Dear Cotati Council Members,
In November 2025, I wrote to communicate some issues I found in the Cotati Planning Commission Meeting Packet report for the proposed project at 8150 La Plaza. In the report, there were three requests for variances: one request pertained to setbacks; another request pertained to building height; and another pertains to tree removal. I would like restate the importance of denying a request for a variance for a 10ft set back for building 3 of the proposed project at 8150 La Plaza.
The yard directly behind the property of 8150 La Plaza is a place where I garden, drink tea, read, and sit to enjoy the natural surroundings including the Oaks at the rear of the 8150 property. I appreciated the recommendation to preserve the Oaks because they serve an important purpose-to provide a buffer: visual, privacy and noise.
In addition, I also appreciate sensibleness of building 3 being moved to the south of the Oaks in the rear of the property to mitigate intrusiveness of its large scale and opacity being applied to the windows in the back of building 3 to ensure privacy of neighbors in the adjacent area.
In my previous letter to Planning Commission for the November 17, 2025 meeting I said that the minimum setback for the La Plaza District is 20’ and according to the diagram titled (Parking Placement Plan) it states “alley where occurs” (DSP, 3:6, 2009) which implies the possibility of cases where there are no alleys. An appropriate interpretation of the statement “alley where occurs” (DSP, 3:6, 2009) is the space provided by the 20’ setback acts as a mitigation measure for the frequency and intensity of any noise generated from the neighboring property.
Bringing the building closer potentially increases the frequency and intensity of noise activity while keeping it at 20’ decreases the frequency and intensity of noise activity, not completely mind you, but enough to make the behemoth size of the three story building more tolerable. There is nothing desirable about increasing the frequency and intensity of noise activity by reducing the established setback in the Downtown Specific Plan.
My backyard serves as a space to be at peace and achieve respite from the world at large.
Respectfully, I strongly recommend supporting the recommendations presented by the Planning Commission from the meeting on November 17, 2024 which were the following:
1. Relocate building 3 to the south in order to preserve the 30” Oak tree
2. Relocate building 3 to the west so that a twenty-foot rear setback is provided
3. Provide window opacity on the eastern elevation of building 3 to preserve the privacy of the residents on Arthur Street
Thank you for your consideration of the issues brought up in this letter and my previous letter.
Reg Colbert