Santa Rosa Planning Commission Meeting - January 8, 2026
Santa Rosa Planning Commission Meeting - January 8, 2026
The Santa Rosa Planning Commission held a regular meeting on January 8, 2026, commencing at approximately 12:30 PM. All commissioners were present except Commissioner Horton. The meeting included approval of prior minutes, a staff report, and a public hearing on housing element implementation, culminating in a unanimous vote.
Consent Calendar
- The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting without changes or corrections.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the open comment period for non-agenda items. During the public hearing on the housing element implementation item, no one offered testimony.
Discussion Items
- Staff Report: Staff provided updates on three upcoming appeals: the Pira Vita project (now rescheduled from the first council meeting in March), the Lago Fresca project (scheduled for council on February 24, 2026), and an assisted living facility on Benjamin’s (appealed to the planning commission, date to be determined). Staff also announced the filling of two senior planner vacancies via promotions of Sheila Walski (internal) and Hanna Michelson (external), and noted two vacant architect positions on the Design Review and Preservation Board.
- Public Hearing – Housing Element Implementation (PLN 25-0397): Staff presented a package of amendments to implement Housing Element Programs H6 (innovative housing options: tiny homes on wheels and housing cooperatives) and H38 (zoning code amendments for state law compliance, including farm worker housing, community care facilities, and accessory dwelling unit updates). The amendments also address definitions, parking, land use tables, and an inclusionary housing exemption for tiny homes. The CEQA determination included a tiered environmental impact report and statutory exemptions. The Planning and Economic Development Department recommended the commission adopt a resolution recommending city council approval. No public comment was received.
Key Outcomes
- Vote: Commissioner Sanders moved, and Vice Chair Duggan seconded, a resolution of the planning commission recommending city council adoption of the zoning and municipal code amendments (filed under PLN 25-0397). All six voting commissioners (Carter, Sisko, Pardot, Sanders, Duggan, Weeks) voted aye, with Commissioner Horton absent. Each commissioner stated they could make all required findings. The resolution passed unanimously (6-0).
Meeting Transcript
No. Okay, everyone. I'd like to call to order the January eighth of the twenty sixth meeting of the Planning Commission. And if we could please have rule. Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Carter. Here. Commissioner Sisko. Here. Commissioner Horton is absent. Commissioner Pardo. Here. Commissioner Sanders. Here. Vice Chair Duggan. Here. Chair Weeks. Here. Let the record of the fact that all commissioners are present with the exception of Commissioner Horton. Thank you. So we have no remote participation. We have one set of minutes. Are there any changes or corrections to the minutes from anybody? Okay, then those will stand as submitted. And we'll move on to public comment. I'm on agenda items. There's no public here, so no public comments. And so we'll go to our statement of purpose. The planning commission is charged with carrying out the California planning and zoning laws in the city of Santa Rosa. Duties include implementation of plans, ordinances, and policies relating to land use matters, assisting in writing and implementing the general plan and area plans, holding public hearings, and acting on proposed changes to the zoning code, zoning map, general plan, tentative subdivision maps, and undertaking special planning studies as needed. Two commissioner reports. Any commissioner reports? Okay. Um then 5.3. We have nothing. Five or item six department report. Yes, uh, thank you, uh Chair Weeks, members of the Commission. Um, so I do have a few things here for you. Um, so I may have mentioned to you uh 2026. We will be having numerous appeals moving forward. Um so three that I wanted to make mention to the commission. Um, one I think might have already mentioned, um, so the Pira Vita project that the Commission reviewed um last year uh has been appealed. Um we were looking at a meeting date, the first council meeting in March, um, but we will need to reschedule that due to some conflicts with council members' attendance. Uh so we're working on a date for that. Um the Lago Fresca project that the commission recently acted on, as did the design review and preservation board. That project has also been appealed, and it is scheduled for the February 24th council meeting. Um, and then uh a project that you haven't seen yet but will is a assisted living facility on Benjamin's, and that was reviewed and acted on by the zoning administrator. Um it is a uh a large um community care facility which is reviewed at the minor use permit level. I'm forgetting right now how many beds it is, but um, so it went to the zoning administrator. There was concerns by the neighbors, so it is being appealed to the planning commission, so that will come before you and we're working on a date for that.
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