Cotati City presents schematic designs to expand public access at Cotati Ranch

Cotati City staff presented schematic designs for the city-owned ranch property at a public workshop, describing a multipurpose barn, expanded public programming and access changes while noting limits imposed by a conservation easement.

City Manager Danny (last name not specified) told attendees that the property was purchased with assistance from the Open Space District and placed under a conservation easement that restricts the site to agricultural, recreation and related historical and educational uses. He said the easement limits where new structures may be sited and sets a maximum building height of 24 feet, which corresponds roughly to the existing water tower on the site.

The proposed concept centers new constructed elements near the farmhouse and clusters buildings rather than spreading structures across pasture. The design team described a two-story multipurpose barn with roll-up glass doors and sliding barn doors, a small commercial-style demonstration kitchen, meeting rooms, a flex space of roughly 1,300 square feet (about 300 square feet smaller than the city's 1,600-square-foot community room), and a smaller barn intended for animal interaction and demonstrations.

Staff said the site already hosts youth and…