1,047 / 50.8% Yes votes ...... 1,013 / 49.2% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

This measure does not change the existing definition of 'retail' which continues to include the retail sale of any article, substance or commodity for profit or livelihood. In addition, this measure does not affect the calculation of gross floor area which will continue to include all associated warehouse, storage, preparation, office and mezzanine areas contained within a single sructure and not separated by interior walls without doors.

If this measure is adopted, the General Plan policy and Zoning Ordinance amendments enacted pursuant thereto may only be amended by a vote of the people.

Cotati Residents Against B

That's why the Cotati City Council, Chamber of Commerce, and Police Chief Stewart strongly urge a "Yes" vote on Measure B.

Repeated state budget crises have had severe impacts on Cotati. Continuing projected City losses from state revenue shortfalls will put all our vital services at risk, including public safety, water, sewer, streets, parks and recreational opportunities for youth.

Measure B puts our future back in our own hands instead of those in Sacramento. It will allow the City to generate approximately $1 million in new sales tax revenue each year for our Community--ensuring that essential services are maintained.

The City Council unanimously placed Measure B on the ballot. If passed, it will permit the City to consider a retail project in excess of 43,000 square feet, only if it is located in a small area of the city, west of 101 and north of Gravenstein Highway. By isolating the modification to this small area adjacent to the freeway, Measure B will help to preserve Cotati's small town character.

Before any project can go forward in this area it will have to undergo complete design review, be scrutinized in public hearings and ultimately be subjected to approval by the City Council. Any project will also have to fully comply with the state's strict Environmental Quality Act.

A Lowe's Home Improvement store has expressed an interest in locating in this area. Importantly, passing this measure now will allow a retailer such as Lowe's to bring much needed sales tax revenues to Cotati rather than continuing to lose them to Rohnert Park, Petaluma and Santa Rosa.

Measure B protects important public services, improves the economy, and creates jobs while preserving Cotati's small town charm. This measure will protect Cotati's future. Please vote "Yes" on Measure B.

Janet Kurvers, Mayor
City of Cotati

Pat Gilardi, Vice Mayor
City of Cotati

Janet Orchard, Council Member
City of Cotati

John Dell'Osso, Founding Member
Environmental Commitssion

Prue Draper
Cotati historian

Cotatians have worked long and hard to protect Cotati's small town character. The General Plan outlines that vision. Big box retail, like the huge Lowe's that has been proposed, brings traffic nightmares and massive infrastructure requirements. If Measure B is approved, the development potential in the area proposed could add 6,800 or more car trips per day on Cotati streets and Highway 116 and 101, not to mention surrounding roads. Look at http://www.NoOnB.info for information on the impact of big box stores.

No meaningful public input will occur if Measure B is approved. These properties are zoned commercial and would not require any legislative action by the City Council. Projects would only need to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act and be reviewed for building design. This means voting yes on Measure B gives the project a green light to bring massive traffic to Cotati.

There are already more than enough big box and home improvement stores nearby. Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa have gridlock traffic at their big box stores. A large-scale retail operation in Cotati is not the way to go. Let's keep Cotati special and all stores less than 43,000 square feet.

Voting "No" on Measure B is critically important to Cotati's future!

Nicholas Alve
Cotati Resident

Nancy Uber-Kellogg
Cotati Resident

Adrienne Lauby
Cotati Resident

Nelson R. Kellogg
SSU Professor, Cotati Resident

Measure B is designed to allow big box national retailers like Lowe's Home Improvment and stores of any size to locate in the area along Hwy 116 and at the South Sonoma Business Park site. Lowe's alone would bring approximately 6,800 car trips per day to Cotati roads.

Our elected officials need to do a better job of supporting existing businesses and retail in Cotati to increase sales tax before selling out Cotati to national retailers and bringing traffic gridlock to Cotati.

Cotati has thrived since the voter-approved ban against big box retail in 1997. The downtown has been renovated, a new police station has been built, and the City of Cotati's financial position is much stronger than neighboring cities that have relied on big box tax dollars to finance city services.

Cotati is a wonderful community, filled with vibrant independent businesses that will disappear if Measure B is passed. What makes Cotati unique is the absence of big box retailers and the existence of small local busineses in their place. We must be careful not to trade our homegrown businesses for out-of-town big boxes that will make Cotati indistinguishable from Rohnert Park or Santa Rosa.

Size still matters. Say no to big box retail and increased traffic in Cotati. Vote no on Measure B.

Neil Hancock
Cotati Resident

Linell Hardy
Citizen

Patricia R. Waters
Cotati resident 28 years

Strong safeguards are maintained in Measure B to examine traffic and all other potential impacts of any proposed project. Any proposed project must be fully reviewed and may only be approved by the City Council after full public hearings.

Measure B is a reasonable modification which would only authorize expanded retail in a small semi-triangular area at Gravenstein Highway and 101--an already commercially developed area. This measure will keep existing businesses in Cotati and bring new shoppers throughout the City. Current law limits new and existing retail. For example, this measure will allow Reliance Trailer Manufacturing, a local homegrown Cotati business, to continue to thrive and grow in Cotati--keeping and increasing its sales tax revenue here.

The police facility and downtown renovation were funded with one-time restricted bond and grant money. In fact, Cotati's financial health continues to be very vulnerable to state budget cutbacks. This measure will keep sales tax revenue here rather than losing it to Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa and Petaluma.

Keep Cotati's future in our hands--to the benefit of residents and local business owners. Please vote Yes on Measure B.

Harold B. Berkemeier
Council Member, City of Cotati

Lisa A. Moore
Council Member, City of Cotati

COTATI CHAMBER OF COMMMERCE
Richard Lucchesi, President
Suzanne Whipple, Executive Director
Louise Petersen, Secretary