to enjoy sidewalk dining and drinking.
LaPlaza Park
Nice collection of restaurants
La plaza park
It’s cute
The park and the walkability.
ever
ever
It's close to my home so I don't have to worry about parking Eating outside, take out, dentist, bike friendly
I like Cotati as it is, with one story buildings, and not multistory buildings. I like that it looks like an average downtown, complete with its own history
Variety of businesses, good restaurants
openness, walkability, low profile (no highrise buildings), variety of businesses and events Walkable. Human scale. Buildings from different time periods.
The parks and close shopping areas.
Small town character.,,not jammed packed like Rohnert Park.
The possibility for more pedestrian friendly streets and local shopping.
The small town feel, convenience, feels “original”
Variety of local restaurants and shops, and all the community events I like the walkability of some parts of the corridor and access to restaurants and a few of the services I need.
Walkability. Friendly businesses. That it has a downtown.
Restaurants & locally owned establishments
Local restaurants
Cotati's unique community character that is derived from its long pioneering history and its independent culture.
I like the small town feel. I also like that there locally owned establishments.
It’s small, hope it stays that way.
Small town feel
DOWNTOWN COTATI COMMUNITY SURVEY OPEN QUESTION RESPONSE SUMMARY Businesses are nice to browse, good food, nice atmosphere The Park! And neighborhoods around the park
Ample space, Redwood Cafe, diversity of bars and restaurants. Safe, attractive. Public bathroom. small town feeling. cozy. An actual downtown space. Lighting elements. That we have good diversity - bike store, hardware store, music store. Let's always have a bike store.
Small, quaint
Love our small town feel and sense of community.
That it is quaint and well kept
Easy access. Close to home. Nice range of dining options.
The proximity of parks and Cotati Creek.
What do you like least about Downtown Cotati?
Closed businesses and empty lots. :( There's a lot of empty space between the north side of the specific plan area and the Historic Core (the new sidewalks are great!), but there is nothing to distract from the fumes of Old Redwood Hwy.
The horrible white tents in front of the restaurants. They look cheap, are dirty and zero welcoming.
Traffic and traffic noise. That traffic lights across Old Redwood Hwy take so long to change for pedestrians.
We need more charming businesses
Nothing but bars, not enough shopping or restaurants. I really like the way Windsor town green is designed. Mix use commercial and living.
No late night food options
Too many bars.
Too many bars, not enough family friendly spots.
Lack of parking, not a new issue. First step to new building is more parking Smoking areas make the downtown smell bad. Poor lighting at night worst we’ve ever seen in any town.
Traffic
I wish that there was a bit more diversity among food, although it is doing really well. I’d love for an ice cream shop or an upscale restaurant.
La Plaza park is old/outdated and I wish it had some sort of fence around it since it’s so close to the busy road! A little dangerous for my little ones.
The empty business front
Vacant buildings, lack of diver retail businesses, needs a anchor restaurant Too small.
The Accordian Festival. Seems like locals should be offered discounted tickets or something as compensation for the annual nightmare traffic and the tourists.
All the cars.
Needs a bookstore and more parking.
As a pedestrian, crossing E. Cotati @ Old Redwood Highway sometimes feels dangerous because cars making a left turn run the red light.
Traffic from Rohnert Park, as they continue to sprawl and use our streets.
The lack of basic amenities, would be nice to have more activity other than just bars and restaurants
DOWNTOWN COTATI COMMUNITY SURVEY OPEN QUESTION RESPONSE SUMMARY too many noisy bars and too many restaurants, also the outdoor dining setups need to be rethought/redesigned and made more aesthetically pleasing if to remain not enough diversity, too many bars compared to other businesses. too spread out. needs better signage to direct people to businesses,
Limited in both of above
The bars and the bar crowds.
The road between La Plaza and 101 is underdeveloped and has little character.
Congestion of residential and commercial streets. It can be very stressful driving downtown at times due to unsafe streets or a lack of stop signs on certain roads.
Traffic and growth of traffic because of excessive building in Rohnert Park.
Traffic and NOISE
It tends to be stretched out along thoroughfares, and is too oriented toward driving & strip-malls.
There isn't much window-shopping.
empty or closed buildings
Traffic. The stretch of Redwood from the Plaza to Gravenstein is not pleasant to drive or walk.
Smokers. No drive up window. No ice cream cones.
How the historic core keeps having the roads get skinnier, i.e. "parklets" in public parking spaces and the upcoming Quickstrike project, that narrows West Sierra Avenue from the Hub to 101 exits, when it is a busy thoroughfare.
