New plan for long vacant Cotati lot

Current plans call for 177 apartments to rise in six buildings across the nearly eight-acre site.

photo credit: Courtesy, City of Cotati
Conceptual rendition of planned Cotati housing along 116.

On a site envisioned a quarter century ago as a home for the then telecom giant Nokia, officials in Cotati last week agreed to move forward with plans for close to 200 apartments and retail shops.

The city has granted preliminary design review of what's being called the Cotati Village Community. The recent approvals certify the development as complying with the city's general plan, thus exempting it from further environmental review.

Current plans call for 177 apartments to rise in six buildings across the nearly eight-acre site. The location is along State Route 116 and Alder Avenue. That's west of US 101.

Cotati officials also approved the removal of a line of trees fronting the site.

Developers said that while some oaks and non-native acacias will be felled, a cluster of oaks in the middle of the property will remain...and 171 new trees will join them.

Councilwoman Susan Harvey looked for assurances the new trees will be more than saplings....in an exchange with Cotati senior planner JP Harries...

"I know in other projects we've talked about different gallon sizes not getting one gallon trees that are going to take 20 years to..." "they're, they're in there."

Harvey also sought assurances that the developer, Monahan Pacific, would actually deliver a promised pool, walking path and playground, "given the history, I would like to see that in the conditions so that we're not sitting here, well, I won't be here, but were sitting here ten years from now or twenty years from now when this actually happens and saying, oh, this didn't get built."

Officials agreed to forbid the units from being leased out until the amenities are delivered.

Other discussions about the plans centered on alleviating concerns of residents of Cotati Cottages, an adjacent residential subdivision, that the proposed new development of apartments and commercial space won't create more traffic and parking issues.