Planning Commissioners Cheer New Hotel, McDonald's Planned for City's West Side

The "Village North" portion of the Wilfred-Dowdell Specific Plan moved a step further Thursday night, when the Planning Commission unanimously approved two new business on a five-acre parcel on Rohnert Park's northwest side, near Home Depot.

McDonald's and the Oxford Inn and Suites, a 163-room hotel, will be built with new landscaping improvements, parking for nearly 200 cars at Redwood Drive and Wilfred Avenue, however Wilfred will be renamed Golf Course Drive West. McDonald's will include a drive-thru.

To access the new business, which was formerly owned by the city's now defunct redevelopment agency, customers will enter through the Home Depot entrance. City staff said the  side could impact traffic and congestion in the area when built.

An environmental analysis, adopted for the Wilfred-Dowdell Specific Plan in 2008, analyzed impacts to traffic and circulation, the natural environment, impact on the public such as lighting and noise and how it fits with the city's General Plan.

A traffic analysis reported that the hotel and fast food chain will require fewer vehicle trips than other retail commercial uses, thus no big impact. The casino could require some changes to this.

"Completion of a planned casino is expected to result in substantially longer queues on Golf Course Drive West, at which time the driveway to the Oxford Suites site would routinely be blocked, so conversion to right-tum access only would be needed," according to a staff report.

However, developers do have to undergo a study of hydrology and drainage in the area, any stormwater or pollution issues. An evaluation, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, determined that the site is not sensitive wetlands, necessary the endangered California Tiger Salamander's habitat.

Although the environmental report did state that "several sensitive wildlife species, including nesting birds, roosting bats, reptiles and amphibians have potential to occur in habitats on the site."

Required would be a formal consultation Unites States Federal Wildlife Service if any of the following species are impacted:

• California Tiger Salamander
• California Red-legged Frog
• Western Pond Turtle
• Nesting birds
• Roosting bats

The project also requires some renovation to the city's sewer system, new lighting and a landscape and irrigation plan. Surrounding streets will include bike lanes, and all street improvements will include sidewalks for pedestrians.

Planning commissioners were supportive of the project, however some questioned language in the project staff report that said the McDonald's is only available for hotel guests and not members of the public. However, an amendment limited the language to just hotel guests.

"This is a project that has been talked about for many many years," said Commissioner John Borba. "It's long overdue for this area. It's going to be a great boost to our town."

"Thank you so much for bringing your project to Rohnert Park," said Commissioner Gerard Giudice. "I support it 100 pecent."