Planning commission reviews 44‑unit affordable housing project at 120 East Cotati

Cotati City planning staff and the developer of a proposed 44‑unit affordable housing building presented design details and took public questions at the Aug. 18 Planning Commission meeting.

Senior Planner JP Harris told commissioners the site at 120 East Cotati — city‑owned land across from the fire station — is proposed as a three‑story, 44‑unit building with about 3,850 square feet of ground‑floor commercial space. “Of those 44 units, with the exception of a manager's unit, are intended to be affordable for those, with households with 30 to 80% of the area medium income, AMI,” Harris said. He also said 12 of the units would be dedicated to supportive housing.

The developer, Freebird Development, represented by Robin (last name not provided) and architect Paul, described a mission‑style design refined through two community meetings and an informational City Council review. Paul said the design places active retail and lobby uses along Cotati Avenue and La Plaza, with an interior parking garage entered from East Cotati and Charles Street and a podium courtyard above the garage for residents. “We've also got a common room that's in the middle of the space,” Paul said, describing the courtyard and about 13,500 square feet of open space on the site.

Why it matters: The project uses state streamlining and density bonus provisions that reduce discretionary review when projects meet housing and supportive‑housing criteria; the city has already purchased the land with affordable‑housing funds and must use it for that purpose. Commissioners, neighbors and…