City of Cotati Urges Council to Adopt Roundabouts Streetscape Plan

Cotati officials are recommending that the City Council on Wednesday adopt the "Village Main Street" alternative to the redesign of Old Redwood Highway — a plan that includes building two traffic roundabouts on the busy throughfare between the intersection of Hwy. 116 and Old Red, south to La Plaza Park downtown Cotati.

A band of outspoken merchants , which would slim the street, allowing one traffic lane in each direction, incorporate bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks and on-street parking, slow traffic to 25 mph, and perhaps the most controversial aspect: build two roundabouts — one at the intersection of the new St. Joseph Way and one at the intersection of Old Redwood Highway and William and George streets.

But while some business owners say lengthy construction, coupled with elimination of the middle turn lane and lessened traffic capacity will hurt their business, saying slower speeds will actually spur business and economic developent on the northern end of Old Red — allowing people to patronize the new downtown — staying longer to shop, eat and walk.

City Manager Dianne Thompson said the plan has long-been envisioned by the city, and plans were outlined in the Downtown Specific Plan, which was adopted in 2009. Patch sat down with Thompson this week. Stay tuned for an in-depth story Monday on what she said sets Cotati apart from other Sonoma County cities.

Two other concepts presented at a special public meeting and at Planning Commission are being loosely considered and the other dubbed the "City Boulevard" option. Both plans aim to strike a compromise with the city. All plans call for more businesses, adding vegetation to the current blighted strip. Some outtakes: The Oliver's plan would funnel traffic their new location from a separate turn lane off the roundabout. The "City Boulevad" option would keep proposed bike lanes and on-street parking.

According to the city, "preliminary cost estimates for the 2-lane concept is $3.5 million, while the 4-lane concept is $4.7 million." The funds would come from traffic grants and redevelopment dollars.

Stay tuned to Patch for an in-depth look at public policies and economic development-related changes afoot in Cotati. Meanwhile, here are some related articles to check out prior to Wednesday's council meeting. 

• According to city documents, the Planning Commission recommended the "Village Main Street" concept Nov. 17, and "asked staff to and to consider including additional traffic capacity, if feasible, north of new St. Joseph’s Way." Read more about that from the Press Democrat here.

• And according to a Dec. 9 story in the Press Democrat, some merchants are waging a ballot measure to reject the roundabouts. 

• Check out what in favor of the two-lane plan had to say here.

• Read our , when signs criticizing the roundabouts were planted all over town.

• And watch what Tom Scott, co-owner of Oliver's Market in our video from a public meeting. Also see what others had to say.

• And don't miss the story reported by the Press Democrat that Cotati Fire Chief Frank Treanor opposes the roundabouts.

Editor's note: Watch a video simulation from Cotati showing what the Village Main Street option would look like to the right, from Youtube. Read all related documents from the city by going here. Also, the full agenda for the Wednesday, Dec. 14 City Council meeting is attached to the right as a PDF.