Traffic through downtown
The empty vacancy at friars. The ugly outdoor eating in the parking area that is rarely used by people, Need better lighting when driving thru downtown at night. Maybe flashing lights for pedestrian crossing by Cafe Salsa.
Business variety, Lighting
Lack of parking, even off downtown parking is tough. Forces me to walk though.
I’d like to see more stability within new businesses. I’d also like to see our farmer’s market grow. Im looking forward to the hotel.
Businesses leaving
Not enough shops
The empty space where Friar Tucks, we need a couple places for food and evening music now that Redwood Cafe isn't active with music anymore. We also need to get Flagship and Spring Thai help! Noise - not enough parking in surrounding neighborhoods, skinny eoads I wish frair tucks was not empty and I don't like the people who smoke near outdoor seating. Also the drivers can be a bit aggressive since it's a highway bisecting the downtown.
A lot of businesses aren't friendly from the outside, too alcohol-focused, cars are aggressive in the area
Old Redwood Hwy car noise
Too many bars, a few more upscale dining options would be welcome. The street is often dirty or messy, local businesses should clean up in front of their store fronts.
The downtown intersection
Lack of small shops
Not kept up very well,should be swept up every morning,dressed up ! It looks a little run down.
DOWNTOWN COTATI COMMUNITY SURVEY OPEN QUESTION RESPONSE SUMMARY The vacant spaces that bring down the look and feel. It’s an unfinished canvas. Too many bars per one street
No where to shop Benches garage cans all need to be wiped down. They are covered in cobwebs Parking
I don’t like the tents set up in the streets for restaurant seating. Wish it had a few more shops.
The illegal smoking areas in font of the bars. They make the downtown area smell like an ashtray. .
Poor Traffic patterns and flow. . Very Poor nighttime lighting for pedestrians.
Traffic seems to be increasing as motorists cut thru town to other destinations.
That cars can no longer turn from E Cotati to old redwood. When they use Charles st they don’t look for pedestrians.
The traffic. The light at East Cotati and Old Redwood also 116 and Old Redwood are big fat messes.
The crosswalks need to be lit up when occupied by pedestrians.
TRAFFIC & MULTI RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES that clog the streets with parked cars 24/7 because the rental units do not offer adequate off street parking for their tenants. Cars are choking out the neighborhood streets while speeding cars make pedestrians unsafe traffic. that there will be an increase in traffic lights on ORH. ugly outdoor seating -Should foster nice beautiful outdoor areas, like Cafe Salsa already had for years.
Busy 4 way stop at redwood market
Speeding traffic cutting through the hub neighborhoods at very high rates of speed. Ie 49-50 in 25 MPH zones..And the number cars that use our neighborhood to cut through instead of using the light at ORH and W Sierra.,
When there’s no parking
Insane traffic on old redwood highway and east cotati. Dangerous for pedestrians. Too many stupid bars. Lack of practical or useful shops.
The abundance of bars makes it a pretty uninviting place.
What types of businesses are missing from Downtown?
We could use a brewpub, now that Grav South has closed. A *quiet* bar would be nice --- a place with the acoustic treatment for actual conversation. It's a shame we have no tasting rooms. I wouldn't want them to dominate, but zero seems too few. A hotel, but it looks like that's on the way?
Everything!!! So few things around.
Stationery/office supplies. Tools, hardware, garden supply (although Cotati Oaks hardware not too far away). Repair shop.
More destination style businesses. We have enough bars. We need more cute shops More restaurants, stroll through Shops, parking!!
Local market
Shoe repair. Bank. Frozen yogurt. Mailbox/copy shop.
Family friendly restaurants and shops.
Nothing that isn't already nearby
I listed a couple Above but also a wine bar or somewhere nice to get a beverage.
Sandwich shop, ice cream shop, wellness shop for healthy food/juices/smoothies, yoga/Pilates studio or any type of fitness facility, plant based restaurants, art studio, indoor kids play center Ice cream shop, bagel shop, juice shop
DOWNTOWN COTATI COMMUNITY SURVEY OPEN QUESTION RESPONSE SUMMARY Retail, ice cream/frozen yogurt, brewery with full menu, wine bar, fitness clasess Dog Park. Bookstore. Art store. Cat cafe.
This town seriously needs something gay. What kind of self-respecting California downtown doesn't have a gay spot? Also, another local coffee shop. Solution: LGBTQ+ coffee shop! Bonus points for attached bookshop. Also: Indian food. This city desperately needs Indian food (and more ethnic food in general).
