City of Cotati
City Council
Freeway Oriented Development
Zoning Overlay Workshop
July 28, 2026
Agenda
§ Council Goals & Priorities
§ Engagement Efforts
§ Freeway Oriented Development Defined
§ Proposed Code Changes
§ PC Input & Next Steps
2 Council Goals & CD Workplan
Long Term Vitality
-Balanced Budget
-Economic Development Strategy
a. Business Attraction/Retention
b. Remove Barriers
c. Promote Cotati Businesses
3 Adopted Goals
• Long-Term Vitality
• Addressing Climate Change
• Best-In-Class Services
• Community Engagement
• Equity and Diversity
Engagement Efforts
4 Focused on Industrial Neighborhood
• Primary Economic Engine of Cotati
• General Plan Priority Area
• Staff Letter Writing
• Staff Business Visits
• Previous Policy and Land Use
Considerations
Freeway Oriented Development
Overlay-Generally
Zoning tool balancing high visibility and circulation improvements, aesthetics, economic opportunity, and land use compatibility
• Often encourage revenue-generating, auto-centric, or high-density uses. • May streamline approval for desirable uses which benefit from freeway adjacency. • Often allow larger, highly visible signs.
• Serve as a "gateway" to a city, aesthetic controls important for new development. • Access and circulation requirements often include traffic control infrastructure. 5 Freeway Oriented Development
Overlay: Cotatified
Existing FOD Area is fully developed therefore priorities include:
• Encourage re-investment in freeway-visible commercial properties; • Promote business retention and attraction;
• Increase economic activity and tax-generating uses;
• Improve visibility of existing businesses;
• Facilitate adaptive reuse of existing commercial buildings; and • Provide regulatory flexibility appropriate for freeway-oriented commercial development.
6 Freeway Oriented Development: Cotatified
7 Lowes
PODS
City of Cotati
Freeway Oriented
Zoning Overlay
Potential Boundary of Freeway
Oriented Zoning Overlay to be
granted flexibility with the City’s
zoning standards including:
Increased Signage
-Similar to Past Approvals
Allowances for Sales Events
-Eliminate need for LTP
More Allowed Uses
-Updated Land Use Tables
Redwood Dr
Proposed Increased Signage
9 • Increased sign area
Additional 50-100 square feet per business
• Expanded monument sign opportunities
Allow Pole Signs
• Taller freestanding signs along Redwood Dr
Up to 25-feet max height
Similar to Existing Non-Conforming Signage
10 Expanded Sales & Promotional Event Opportunities
11 Proposed overlay could provide flexibility for:
-Seasonal and holiday sales events;
-Outdoor merchandise displays;
-Vehicle sales promotions; &
-Business-sponsored community events.
Allowed “by right”; establish standards for:
-Hours of operation;
-Parking and access;
-Noise limitations;
-Site maintenance; &
-Public safety.
Expanded Land Use Opportunities
12 Broaden the range of commercial uses permitted
within designated freeway-oriented areas.
Uses proposed to be permitted by-right:
Doctors Offices
Uses requiring a Minor Use Permit or Use Permit:
Small Recycling Facility (5,000 sq. ft. +)
Specialized Schools/Training Facility
Antique or Collectible Store
Formula Based Restaurant (subject to the City’s adopted limitations)
Medial Clinic/Urgent Care
Adult Daycare
Drive-through Services
Planning Commission Recommendations
• Expand boundary south along Redwood Dr to 76 gas station • Allow limited sales and promotional activities by-right • Allow additional sign height, types and increased size • Allow additional temporary signs to support sales events • Update sign illumination to modernize lighting, sign types and electrification methods
• Continue prohibition on electronic message board signs • Be conscious of unintended consequences: light pollution and blight
• Keep FOD west of Hwy 101 with this project
13 Planning Commission
Recommended FOD
Overlay
Boundary of FOD Overlay
expanded south to Hwy 116,
including:
• Lowes
• Gravenstein Business
Center
-Mercy
-Hot Tub Place
• Gas Stations
Redwood Dr
Freeway Oriented Development Timeline
• PC Input and Recommendation-July 20, 2026
• Council Consideration & Workshop-Tonight!
• Staff Implements Direction and Input
• PC Consideration of Ordinance-September 21
• Council Consideration & 1st Reading-October?
• Council 2nd Reading and Adoption-October?
15 Questions?