Reliance Business Park
7911 Redwood Dr.
Cotati, Ca. 94931
July 28, 2026
To: Cotati City Council
Cc: Cotati Community Development Dept.
Subject: Support of Freeway Oriented Development Zoning Overlay Mayor Lemus and City Council Members,
Please accept this letter of support for the staff recommendations regarding the development of a FOD Overlay District and associated zoning code amendments, that will be addressed at your 07/28/2026 Council Meeting. Due to travel commitments, I will not be able to personally attend this meeting.
My family began business operations in 1973 at 7911 Redwood Dr. (then South Santa Rosa Avenue). For 10 years prior we operated our business at the neighboring property 141 Helman Ln. We have enjoyed and appreciated our successful professional relationships with the City of Cotati for over 60 years.
The Council and Community Development Department should be congratulated for considering changes to the zoning codes and creating the Freeway Oriented Development Overlay District. Freeway frontage properties affected by these changes will have an opportunity to enhance their brand image as well as decrease some of the time investment with the city staff due to a somewhat lessened bureaucratic process. While it is difficult to quantify, the proposed changes will enhance every business in the FOD and create greater opportunities for economic development and ultimately tax revenue for the City.
Proposed Signage Provisions - We support all the staff proposed sign changes. Signage is always something that businesses need more of and that regulations limit. The elimination of master sign programs is a very positive step forward as well. Although these sign programs only affect a limited number of properties, they are very expensive and time Cotati City Council / Brian Ling
07/28/2026, pg2
consuming to establish, they take away valuable time from city staff, and they are almost immediately obsolete once finally approved.
Temporary Sales Events and Promotional Activities - The staff proposals provide clear direction on the limits of these events and importantly reduce the permit process and staff time that is currently required. These events and activities celebrate the businesses, their customers, and the community they have invested in. The proposed changes enhance these opportunities without adverse impacts to the culture of our community.
Expanded Land Use Opportunities - The marketplace is in continual change and typical zoning charts do not address or keep up with these changes. A more flexible process allows City Staff to react to these changes as they happen and better accommodate new and existing businesses as their customer demands change. The recommended changes are not eliminating the use permitting process, just giving enhancements to allow staff and the businesses to be more productive with their time and assets.
Budget balancing is a huge responsibility for the City Council and City Management.
Although these proposed changes are small, they signal a willingness from city leadership to enhance the income portion of the budget by providing the businesses with Freeway Oriented access a little more flexibility to increase their viability. Ultimately this becomes a win-win for the businesses, the community, and the city coffers providing services to all.