Subject: July 28 2026 City Council Meeting Item 7.B FREEWAY ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT ZONING OVERLAY (Workshop)
Dear Mayor Lemus, Vice Mayor Harvey, and Councilmembers Ford, Savage and Sparks, For the upcoming workshop, I would like to urge the City to consider Cotati’s commitment to Vision Zero. Anything that increases driver distraction while operating a vehicle at highway speeds does not align with Vision Zero goals. Nationally, society accepts a grim trade-off—over 40,000 traffic deaths annually—in exchange for "freedom of the road". We should actively work locally to reduce these risks.
Regarding the focus on business signs on the west side of Hwy 101, when traveling south on Hwy 101 :
1. A (planned) bicycle overpass at the Rohnert Park/Cotati boundary,
2. a line of redwood trees,
3. utility poles running parallel to the highway,
4. poplar trees, and
5. a large billboard near the Laguna.
Existing signs appear to be reasonable visible. Driving south, I can easily read AAA Auto & Tire Center, Sonoma Backyard, Dunn-Edwards Paints, Fishing Tackle, the grandfathered “HarleyDavidson Motorcyle” pole sign, and the Lowe’s monument sign when exiting. Signs in this short stretch adjacent to Hwy 101 are already fully visible.
We should not cut down the few existing trees along Redwood Drive nor discourage planting additional trees. While we live in an attention economy where businesses seek visibility, highspeed highway traffic requires focus; distractions on Hwy 101 directly increase collision risks.
Furthermore, temporary signs—such as balloons, pennants, or streamers—should not be permitted citywide, especially along Redwood Drive. Along Redwood Drive, these items pose an immediate safety hazard if they come into contact with high-voltage lines and cause electrical shorts.
Additionally, please keep in mind that over 600 new residential units are proposed along the north side of Hwy 116. It would be a major benefit if new residents could safely walk to Apple Valley Plaza rather than relying on automobile trips along Redwood Drive, which is already pedestrian-challenged.
I do not support expanding "Formula-Based Restaurants" into more areas. Doing so would generate new Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and draw customers away from established local dining options, such as those in Apple Valley Plaza. Given our automobile-reliant culture and the national obesity epidemic, why would we add formula fast food or expanded alcohol sales to the Commercial Industrial (CI) district, likely spurring more automobile trips and increasing VMT?
Specific Comments on Code Provisions:
• Proposed Changes to § 17.38.040.F (Prohibited Signs): There appears to be no consideration for the high-voltage utility lines running along the freeway. Subsection F applies citywide and should be maintained even if height limits are increased (e.g., the potential eight-foot increase per § 17.38.050.C.2).
• Regarding Table 3-12 (Maximum sign area): Property owners should decide their own sign layouts. Please remove the clause: "A site with multiple tenants must accommodate all tenants on the freeway-oriented sign, utilizing only the additional 50 square feet." • Section 17.22.020 (Table 2-3): In the Commercial Industrial (CI) column, the City should disallow changes regarding Alcoholic Beverage Sales (UP) and Formula-Based Fast Food Restaurants (S).
Finally, a few clarifying questions:
1. Will active or digital signs featuring rotating tenant displays or changing advertisements be permitted?
2. If a business operates a private mailbox facility with 500 "tenants" or advertisers, would all of them be permitted on a freeway-oriented sign?
3. In Table 3-12, can the definition for "freeway-oriented wall, freestanding, or pole sign" explicitly specify "adjacent to Redwood Dr" on a per-parcel basis? This section, from the Cotati boundary to Helman Lane, measures approximately 3,300 feet.
Thank you for considering these points.
Sincerely, Neil Hancock