9 December, 2025
Dear members of the City Council:
The proposed project for Santero Way comes with several questions and concerns around safety, effects on current residents in both Cotatii and Rohnert Park, and infrastructure impacts. The impacts to our community are both immediate and long term and should be highlighted.
Infrastructure: Adding 637 units which could house up to 1800 people will increase the population significantlyincreasing the effective Cotati population by 25%. I would like to know what the plans are for increasing emergency services to the area, including fire and police. I would also like to know how the sewer and water needs of the community will be met with this additional burden on capacity. Increasing the population by 1800 people will have a huge impact on sewer; we are already facing a 45% increase over the next 2 years. What are the plans that will meet demand and keep in compliance with the entities that will process this increased sewage flow?
Zoning/Health and Safety: There are, additionally, health and wellbeing concerns around the proposed zoning change. Light industry typically refers to direct consumer products. However, the city of Rohnert Park recently gave administrative approval for a permit to operate a company called Resynergi under the guise of it being a recycling facility in a “light industrial” zone. The facility was in fact, a fuel manufacturing plastic pyrolysis business that posed threats to the community through groundwater contamination, air pollution, risk of fire and explosions due to stored materials, and risk of catastrophic failure, not to mention the impact on roads from industrial vehicles, bringing materials to and from the facility. The City gave approval without any notification to the community which caused considerable concern for risks to health and safety, reduction of property values due to the proximity, increases in home insurance, as well as potential increases in electricity rates due to the demand that a facility like this puts on the electrical grid. With this fresh in our minds, and the unresolved issues around the Cotati Hotel, we are concerned about the potential for something like this happening in Cotati. What assurances do we have that this zoning change will not allow permitting of dangerous industrial uses like Resynergi? What assurances do we as residents, both of Cotati and Rohnert Park, have that the city council will put the needs and concerns of residents above outside interests? Traffic: Adding the 637 units would bring in an estimated additional 1200 cars to the East Cotati corridor and surrounding areas, drastically negatively impacting traffic flow. The EIR highlights a need for a plan for the construction period, but what about after the new residents take occupancy?. As a homeowner on Lancaster Dr, I am particularly concerned about the increase in traffic on an already busy thoroughfare. Public safety due to traffic issues is a major concern.
Bottom line, there are a lot of concerns that impact Cotati and the surrounding residents of Rohnert Park, and potentially beyond. I would like to hear a proactive plan for dealing with these issues while protecting those who live, work and own homes in the area immediately surrounding the planned Santero Way development.
More investigation into these areas and clear plans are needed before adopting this strategic plan.
Thank you,
Greg Schmid
Local Resident.