Changes to draft ordinance based on Council comments at July 9, 2024 meeting:
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SECTION 16: Amendment to the Cotati Municipal Code. Chapter 17.39 is amended as follows:
17.39.030 Multifamily objective residential design standards.
F. Site Design. The intent of site design standards is to ensure the integration of new multifamily development into the surrounding neighborhood and to enhance the appearance, safety, convenience, and social interaction of the project through the provision of circulation connectivity. Further, these standards are intended to identify the appropriate location and appearance of parking and other features serving these developments.
6. Street and driveway widths shall not exceed the minimum widths established by the city or fire district.
17.39.040 Multifamily plex objective residential design standards.
These standards apply to all multifamily plex housing developments that contain two to nine dwelling units, with the exception of Cottage Housing projects consistent with Section 17.42.125 of this title, to which only the standards of Section 17.39.040(B)(1-5) shall apply. The standards of Section 17.39.040(B)(1-5) may also be applied to structures containing up to four dwelling units that are part of a development of ten or more units that is comprised of single family and/or multifamily structures.
A. Neighborhood Compatibility. The purpose of the neighborhood compatibility design standards is to enhance established neighborhoods and their distinctive characteristics by requiring new multifamily plex development projects of two to nine dwelling units to include features most relevant to the Cotati community.
4. The maximum width of each multifamily plex building along its front facade is fifty feet. Any building facade facing a street, public park, or publicly accessible outdoor space shall incorporate a horizontal offset for every fifty feet of continuous building wall length with a minimum depth of thirty-six inches.
C. Site Design. The intent of site design standards is to ensure the integration of new multifamily plex development into the surrounding neighborhood and enhance the appearance, safety, convenience, and social interaction of the project. Further, these standards are intended to identify the appropriate location and appearance of parking and other features serving these developments.
7. Driveway and parking aisle widths shall not exceed the minimum widths established by the city or fire district.
D. Accessory Elements. The intent of accessory elements standards is to ensure that certain accessory uses are provided and appropriately screened.
5. Refuse Containers.
a. FourSix units or less may be served by individual or shared refuse containers, which must fit either in garage(s) or into a special enclosure(s).
b. Projects of fiveseven units or more shall provide dumpsters for garbage collection within a roofed enclosure.
17.39.050 Single family objective residential design standards.
These standards apply to all single family homes, with the exception of Cottage Housing projects consistent with Section 17.42.125 of this title and dwelling units that are part of a multifamily housing development. The standards of Section 17.39.040(B)(1-5) may also be applied to structures containing up to four dwelling units that are part of a development of ten or more units that is comprised of single family and/or multifamily structures.
SECTION 21: Amendment to the Cotati Municipal Code. Section 17.62.020 Table 6-1 is amended as follows:
17.60.020 Authority for land use and zoning decisions.
Table 6-1 identifies the review authority as responsible for reviewing and making decisions on each type of application required by this land use code.
Table 6-1
Planning Permit Review Authority
Role of Review Authority(1)
Type of Decision
Applicable
Land Use Code
Section
Design Review
Administration Director Planning Commission City Council Administrative and Legislative
Interpretation 17.12 Decision(2) Appeal Appeal
Development Agreement 17.66 Recommend Recommend Decision General Plan Amendment Recommend Recommend Decision
Specific Plan Recommend Recommend Decision
Zoning Map Amendment Recommend Recommend Decision
Land Use Code Amendment Recommend Recommend Decision
Planning Permit/Development Approval
Preapplication Conference 17.60.040(A) Feedback
Zoning Clearance 17.62.020 Decision Appeal Appeal
Minor Use Permit (MUP) 17.62.050 Decision(2) Appeal Appeal Use Permit (UP) 17.62.050 Recommend Decision Appeal
Minor Variance 17.62.060 Decision(2) Appeal Appeal
Variance 17.62.060 Recommend Decision Appeal
Design Review – Single
family dwelling or two-unit
multifamily plex (duplex)
structure
17.62.040 Decision Appeal Appeal
Design Review – All other
projects
17.62.040 Recommend Recommend Decision Appeal
Limited Term Permit 17.62.030 Decision Appeal Appeal
Sign Permit or Master Sign
Plan
17.38.030 Recommend Decision Appeal Appeal
Master Sign Plan 17.38.030 Recommend Decision Appeal Appeal Tree Permit – Developed
parcel
17.54 Decision Appeal Appeal
Role of Review Authority(1)
Type of Decision
Applicable
Land Use Code
Section
Design Review
Administration Director Planning Commission City Council Tree Permit – Undeveloped
parcel
17.54 Recommend Recommend Decision Appeal
Tree Permit – Native oak 17.54 Recommend Recommend Recommend Decision Notes:
(1) “Recommend” means that the review authority makes a recommendation to a higher decisionmaking body; “Decision” means that the review authority makes the final decision on the matter; “Appeal” means that the review authority may consider and decide upon appeals to the decision of an earlier decisionmaking body, in compliance with Chapter 17.84 (Appeals). “Feedback” means that the director shall issue a letter addressing those issues outlined in subsection A of this section.
(2) The director may defer action and refer the request to the commission, so that the commission may instead make the decision.
SECTION 220: Amendment to the Cotati Municipal Code. Sections 17.62.040 (C), (E)(1), (E)(2), and (F) are amended as follows:
17.62.040 Design review.
C. Review Authority. The director shall have the authority for design review for a single-family dwelling or a twounit multifamily plex structure (duplex) on one lot, that is not being constructed in conjunction with threewo or more dwellings in the same subdivision by the same applicant or developer. Design review for all other projects shall be by the commission, based on a recommendation from design review administration, or as necessary by the director, for project approval, approval with modifications, or denial.
E. Design Review Procedure. When design review is required by this section, preliminary and final design review shall be obtained as follows, prior to the issuance of a building permit:
1. Preliminary Design Review.
a. When Required. Preliminary design review is required for each proposed project as provided by subsection B of this section, except for one single-family dwelling or a two-unit multifamily plex structure (duplex) on an individual parcel not being constructed in conjunction with three two or more dwellings by the same developer in the same subdivision. (An applicant that is otherwise not required to have preliminary design review may choose to request preliminary design review.)