Wing place
Bookstore. Gift shop. Fabric store. Bakery. Ice cream/candy store.
I wish that we had a wine bar or fancy cocktail lounge. A basic hardware store farther south would be nice, I always end up driving to Lowe's for simple things that I could pick up closer to home.
Fine dining, most current restaurants are fast food or casual dining oriented.
It’s mostly food and bars, would like to see more community based activities that are diverse and more inclusive
Starbucks, a hardware store, a knitting/craft shop, Whole Foods!, a plant store/nursery, more boutiques
more and diverse retail.
Shops, more variety of eateries, lodging, entertainment venues Maybe a grocery store or some less bougie stores
Bookstore.
Child and animal friendly stores, especially for tourists.
Variety of businesses.
Bookstores
there is a great variety but often only one option - would like more choices of clothing, music venues, bakery - perhaps local art gallery, technology store, beer and wine store - sales not consumption, a few more nice restaurants and definitely a hotel - hoping reverb/Cotati Hotel place actually happens Can’t think of what could be added. There is a lot of variety now.
Ice cream cone. Pizza slice (that’s ready, not a 40 min wait). Drive up coffee window. Shoe shine. ice cream/quick snack stores, theatre/performing arts venue, recreational type facility (i.e.
Kindergym), etc.
Bakery, ice cream shop
Italian restaurant;
Bars with good food
General merchandise stores, gift shops. Cotati hardware is too far away to walk to. Plenty of Resteraunts and bars though.
Sit down restaurants, not just walk up and order. Another coffee shop. An ice cream shop.
A business that was the epicenter of town like friar tucks was Clothing - shoe business - winery- bakery
See above
Postal services, sit down service Resturant’s, clean manufacturing companies Higher quality bar/fine eating. Gift/house hold goods stores.
Gas station
Bookstore, cafe, small community based market,
DOWNTOWN COTATI COMMUNITY SURVEY OPEN QUESTION RESPONSE SUMMARY Quality bookstore like Copperfields, more clothing stores, good ice cream shop, indian restaurant, interesting antique shops (like Petaluma), generally more variety would be welcome.
We’re good on bars, but a vegan option in restaurants would be terrific.
Bookstore, bakery, clothing/shoes, refill store, small hotel, jewelry, art Ice cream shop,bakery
We have a nice mix currently
Retail. Art Supplies. Gardening. Boutiques.
infrastructure construction
Economic and financial development
Retail shops, it needs something like a ‘Hello Penngrove’ store.
Card Store Shoe Store Hotel Gift store
I think we need something othet then traditional retail. Maybe ficus on learning, participatory museums around agriculture, music 1st people/native Americans, etc.
A good Italian restaurant. Toy store. Book store. Housewares.
Even though I like small locally owned businesses I’d love to see a Trader Joe’s. I like to see unique type stores. Clothing or gift stores.
Gift store
Clothing/ hardware/printer-copy shop /bookstore/ pet supplies Music venue.
None
miss our Exchange Bank!
A Trader Joe’s within town would be great. I also miss the ice cream shop Spacious cafe for socializing. Better and more affordable groceries and produce. More appealing name brand shops or franchises.
A sit down coffee shop would be nice. It would be good to be able to buy produce and nutritious food downtown.
Do you have any other comments, questions or concerns regarding changes to the rules for development in Cotati?
The current plan's support for non-homogeneous architecture is excellent; let us continue with it. I'd like to see some more modern stuff as well!
Change the rules but do something. I feel like there are a lot of missed opportunities with regard of businesses
Pedestrian and bicycle access/connectivity between main part of Cotati east of Hwy 101, and west of Hwy 101, needs to be improved. I have comments on this survey: 1) It is hard to find unless you already know where to look. 2) It would be good to include a link to the DSP. 3) It would be good to clearly define "downtown Cotati" with a map. 4) Some questions don't allow for full answers e.g. #3 "existing and new expansion and development" - two questions! I think it's a higher priority to support existing businesses than to bring in new ones. But prefer development here rather than sprawl out west along Hwy 116.
DOWNTOWN COTATI COMMUNITY SURVEY OPEN QUESTION RESPONSE SUMMARY Just make sure there is Parking. If you’re looking at Cotati to become a “day destination” where people will go out of their way to visit and patron shops and restaurants, you’ll need parking.
