NewThu, Jun 25, 2026·Santa Rosa, California·Planning Commission

Santa Rosa Planning Commission Meeting: June 25, 2026 – FAM Assisted Living Appeal & MD Market CUP

Discussion Breakdown

Planning And Zoning62%
Housing19%
Procedural11%
Public Engagement3%
Pending Litigation2%
Transportation Safety1%
Parking Management1%
Economic Development1%

Summary

Santa Rosa Planning Commission Meeting: June 25, 2026

The Santa Rosa Planning Commission met to consider two public hearing items: an appeal of a zoning administrator's approval of a 15-bed community care facility (FAM Assisted Living) and a major conditional use permit for alcoholic beverage sales and extended hours at a new location for MD Market. The commission also addressed minutes approval and public comments on non-agenda matters.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Janice Carmen (public comment on non-agenda items): Expressed concern about lack of representation for District 3, noting that the district's councilmember is a "lame duck" and that a commissioner from District 4 was appointed to the planning commission for District 3. She also noted multiple building projects east of Melita Road and stated that residents are not being heard.

Discussion Items

  • FAM Assisted Living Appeal (11.1) – 631 Benjamin's Road: The appellants (neighbors) argued the project should be denied, asserting that the underlying SB9 lot split was obtained through fraud (perjury) because the owner signed an owner-occupancy affidavit but never lived on the property. They contended the minor use permit (MUP) cannot overlay an illegally subdivided lot. The applicant (Kim and Hal Fam, a local family and small business) stated they are licensed RCFE administrators, will operate the home themselves, and that the project meets all zoning, traffic, fire, and parking standards. Staff recommended denial of the appeal, citing compliance with all applicable codes and that the SB9 lot split is not part of the MUP review. Multiple public speakers supported the project (citing need for senior care, the applicant's character), while others opposed (citing traffic, parking, and the owner-occupancy issue).
  • MD Market Conditional Use Permit (11.2) – 1995 Sebastopol Road: The applicant requested approval to transfer an existing alcohol license from a nearby location and to operate from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. seven days a week in a former auto parts store. Staff noted no police concerns, no net increase in alcohol licenses, and that the project meets review criteria. The applicant confirmed that if approved, the old market would close, potentially allowing redevelopment of that site for multifamily mixed-use housing.

Key Outcomes

  • FAM Assisted Living Appeal: The commission voted 5-0 (Commissioners Carter and Pardon absent) to deny the appeal and uphold the zoning administrator's approval of the minor conditional use permit for the 15-bed community care facility.
  • MD Market Conditional Use Permit: The commission voted 4-0-1 (Commissioner Sanders abstained due to a personal relationship with the applicant; Commissioners Carter and Pardon absent) to approve the major conditional use permit for alcoholic beverage sales and extended hours at 1995 Sebastopol Road.

Meeting Transcript

Assent Commissioner Sitzko here. Commissioner Horton. Here. Commissioner Parter is also absent. Commissioner Sanders. Present. Vice Chair Duggan. Here. Chair Weeks. Here. Let the record reflect that all commissioners are present with the exception of Commissioner Carter and Commissioner Pardon. Thank you. The second item is remote participation, which we have none. Third item, approval of minutes. We have one set of minutes from May 28th. Are there any changes to that to those minutes? Can you please wait a moment? Thank you. Are there any changes to the minutes corrections? Okay, then with that. If you are in the chambers and wish to make public comment on the minutes, please make your way to the podium, state your name for the record, and you'll have three minutes for your comment. Good afternoon to the board. I happen to look over the uh minutes and I wasn't on them. And uh I remember uh you know what I spoke about uh and at the minutes, and I don't really want to give it all away today because there was something that I said there that was related to uh what was what was uh on the minutes, but uh but it I I was ignored. I just don't seem to have gotten on the minutes. Um I'm quite sure I was there because I spoke about the topic, so just that usually it says something, you know, and if they don't say what you talked about, because often they do, it depends on which board or which meeting you're at, then they will say something like you oppose the project or you objected to the project or something like that. But I wasn't on it, so that's what I object to. Thank you. Any other comments? Okay, so with that, um the minutes will stand approved as submitted. Um, and now we move on to public comments. Um, we're now taking public comments. This is on non-agenda matters, and this is time when any people, any person in the audience may address the commission on matters within the purview of the commission, but are not on the agenda. And if you're in the chambers, please make your way to one of the podiums and you'll have three minutes and you'll see the countdown timer. Go ahead, Ms. Carmen. Thank you. Janice Carmen here, and we'll start over. Uh I um I wanted to say that um I was um present at a meeting, and that the meeting turned into mayhem uh before the meeting uh ended, and a person at the meeting, this is a city of uh Santa Rosa meeting, was uh attempting to make an allowance for a lack of parking by having the people agree that they would have any visitors calling ahead of time, and I tried to keep my feet on the ground and before. Ms. Carmen, I believe the c the item you're speaking on is on the agenda tonight, so and like you have it. But this isn't on the agenda because it had been adjourned. The meeting had been adjourned, and this was happening after the meeting, and I'm reporting on it. Okay, excuse me, please, but the item. I believe you are speaking on is on the agenda tonight. So if you could please hold your comment till then, okay. Well that's interesting. Okay, so I'm going to go to another topic, and that is that when Diana uh had uh Terry Saunders who sits before you now uh appointed to your planning commission from district four. He lives on McDonald Avenue, and uh we live in district three. Diana was in charge, and now she's more of a lame duck since she can't go to meetings, she can't, she's been stripped of all of her meetings, she's been stripped of her commissions, and uh Terry is still on the planning uh commission, and I just want to bring the public's attention to this that Rincan Valley has a lot of problems.