Cotati planning commission backs Santero Way TOC rezoning, limits unbundled parking to station area

The Cotati Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council adopt municipal code changes implementing Transit‑Oriented Communities (TOC) policies for parcels within a half‑mile of the SMART station, including the Santero Way specific plan parcels, while directing staff to restrict unbundled parking to the TOC area and return with additional analysis on scoring and cost impacts.

Staff presented the proposal as agenda item 7a, describing two new zoning districts (Centerra Way and Transit‑Oriented Communities), residential density increases (proposed 25–35 units per acre), parking standards (no minimums, maximum of 1.5 spaces per residential unit and 4 spaces per 1,000 square feet of commercial), and a suite of production, preservation and protection measures intended to meet ABAG/MTC TOC compliance and remain competitive for regional OBAG grant funding. Director Hausch told the commission that OBAG/ABAG funding has historically contributed roughly $500,000 to $1,000,000 per year to local infrastructure in recent years and that compliance affects the…