I'm in favor of more dense housing as well as more affordable housing. I agree with incentives to keep businesses so there is a THERE in Cotati and it's lively and inviting. A mix of services that people need/want and retail. Retail in these days of internet shopping and chain stores is tricky. (What people say they want and how they actually shop may not line up). When adding housing to the downtown area it is important to consider the impact on both residents and businesses to minimize issues such as noise and smells. Businesses deserve to be able to operate in ways necessary to make a profit but the atmosphere needs to work for residents, as well. Parking is very tricky. More housing = more residents = (hopefully) more people walking and less need for parking. But, a certain amount of parking is needed in this current way of life or businesses won't get the business they need. It's a tricky balance. I'm in favor of as little parking and car infrastructure as is feasible for businesses to remain viable.
Will any traffic changed me make to do more traffic calming out reminding traffic entirely? Clean up north end. Reduce the traffic lanes southbound at the hub. Make traffic go somewhere else.
The State is not in control of this, and your video is misleading. We have had a limited amount of buildable land for 20 years now, and these state laws are mostly about new multi-story housing developments on any kind of zoning. But people aren't selling their private properties in Cotati, so no matter what is "planned", it will not look like a state takeover. If we had lots of open parcels, yes, the state has that much control, but in Cotati it is a misrepresentation that we'll just have multi-story housing units popping up anywhere in the DSP or Cotati
No
No
Pursue a mixed-use development around the SMART station A rose garden with fountains. Less cars. More walkways with sidewalks. Path adjacent the creeks. Bike paths.
I want the chickens back at Peet's! Those birds are Cotati icons. I worked there for years and the chickens made that spot memorable for locals and tourists alike. Now it's just another chain coffee shop with no local character. Such a shame.
Do not want to see 6 story buildings in Cotati.
Bringing Copperfield's Books would be a lovely addition to downtown.
We already have unused/vacant commercial space, we can afford to build more pure residential in my opinion.
Do not want to see 5/6 story buildings in Cotati. That would be out of character for our community.
Possibly growing too fast, but adding residential downtown would also add clients. I don’t have to drive into downtown maybe adding a grocery store that’s walkable to the downtown hub I would like to see hanging flower baskets and plantings like the ones in The Village in Corte Madera that are maintained by an outside company, as I don't feel that the business owners keep up with their planters etc. I like live/ work buildings where the business is quiet in early am and at night...
Not at this time.
I don't think we need a downtown specific plan. There is so little development, I think each development should be considered on a case by case basis.
Over the years there have many projects proposed, but nothing goes through. Get something done.
Please continue focus on fixing up ORH and 116 area. (Walgreens, etc to La Plaza) It still seems under utilized and kind of dumpy.
DOWNTOWN COTATI COMMUNITY SURVEY OPEN QUESTION RESPONSE SUMMARY No
No
Just work to make it work, even if it looks like poor fit, try it and let the market decide the best mix and aesthetic.
I feel like Cotati is trying to meet requirements at the detriment of our quality community environment.
I want to be notified about changes around me via mail
No
Look at reducing to eliminating parking requirements on multi-story mixed used commercial/residential projects, where this would be appropriate, as this will bring more people to downtown core area
Cotati has to stay within the law, but beyond that should resist all state efforts to greatly densify it.
That would destroy the character that people actually like about this town.
Allow up to 4 stories for affordable housing, add more low-income housing, consider reunification of La Plaza hexagon
If we have a shortage of water and are asked to cut back,I don’t think we can ask more people to live here, until we solve the water problem ,I also wonder how we are doing on sewer capacity ? Nope
I don’t want to see tall commercial buildings and tons of cars. I like that it is walkable. I’d like it to stay that way.
Better parking
Some forward motion- hotel
More housing equals more traffic can our roads handle it.
Not that I can think of now
Avoid the use of modern looking buildings that don’t fit the style of Cotati Downtown residential streets do NOT need more multi residential build up with inadequate off street parking allowed. There is too little off street parking as is due to inadequate parking for parcels with Granny units already built that do not offer any parking off street, multi residential units not using off street parking efficiently, commuters parking on hubstreets to catch public transportation to travel out of county...not pedestrian friendly with no sidewalks!! Keep a commercial corridor and foster business development. I do not support large residential projects in the city core. Mixed use - sure. But not large scale residential. I like our DSP and was involved in it's design so long ago. I don't think it wise to change what was worked on so diligently and with lots of comment without re-doing the whole process. Let's work on what we created.
Whatever happened to the traffic survey results we completed last year? I am happy having it be clean and safe
We badly need more affordable housing options - more than new commercial ventures.
Given the limited demand for new commercial uses I would highly recommend the City give preference to developing moderate density multi-family housing in the downtown area.