Cotati planning commission approves Love Car Wash design with color and tree conditions

The Cotati Planning Commission voted to approve preliminary and final design review for a proposed Love Car Wash at 7360 Commerce Boulevard, adopting conditions that reduce the proposed pink façade to a white band and require 25-gallon crepe myrtle trees in the eastern landscape island.

Staff said the project covers slightly more than a half-acre adjacent to the Laguna de Santa Rosa trail and would replace an existing, legally established car-wash operation. Autumn, a community development staff member, told the commission the proposal includes demolition of an old fuel canopy, a new pay station, relocation of existing vacuum equipment, slurry sealing and new striping, and extended landscaping to the north property edge. Staff concluded the project is exempt from CEQA as a minor modification consistent with the city’s 2015 general plan EIR and recommended approval with conditions tied to building-permit benchmarks.

The applicant, architect Jonathan Ramos, said much of the work is an equipment replacement: “This building is roughly from 1950…we are replacing the conveyor,” Ramos said, and added the new blowers are rated to about 60 decibels at 35 feet. He described the 40-foot canopy over part of the conveyor as a shade cover rather than an enclosed addition and said vacuum-producing equipment will be relocated, not newly installed, and that landscaping and irrigation work will total roughly $90,000.

Public commenters and several commissioners raised safety and neighborhood concerns. Multiple speakers warned that vehicle queuing or spillover onto Commerce Boulevard could create hazards; a resident who inspected nearby Love locations said the shorter tunnel at this site (measured by residents at about 56 feet) may reduce throughput compared with other regional sites. Paul Burke, a longtime Cotati resident, urged the commission to consider job impacts: “This is a good business…people who work there are working class people,” he said, noting conversion to a largely self-service operation could reduce on-site staff.

Residents also asked about light, trash and creek impacts. Neighbors suggested additional screening or a fence between the vacuum area and the Laguna de Santa Rosa and worried that wind could carry trash toward the creek. Ramos said there will be trash receptacles at each vacuum station, emptied multiple times daily, and a dumpster on the southeast corner of the site, and noted Love operations typically maintain cleanliness.

On technical and regulatory points, staff said the city will require a wastewater discharge permit from Santa Rosa Environmental Services for the new owner and that North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is monitoring ongoing groundwater remediation tied to previously decommissioned underground tanks. Staff and Ramos said new equipment specifications and decibel ratings will be reviewed as part of the building‑permit process to confirm compliance with the city noise standard for residential receivers (staff cited a 65‑decibel standard at the property line).

After extended questioning about retaining a row of palm trees adjacent to an apartment building, the commission agreed to a set of conditions to address neighbor concerns: (1) reduce the proposed pink to a white center band with a pink accent similar to the Rohnert Park facility; and (2) require replacement or new plantings of crepe myrtle trees at a minimum 25‑gallon size (upsized from the 15‑gallon size in the application). Commissioners also discussed allowing the applicant flexibility to retain palms if circulation and stacking can be preserved.

A motion to approve preliminary and final design review with those conditions carried on a recorded voice vote. Commissioners called the roll and received “aye” votes from Commissioner Moffett, Commissioner Bridal, Chair Long, Vice Chair Caccilari and Commissioner Sparks; the motion passed.

Next steps include building‑permit review and any required referrals (public works will review final circulation plans and building permits will include equipment cut sheets and noise specifications). Staff also noted the applicant must renew any required wastewater discharge permit with Santa Rosa Environmental Services and coordinate ongoing groundwater remediation monitoring with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The commission closed the item and moved to staff reports before adjourning at approximately 7:32 p.m.