RESOLUTION NO. (XX)
DECLARING ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER 144-320-033 ON SANTERO WAY AS
EXEMPT SURPLUS PROPERTY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SURPLUS LAND ACT
WHEREAS, in accordance with Surplus Land Act (Act), Government Code (GC) Section 54221(b)(1), “Surplus land” means land owned in fee simple by any local agency for which the local agency’s governing body takes formal action in a regular public meeting declaring that the land is surplus and is not necessary for the agency’s use; and WHEREAS, in accordance with GC Section 54221(b)(1), land shall be declared either “surplus land” or “exempt surplus land,” as supported by written findings, before a local agency may take any action to dispose of it consistent with an agency’s policies or procedures; and WHEREAS, in accordance with GC Section 54221(f)(1)(B), “Exempt” surplus land is surplus land that is less than one-half acre in area and is not contiguous to land owned by a state or local agency that is used for open-space or low- and moderate-income housing purposes; and WHEREAS, the City currently owns in fee simple property on Santero Way without an address (APN 144-320-033) that is currently unused bare land with an area of approximately
0.56 acres; and
WHEREAS, in February 2025, after extensive community input, the City Council unanimously approved the updated Santero Way Specific Plan (SWSP), incorporating significantly higher residential densities in a Transit Oriented Community; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the public safety secondary fire access described in the SWSP, a portion of the subject City property, constituting approximately 0.10 acres, would be required for an extension of Depot Way, a public roadway; and WHEREAS, the resulting City owned property would be less than 0.5 acres and is therefore can be declared “exempt surplus land” under the Act; and WHEREAS, the remainder of the City owned property would be best utilized to implement the community vision of the SWSP through the sale or exchange of property to allow contiguous complementary uses adjacent to the train station, as described and permitted in the SWSP.
WHEREAS, in conformance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the City Council finds that the proposed Surplus Lands Act Exemption determination is consistent with and implement the goals, policies, and objectives of the 2015 General Plan, the 2023 Housing Element and the 2025 SWSP, and conforms to the development assumptions identified and analyzed in the SWSP Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). Specifically, consistent with CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(a) this PEIR was prepared to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with development consistent with the SWSP, and the development outcomes that may occur, including development of the identified parcel consistent with the SWSP. This determination is one step in supporting and implementing the SWSP as anticipated. In accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15094(d), proposed projects that are consistent with the Specific Plan undergo a streamlined CEQA review process. The Council further finds that all adopted mitigating General Plan policies combined with mitigation measures identified in the SWSP PEIR and the Housing Element Mitigated Negative Declaration will address any potential environmental impacts of the proposed exemption determination.
Further, future project-specific environmental analysis of any development proposed using the identified parcel will be required and will allow project-specific impacts not previously identified or anticipated to be addressed.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the above recitals are true and correct; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council declares that a portion of the City-owned property (APN 144-320-033), constituting approximately 0.10 acres is required for use as a secondary fire access, extending Depot Way along the eastern boundary of the property to implement the vision of the SWSP; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the remainder of the City owned property (APN 144-320-033), being less than 0.5 acres and not being “contiguous to land owned by a state or local agency that is used for open-space or low- and moderate-income housing purposes,” is hereby declared “Exempt Surplus Property” under the Act; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the remainder of the City owned property would be best utilized to implement the community vision of the SWSP through the sale or exchange of property to allow contiguous complementary uses adjacent to the train station, as described and permitted in the SWSP.
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cotati held on July 8, 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
Approved:___________________________
Mayor
Attest:______________________________
Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk
Approved as to form:______________________________
City Attorney